Most Consumers Willing to Wait for Digital Purchase Deliveries

One in five respondents said they prefer ground shipping

June 24, 2016 | Retail & Ecommerce

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When it comes to shipping, consumers are willing to wait days for their order. February 2016 research from UPS, comScore and the e-tailing group found that many US digital buyers prefer the economy ground delivery option—up to seven days from time of purchase to delivery—for their items.

The poll of 5,330 US digital buyers ages 18 and older asked about which shipping option they most often chose when buying online.

Economy ground may be a preferred choice because it’s the cheapest shipping deal consumers can get, and consumers may not mind waiting for their items because of the low cost of shipping. One in five respondents said they prefer ground shipping, which is three to five days from time of purchase to delivery. Overall, about three in five respondents were willing to wait a few days to get their goods.

Not many digital buyers said they most often selected fast shipping options. For example, 6% of respondents said they preferred next-day shipping, and 3% said they preferred same-day shipping. Some 9% of respondents said they preferred shipping their items to a store and picking it up there.

Even if it isn’t their most common choicse, there are situations where digital buyers are willing to pay a premium for faster delivery. The same survey found that half of respondents would pay extra for faster delivery if they needed an item faster due to personal reasons, like birthdays. Nearly a third also said they would be willing to pay a premium if they waited until the last minute and didn’t have other options.

If they were purchasing perishable items, or if the product was of high-value then they would spring for faster delivery as well.