What is most likely to persuade you to make a purchase from an online retailer?
From April 2009 - June 2009 we asked you, 'What is most likely to persuade you to make a purchase from an online retailer?' 1382 of you responded with the following results:
- Look of the site 221 votes (16%)
- Ease of use 204 votes (15%)
- Price 360 votes (26%)
- Reputation of retailer 389 votes (28%)
- Appearance on search listings 31 votes (2%)
- Special offers 61 votes (4%)
- Delivery flexibility 41 votes (3%)
- None of the above 75 votes (5%)
Why you voted this way
A big thank you to all of you that took the time to tell us why you voted how you did. Some of our favourite comments from you, divided up by how you voted, are:
Look of the site
I believe the look of a website is a reflection of the retailer / company. Haphazardly and poorly designed websites tell me that that's probably the service I will receive from the retailer and then certainly wouldn't trust it!
Jasmine, Singapore
Look of the site is very important. Often the reputation of the retailer is related to it so I find them both important. Look of the site says how much time and resources they've spent developing it.
Alanna, Oklahoma City, USA
Ease of use
Usually when searching websites I have a good idea of price and where to find it. Complicated sites put me off so the easier the site is to use the more likely I am to actually make a purchase.
Anon
Ease of use indicates style, robustness, thoughtfulness and professionalism.
Donal Fean, Dublin, Ireland
Price
While reputation of the retailer is very important, the final choice will always be price when comparing products from equally reputable sites.
Dave Pacione, UK
It all comes down to value of the product. A poorly designed website may lower my respect a bit, but if they have the price I want, I'm more likely to overlook it.
Kristin, Portland, USA
Reputation of retailer
In the absence of a physical, bricks and mortar retail presence, reputation-ability to fulfil order, speed of fulfilment and customer service (all facets upon which a company reputation is based) are key in making my supplier selection for online purchasing.
Tim Blass, UK
I initially thought price, but let's face it, both on the web and in the world, prices that are too good to be true probably are. Reputation is a way to convince me to use a retailer, and then performance is how I'm convinced to keep using them.
Chris, Indiana, USA
Appearance on search listings
I find that it is nearly always easy to find the cheapest products online, but the experience can become very time consuming if searches don't return the right products or are hard to read and compare.
R. Shahidi, Hertfordshire, UK
Special offers
Special offers that include free postage encourage me to consider a particular site first.
R. Evans, Devon, UK
Delivery flexibility
Lots of sites can look good, have good prices, etc. but not all deliver quickly.
Kevin Gallagher, Oregon, USA
None of the above
I would have already been seeking out the info on what I was looking to buy so I'd already know why I'd buy.
Anon
