Brits spending best part of an hour to shop around online
THE average Brit will spend just under 43 minutes ‘shopping around’ online before committing to a purchase.
A survey of 2,000 UK adults found almost four in 10 also read online reviews before finally hitting ‘buy’.
Insurance and white goods are the top items shoppers are most likely to look for a good deal on, along with energy providers and clothes. But Brits are more likely to shop around for a new mobile phone contract than a new car.
The study, commissioned by mobile network provider O2, also found half of those polled are having to be more careful with their spending than ever before, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But a lucky four in 10 feel they have had MORE disposable income during lockdown.
A fifth have spent more time than usual shopping around for the best bargains over the last few months because they have had more time on their hands while being stuck indoors.
However, 80% say they have always looked for a good deal no matter what their circumstances or income have been.
It also emerged that 48% hate feeling they’ve been ripped off, but this doesn’t simply mean parting with the lowest amount of cash possible.
Less than a quarter (24%) feel the cheapest offer is always the best value; a further six in 10 believe ‘good value’ is simply a matter of getting more product for your money than offered elsewhere, and one in four count additional benefits beyond the initial purchase – such as exclusive offers and discounted access to third party services – as good value.
The research, conducted via Onepoll, also found 70% of the population have bought something – only to feel annoyed seeing it for sale later on.