MSE Forum Poll: How often do you abandon an online basket?

MSE_JC

There are many reasons for backing out of buying something online: last minute second thoughts, finding a better price elsewhere, or maybe seeing if the retailer will offer you a discount.

How regularly do you leave your virtual basket in limbo? Vote in the poll then share your thoughts in the thread.

horsewithnoname

It often depends how annoying the check out system is

twopenny

For me it's the Amazon one.

I select over the amount for free delivery but still find delivery charge. It's darned hard work these days. I've been advised on why this might be so we'll see but it still makes it hard work. Used to be straightforward.

Easier and quicker to buy direct from manufacturer with little difference in delivery.

Another point is click and collect. Often find they now charge for this but you don't know till you've spent time going through it.

So not knowing when delivery will be charged until the bitter end is annoying.

Brie

It's all part of my cunning plan to cut my spending - load my basket and walk away to think about it. My parents always said that when buying something it's best to think about it overnight rather than to act on impulse. They were talking about buying a car or a time share but the principle still works if it's a basket of goods on a website.

There's also the annoying things that others mention - for me it's when there's 30% off or something but only if you buy over £XX and btw it doesn't include the following long list of brands that always seem to be incomplete.

Arctos

Occasionally putting items in a basket on eBay and letting them chill evokes a response from a seller. The offer of a discount on what seems to be their fixed price may give an opportunity to haggle. If this happens it feels as if the original price was inflated and it may be worth researching elsewhere before either reaching a deal or abandoning the basket.

There's also the possibility of finding an eBay seller's own website. Buying direct may prove cheaper in which case the original eBay basket may well be abandoned.

eBay apart, I've sometimes found that seller's own websites list everything on my shopping list [e.g. for one of my hobbies]. As prices seem competitive and the threshold for free delivery is within my intention I've filled my basket. At checkout and without prior warning some of my items suddenly become "out of stock". So no scruples about abandoning that basket.

vacheron

All the time for the reasons quoted directly above.

eBay will reach out to sellers to make an offer to the interested buyer, which they will do almost all of the time.

A lot of bricks and mortar and online shops (like PC shops), will do the same and offer a discount code or similar if you leave something in your basket for a few days and after they have sent the usual pally "oops, have you forgotten something" reminders.

Any time I want something from eBay I fill the basket with the 4 or 5 cheapest items currently for sale from multiple sellers, and then wait to see who offers me the best discount.

borders

I have literally just quit an order because the delivery dates didn't work for me. I may look again in a few days….or maybe not.