NEW YORK — Is your latest online purchase doomed to collect dust? A new survey suggests a majority of buyers have regrets over the things they order over the internet.
The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults found 74 percent have experienced “buyer’s remorse” after purchasing items online. Some common regrets include feeling like the item was less valuable than expected (39%), not using it as frequently as expected (34%), and having spent too much money in the first place (32%).
Many respondents blame their shopping experience on good advertising (43%), cheap prices (43%), and availability – which includes having it come in a color they like (42%).
I’ve made a huge mistake…
Commissioned by Slickdeals and conducted by OnePoll, the study found 73 percent of people own up to 15 items they now dislike. Those unfortunate purchases include electronics that died too early into their use, clothing that didn’t fit right, knockoff designer sneakers, uncomfortable pet beds, and even ill-fitting face masks.
Respondents also admitted they tuck their unfortunate online buys somewhere they know they’ll never see them again (45%). Others prefer gifting these items to someone they know (40%) or returning them (39%).
Nearly six in 10 also confessed they shop online while intoxicated, with 83 percent of drunk shoppers usually buying something “dumb or frivolous.”
“The convenience of buying almost anything from the comfort of home is hard to beat, but there are some mistakes to avoid,” says Louie Patterson, personal finance manager at Slickdeals, in a statement. “Always check the shipping cost, return policies and fees before ordering. Also, beware of hard-to-find items being sold online for more than MSRP. Some sellers take advantage of temporary scarcity by increasing prices for the duration of the shortage.”
Online shopping regrets — and ‘forgets’
While most people have had online shopping regrets, 63 percent have experienced something equally disappointing — completely forgetting they ordered something online until it shows up at their doorstep.
The average respondent has ordered eight items they forgot about in the past year. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) were surprised when their order finally arrived. More than half of Americans (56%) shared that they didn’t remember what they ordered until opening the package.
The survey also revealed that the average person has experienced five weeks of shipping delays between ordering something online and having it delivered.
Nearly two in five (38%) who have experienced shipping delays say it was due to their purchases being on backorder. The same percentage of people have had an item misplaced during shipping, and 36 percent have had their item shipped to the wrong location by accident.
Meanwhile, three in five people have had a package mysteriously go missing or stolen during shipping. Seventy-two percent of shoppers who have faced shipping delays say they don’t mind it and believe the wait is usually worth the wait.