13 August 2008
Online shoppers more likely to buy prescription drugs than garden sheds
One quarter (25 per cent) of online shoppers have either bought or would buy prescription drugs online according to new findings released today. The online buying habits poll carried out by user experience consultancy, Webcredible, revealed that more people would buy prescription drugs online than would buy cars, garden sheds and even wallpaper.
The findings make worrying reading as, though not illegal under certain conditions, it seems more consumers are making use of the ability to buy these prescription only drugs in an unregulated capacity online. In addition, an alarming trend was revealed last year of online scammers selling dubious prescription drugs through online pharmacies.
The research polled more than 1,200 online consumers on the likelihood of them buying ten different products online. Books (84 per cent) and clothes (63 per cent) were revealed as the items that most consumers are prepared to purchase or have purchased online and pets (7 per cent) and diamond rings (11 per cent) proved the least popular online purchases.
Prescription drugs were found to be a more willing online purchase than 5 of the ten listed products. Unsurprisingly, groceries were a popular online purchase with 44 per cent of respondents saying they either would or have bought groceries online, and the research also revealed that more consumers were prepared to buy antiques or artwork online (29 per cent), than cars (14 per cent).
Trenton Moss, Director at Webcredible comments, “That fact that more consumers seem to be prepared to buy prescription drugs online than simple DIY items like wallpaper and garden sheds is a worrying finding and pharmaceutical organisations must use the Internet to advise consumers on the dangers of this. For companies dealing in products like books and clothes it is crucial that they capitalise on the consumer's willingness to purchase online by making their site as visible and usable as possible to maximise sales ahead of their competitors.”
The online buying habits research polled 1,256 visitors to the Webcredible website between June 2008 and August 2008.
About Webcredible
Webcredible is a user experience consultancy, offering a range of usability, accessibility and design services for websites, intranets, mobile devices and applications. The UK-based consultancy researches, designs and builds interfaces to support user requirements & business goals.
With a long list of global clients in the private and public sector, including AIRMILES, uSwitch.com, eBay, the BBC and the World Health Organisation, Webcredible is widely regarded as one of the most respected consultancies in the user experience industry.
