Approximately one-third of the population has made purchases on the internet
A recent survey conducted by YouGov reveals insights into the growing trend of "consultation theft" in the retail industry. This practice, also known as "showrooming," refers to consumers seeking advice in physical stores and then purchasing the corresponding product online after a price comparison.
According to the survey, almost half of those surveyed (21% strongly and 25% somewhat) disapprove of this behavior. On the other hand, 5% strongly approve, and 9% somewhat approve, while 34% remained undecided about their opinion.
While the survey did not provide details on the sample size or demographics of the participants, it is clear that consultation theft is a topic of interest and concern for many.
The Prevalence of Consultation Theft
Although exact statistics on consultation theft specifically are not given in the results, retail crime and loss are widespread issues for retailers. In 2023, 38% of wholesale and retail premises experienced crime, according to the Commercial Victimisation Survey. Organized retail crime and theft have also increased, with 68% of retailers facing such issues.
The Impact of Consultation Theft
Consultation theft affects retailers in multiple ways. Retailers lose potential sales to online competitors after investing time and resources to serve customers in-store. Staff training and store resources spent on consultations do not translate into sales, reducing profitability. The practice may also lead to frustration among retail employees and impact morale, especially if seen as unfair.
Retailers often combat these effects with strategies like price matching, improved customer experience, exclusive in-store offerings, or integrated omnichannel pricing to reduce incentives for showrooming.
Related Retail Vulnerabilities
The survey also highlighted other retail vulnerabilities. Payment fraud and scams targeting retailers, as well as employee fraud, undermine retailer productivity and finances.
In conclusion, while no direct prevalence or quantitative data on consultation theft appeared in these results, it is clear that retail crime, theft, and fraud are significant and rising concerns. The impact of consumer behavior such as showrooming contributes to the challenges retailers face. Retailers use a range of security, pricing, and customer engagement strategies to mitigate these issues, but showrooming remains a notable challenge in modern retail.
For more specific prevalence numbers or detailed studies on showrooming/consultation theft, further targeted research in retail market studies or consumer behavior literature would be necessary.
- To address the growing issue of showrooming and other retail thefts, community and employment policies within retail organizations might be revised to better serve customers while ensuring fairness and increased profitability.
- In the face of rising technology-facilitated retail crimes like showrooming, the finance and business sectors could collaborate to conduct research and develop innovative solutions that protect retailers while enhancing the customer experience.
