PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
A survey of nearly 3,000 North American consumers found that over a third were willing to buy Apple’s next-generation iPhone without ever having seen the device.
A survey conducted by Experian PriceGrabber of 2,853 online consumers in the Apple stronghold market of America found that 35 per cent planned to buy the latest iPhone with 51 per cent of those indicating that they would buy the latest and greatest Apple iPhone within the first year of release.
"Our survey data confirms the strong following Apple has built around its iPhone," said PriceGrabber boss Graham Jones. "Anticipation and brand loyalty are certainly high, but in today’s 24-7 work culture and uncertain economic environment, consumers are cautious to look for a reasonably priced phone that will perform optimally over an extended time period."
Other results from the PriceGrabber survey include the finding that 48 per cent of those surveyed use their smartphone to check on rival pricing while shopping in store. A surprisingly high 35 per cent use the barcode scanner feature to compare prices.
"Mobile shopping has truly emerged as a trend among savvy consumers, and what positions it for long-term success is the fact that consumers can use their smartphones as an enhancement to the shopping they already do in brick-and-mortar stores," said Jones.
"Analysis of our survey data shows that shoppers are not just sitting behind a computer doing their shopping from home; they are engaging with and leveraging the technology of their smartphones to take advantage of what their local retailers have to offer, which is certainly a promising prospect for the Main Street economy."
