The majority of US online shoppers want to have more shipping options for this Christmas season, according to a survey by Pitney Bowes.
The results of the 2015 Holiday Shipping Survey showed that 93% of US consumers consider shipping options to be an important factor in their overall shopping experience, a 23% increase on 2014. Overwhelmingly, 88% of those surveyed find free shipping with a 5-7 day delivery to be more attractive than paying a fee for a 1-2 day delivery.
Alternatively, 68% of online shoppers have previously used a promotional code or coupon to receive a shipping discount while 80% would also be more willing to purchase online if they had a promotional code or coupon, the survey by the US mailing and shipping technology and services group found.
The general trend is that US consumers are willing to do what it takes to get free deliveries, with three out of five respondents admitting to have increased their online spending in the past to qualify for free shipping.
Nearly all shoppers (98%) track their packages for an estimated time of delivery, the survey further revealed. The majority of shoppers track their orders via e-mail (39%) compared to a mobile device (30%) or a retailer’s website (28%).
When asked about return options, the majority of shoppers prefer to return packages at a nearby store (39%). However, 38% prefer to return packages via a shipping provider, while only one in five shoppers prefer to have a courier pick up a package from their location.
In terms of shopping preferences, most Americans plan to shop both in-store (94%) and online (92%) this holiday season, with 94% of the consumers planning to shop from a computer and 49% from a mobile device.
The majority of consumers (61%) suggest they’re more willing to shop online during a sales event while 39% are more willing to shop with retailers who offer a premium membership (a paid-for membership that offers faster and cheaper shipping).
“Options are no longer a privilege during the shopping experience. This holiday season consumers will expect the ability to choose their preference,” Christoph Stehmann, Chief Operating Officer of Digital Commerce Solutions, Pitney Bowes, said. “Retailers must focus on offering diverse options, whether for shopping channel, shipping and return methods or even promotional offers, in order to attract consumers throughout their shopping experiences.”
The survey further showed that consumers will also seek opportunities to shop consistently across the holiday season. When asked in which time periods they plan to do the majority of their shopping, 30% said they will shop before Thanksgiving, 41% from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 26% on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, 17% on Cyber Monday, 13% on the weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and 34% during the month of December.
The third annual Pitney Bowes Holiday Shipping Survey was conducted online by ORC International in August 2015 and polled over 1,000 American adults on their attitudes toward shopping and shipping leading up to the holidays.
