Survey: Three in four consumers try new online retailers during COVID-19

Amazon is not the only e-commerce retailer to gain shoppers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults from coupon code engine CouponFollow indicates that a total of 73% of respondents have tried at least one new online retailer since the COVID-19 outbreak began. This includes 43% who have tried one to two new online retailers, 24% have tried three to four new retailers, and 5% have tried five or more new retailers.

Respondents from all generations show a high degree of willingness to try a new brand if they receive an online coupon or discount. This includes 89% of millennials, 86% of Gen X, 78% of Gen Z, 76% of baby boomers.

Sixty percent of respondents are doing more of their overall shopping online compared to in-store since the start of the pandemic, compared to 44% before the pandemic. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, about 59% of respondents have increased their online shopping, especially those in the Gen-Z and millennial generations:

Gen Z 65%
Millennial 63%
Gen X 60%
Baby boomers 47%

Younger respondents are also more likely to have increased the amount of online shopping they do at Amazon since the start of the pandemic:

Gen Z 55%
Millennial 51%
Gen X 46%
Baby boomer 37%

Looking ahead, two-thirds (66%) of respondents expect to continue purchasing items online after the pandemic, even if they are available online. 

The top three reasons respondents choose online retailers other than Amazon are that Amazon does not sell a desired item (28%), an item is available at a cheaper price (27%), or an item is out of stock (25%).

The survey also revealed the top three order fulfillment methods respondents have used since the start of the pandemic: 

Delivery 74%
Curbside pickup 55%
BOPIS 48%

CouponFollow polled 1,199 U.S. adults aged 18 and older in May 2020.