Online shopping spend doubles over 10 years
New research from broadband comparison site broadbandchoices.co.uk has uncovered the growing dominance of online shopping Vs high street, as an explosion in access to internet-connected devices continues to influence UK consumer habits.
In the survey of 2,000 UK shoppers, over a third (36%) claimed to do the majority of their shopping online - demonstrating the influence that internet shopping now has - whilst in contrast just under a third (32%) said they do most of their shopping on the high street. More than 1 in 10 admitted to buying something online at least once a day or more.
The trend for online retail therapy has gone from strength to strength over the last decade with the average monthly online spend soaring from £56 to £113 - a 100% increase. This figure will undoubtedly grow even more over 2013 as more than 1 in 4 shoppers surveyed said they would spend more online in 2013 than they did in any previous year.
Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert at broadbandchoices.co.uk commented: "It is no surprise to see online shopping becoming the favoured method for so many consumers. Broadband has revolutionised the way we browse and buy goods and services and the best deals these days are usually found online. Years ago shoppers would have had to trawl several different shops to check they were getting the best deal - time consuming and tiring. Nowadays, with just a few clicks, you can find a list of retailers selling the item you want, compare prices on a multitude of comparison sites, and even check customer reviews before you buy.
"Whilst the British high street will always be an integral part of the shopping experience, we expect to see a continued increase in the amount of money spent online during 2013, and continued variation in the devices used for these purchases. Follow our tips below to ensure your online shopping experience is a beneficial one:"
broadbandchoices.co.uk's top tips for smart online shoppers:
1. Shop around: it may seem obvious, but check to ensure you are getting what you want for the best possible price. If appropriate, use a comparison site to save even more time as they will list the majority of options for the goods/services you want to purchase and frequently negotiate exclusive discounts of their own.
2. Check the website is genuine: there are some very cleverly designed fake websites out there, so check the site's credentials if you haven't used it before. Look for things like mis-spelt words or pictures that don't really look of the quality you would expect to find on a retail website. Also look for alternative contact details and check forums and blogs - if in doubt, don't hand over your money.
3. Pay by credit card: where possible, pay with your credit card rather than your debit card, as this offers greater protection should you encounter problems with fraud or non-delivery.
4. Ensure payment is secure: when you come to make payment, the browser window frame should display a padlock or the address should start ‘https' to indicate it is a secure payment site.
5. Be wary of ‘one-click' purchases: ‘one click' shopping may be convenient but it also makes it very easy to instantly buy something that you may not necessarily want or need. The act of entering your card details into a payment site acts as a reminder of the cost you are about to incur and can help you see sense before buying, so avoid ‘one-click' transactions to avoid getting carried away.