Cyber Monday Shopping Trends
Two in five Americans don’t plan to shop on Cyber Monday this year, according to a new study. A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that 42% don’t plan on checking off their gift list in what was once considered the "easiest" way possible, and another 54% share the same opinion about shopping in-store on Black Friday.
Changes in Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Perhaps due to bots and more frequent sales, more than seven in ten respondents (71%) agree that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer the same as they used to be. Even beyond Cyber Monday, results showed that stolen payment information (47%), poor quality (44%) and even full-scale scams (39%) are keeping people from shopping online.
Online Shopping Concerns
Still, more than three-quarters (76%) of respondents believe that in the 21st century you simply have to take some risk. The results showed that 60% of respondents admit they will go to great lengths to secure the perfect gift this holiday season, despite skipping the two biggest shopping days of the year. This includes spending several hours scrolling through different websites (39%), waiting in a queue for hours just to purchase the item (20%), or even browsing an average of five different online vendors.
Desperate Measures
When asked what the most desperate or risky thing they had done to secure this gift, respondents cited scenarios such as "Buying an item for twice its value and paying more than the item’s price just to receive it on time" or "Driving away for five hours in a blizzard and then waiting in a long line for another three hours." One of the respondents even sent money to someone who he wasn’t sure if it was real or not.
The Impact of Bots
Despite some extreme lengths, two-thirds (67%) of respondents regularly battle bots for the best online products. Some are forced by these bots to go back to the store (34%), browse multiple websites at once (32%), or even pay a higher price (24%). For others, however, this means missing out on the item entirely (29%) or browsing second-hand markets (20%). A further 64% would even say the joy of Christmas shopping is being “stolen” by bots and three quarters believe bots will be a bigger problem for Christmas shoppers this year than last.
Counterfeit Products
According to the results, only 18% of respondents are “very confident” that they can distinguish between what is a legitimate product and what is a counterfeit product when shopping online, while another 41% are “somewhat confident.” Overall, nearly three in five respondents (57%) believe bots are a major problem for online shoppers, and have done so for the past six years.
Importance of Human Verification
This may be why 90% of Americans surveyed emphasize the importance of being able to prove that they are making a purchase from a real human being. “When you’re Christmas shopping, you shouldn’t be wondering whether it’s a bot or not, where the Grinch is wearing silicone instead of fur.” Consumers want fairness, and that starts with knowing who or what is on the other side of the transaction. Proof of human verification and a human network restores trust without invading privacy.
Common Online Shopping Issues
The most common issues that prevent people from shopping online include:
- Payment information is stolen – 47%
- Quality issues with the item they purchase – 44%
- Received the wrong item – 42%
- Identity information is stolen – 39%
- Complete scams (counterfeit products, no real product for sale, etc.) – 39%
- Not being able to get the item you want due to high demand – 21%
