How much does shipping affect holiday shoppers?

A new survey reveals the extent to which shipping issues impact holiday shopping decisions.

Four-in-10 (39%) surveyed consumers say shipping influences their holiday shopping experience, according to “Holiday Shipping Must Haves” from UPS Capital. This result places shipping ahead of other popular holiday shopping influencers such as reviews (30%) and convenience (25%).

In addition, more than four-in-10 (44%) surveyed consumers say lost or damaged packages would cause them to stop shopping with a retailer. Another four-in-10 (39%) respondents said they would seek alternative retailers due to shipping delays.

The survey also examined respondents’ holiday spending plans, determining that:

• More than three-in-10 (32%) respondents intend to spend over $500 on the holidays this year.
• Three-in-10 (31%) plan to spend between $300-$500 for their holiday shopping needs.
• One-in-four (26%) plan to spend in the $100-$300 range this holiday season.

In other findings, the survey revealed that more than one-in-four (27%) respondents do their holiday shopping throughout December. More than six-in-10 (62%) said they had eagerly anticipated the chaos of Black Friday and 56% eagerly awaited the online bargains of Cyber Monday.

“With almost two-thirds of consumers planning to spend a minimum of $300 on holiday gifts, there's a shared desire for a stress-free shopping experience,” UPS Capital said. “Consumers, eager to bring holiday cheer to their loved ones, seek peace-of-mind knowing their packages are secure. This year, the focus shifts to empowering consumers with actionable tips. From proper packaging techniques to selecting reliable shipping options, consumers can take charge of their deliveries.”

Survey reveals expedited shipping reluctance

Another recent holiday shipping survey from Blue Yonder indicates that almost half (48%) of surveyed consumers expressed unwillingness to pay for expedited shipping. When asked if they would be willing to use alternative shopping methods like buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS), 45% of respondents said they would only do so if the pick-up location was convenient for them, and 20% said they would not be willing to utilize an alternative delivery method.