Quarter of online shoppers have delivery subscriptions

A quarter of online shoppers now pay for delivery subscriptions, most commonly with Amazon, according to new research by Royal Mail.

The Delivery Matters report found that the proportion of money being spent online has increased year on year but shoppers are tightening their belts and looking online for the best prices. Choice (54 per cent), price comparison (53 per cent) and convenience (49 per cent) are the key reasons that shoppers go online instead of in-store and older shoppers in particular are price and convenience driven.

The study found that over a period of three months, online shoppers claimed to make 80 per cent of purchases (excluding groceries) online, up from 74 per cent.

The most common retailer that online shoppers have a delivery subscription with is Amazon (76 per cent).

Nick Landon, managing director of Royal Mail Parcels, said: “How you deliver is as important as what you sell and a quarter of shoppers are now paying an upfront fee for unlimited delivery. Businesses of all sizes need to make sure they respond to this demand or risk being left behind.”