PRICE is the first thing Filipino shoppers check online, with many using digital platforms as a virtual price catalog to canvass and compare deals from different stores.
This is one of the findings of a nationwide study that tech-enabled market research firm, Agile Data Solutions Inc. recently conducted through its Hustle PH.
The study revealed that 92 percent of surveyed adults were able to save money by purchasing essential items online. The study also found that Filipinos prefer online shopping platforms like Shopee and Lazada, with 76 percent of respondents taking advantage of sales and vouchers and 34 percent utilizing free shipping promos to save money.
The study further revealed a significant proportion of consumers engage in bulk buying of familiar, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and commodities, such as diapers, tissue rolls, and other household essentials. These products, which are already well-known to customers, tend to receive the most attention online and drive higher basket purchases when coupled with great bulk deals. Of those surveyed, 50 percent practice bulk buying, with 28 percent citing attractive discount prices as the primary motivation, while 26 percent highlighted the need to stock up on essential products as a crucial factor. Furthermore, 16 percent of respondents noted the time-saving convenience of fewer trips to physical stores as an advantage.
The boom of online shopping platforms and the emergence of “revenge spending” after long series of lockdowns have also fueled 45 percent of shoppers to buy items they like on the spot. While 83 percent compare prices on different online shopping platforms before making an impulse purchase, 91 percent said they plan and set a budget for their online purchases, and 89 percent said they have a savings goal they want to achieve before they purchase online.
Despite the increasing appeal of online shopping, 28 percent of Filipino shoppers have voiced their biggest concern about the authenticity and quality of products they receive. As a result, shoppers increasingly rely on product reviews to guide their purchasing decisions, seeking reassurance before taking the plunge. Other prominent concerns include the safety of packaging and the duration of delivery time, with 17 percent and 15 percent of respondents ranking them as their second and third most important issues, respectively.
Additionally, 71 percent of surveyed shoppers prefer cash on delivery (COD) as their top payment method, not because they lack knowledge of tech integrations but because they lack trust in the product delivered — if it is delivered at all. The gap between COD users and those opting for payment centers/e-wallets (14 percent) or in-app wallets such as ShopeePay (6.5 percent) and Lazada wallet (6 percent) highlights the importance of addressing consumer trust in the online shopping experience.
