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Cost and set-day slots are key for online shoppers
steve.hobsonfarbi.co.uk INTERNET SHOPPERS are more concerned about shipping costs and having parcels delivered on the specified day than being able to track deliveries online or getting SMS notification of delivery times, according to consumer research commissioned by home delivery specialist Hermes.
In a survey of 1,000 regular internet shoppers, cost was rated very important by 63% of respondents, while 48% wanted specificday delivery, 33% real-time information,16% next-day delivery and just 13% SMS notification.
Jon Tobbell, commercial director of Hermes, says: "Unsurprisingly, when selecting a shipping option, 95% of shoppers said cost was quite or very important. Only 50% thought next day or speed of delivery was important, although younger people want next day more than the older generation. -Specific-day delivery came out higher than we thought, with more than 80% saying I actually want my parcel when I'm in."
According to Hermes, demand for guaranteed timed deliveries with text message updates has not taken off among the majority of internet shoppers.
"While the industry has got obsessed with technology, what comes shining through this research is that consumers are saying 'why don't you deliver things to me when I want them to be delivered and when you say you will do it'," says Tobbell.
"The other message is 'if you get my parcel to me on time, why do I need an SMS?' So we and our online retailer partners really need to make sure we offer deliveries at a great price, on a specified day, and next day when they need it."