Survey: COVID-19 can’t dampen online spending

A new survey indicates despite pandemic-related declines in overall spending, shoppers are keeping up with e-commerce.

According to a survey of about 1,000 U.S. consumers from Amazon selling platform Jungle Scout, more than half (52%) of respondents have reduced their overall spending since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. However, 63% have increased or maintained their online spending (32% decreased), and 61% have increased or maintained their Amazon spending (29% decreased). 

Examining consumer attitudes toward Amazon, the study reveals seven in 10 (71%) respondents say they have shopped on Amazon during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 48% say they are shopping more frequently on Amazon since the COVID-19 pandemic than they did previously.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) make purchases on Amazon at least once a month, and more than half (52%) say that if they were only able to buy products from a single store, it would be Amazon. More than half (52%) of respondents say they have greater appreciation for Amazon now than they did prior to COVID-19, and 38% said the ability to shop on Amazon is a necessity for them due to a disability, distance from their home to physical stores, or other limitations. 

In addition, 62% of respondents either use the Amazon subscription model or would consider using it, and 58% are currently Amazon Prime members and another 10% plan to get Amazon Prime accounts in the future. General respondent sentiment toward Amazon is favorable, as 73% think Amazon is a good company for consumers and 70% say they value being able to shop on Amazon.

The survey also reveals respondents are increasingly likely to continue shopping online and may not return to physical stores even after the pandemic subsides. Seven in 10 (69%) say they will maintain or increase their online spending even after/as physical stores reopen, and four in 10 (39%) say they’d be fine if they never had to shop in a physical store again. 

When shopping online, 84% of respondents said they sometimes or always shop for specific brands. Essential products such as grocery, health and beauty, and pet supplies are among the top categories in which consumers shop for specific brands; these are also among the top categories respondents are buying more of now.