43% Aussies shop on mobile phones, use of cash dips

Smartphone shopping is becoming increasingly popular with 43% of Australians shopping on their mobile phones in the last 12 months, according to a research commissioned by ING DIRECT. With online shopping trending high, it’s hardly surprising that the use of cash is seeing a dip. More than 50% of people said they use cash less than they did one year ago, and expect to use it even less in the next 12 months.

While women are most likely to go for fashion retail therapy on their phone with 26% buying clothes, electronics top the list for men with more than 25% buying gadgets or electronics on their mobile. Overall, the top five categories for mobile phone shopping in Australia are, clothes (22%) and electronics (20%) followed by music (18%), groceries (17%) and games (16%).

“ Online shopping has grown in popularity over the past few years, offering ease and convenience for busy Australians, and it is increasingly moving to the palm of our hand through our mobiles. As the use of cash declines further and mobile payment apps become increasingly familiar, we can expect to see even more mobile shopping,” said John Arnott, Executive Director, Customers, ING DIRECT. 

Another insight according to the research was that, one-click ordering is a lure for mobile shoppers, with 46% saying they would be more inclined to shop with an online store if they save their payment details to make future purchases even quicker and easier.

Mr Arnott added: “Online shopping, and indeed mobile phone shopping, is great for ease and convenience, but consumers need to be careful they are not compromising value with the lure of one-click ordering.  It’s important to ensure you’re getting good value and also a great experience.”

Things to keep in mind before you shop on your smartphone

  • Don’t get tempted the moment you see your dream purchase on your mobile browser. Compare service and costs across a number of online retailers before buying anything. It’s a good idea to use different tabs so you can do a quick comparison.

  • Always check delivery costs and times – this can really affect the final price of your product as well as your experience so it’s important to factor it into any comparisons.

  • Sign up for newsletters and latest updates with a variety of your favourite online retailers so they can notify you by email or SMS when they have special offers or sales.

  • Be discount savvy and watch out for ‘deal sites’ that often offer large discounts across various online retailers.

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