Maybe later: Most people leave their online shopping carts full of items they don’t buy

NEW YORK — Going to a physical store may be a thing of the past as most Americans plan on buying everything online in the post-pandemic world.

According to a new survey of 2,000 Americans, 56 percent expect to use home delivery more in the future. Of those, 83 percent think there will come a time when home delivery is their primary method of shopping. These respondents also expect to see these changes soon, with 50 percent believing that shift will occur within the next five years.

Can’t someone else do it?

Seven in 10 respondents are using home delivery more now than ever before, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same number have been using it more frequently specifically for necessities.

However, while the pandemic may have changed the behavior of many Americans, these new habits aren’t going away anytime soon. The survey finds 69 percent plan to continue shopping online, even after the pandemic ends. Commissioned by HomeValet and conducted by OnePoll, researchers find people want to see changes in the home delivery system if they’re going to make it their permanent way of shopping.

Nearly half the poll would like to see more control over delivery times (46%), secure package delivery boxes (42%), and auto-replenishment of regular online purchases (34%). That’s in addition to many wanting temperature-controlled “boxes” (32%) and verified deliveries they don’t need to sign for (31%).

Unfortunately, at the moment, respondents are still experiencing issues with home delivery, and it’s causing some to back out of their purchases.

Leaving piles of things in the online shopping cart

Fifty-seven percent say they’re guilty of “cart abandonment,” where they leave items sitting in online shopping carts. Respondents are most likely to abandon clothing (56%), household supplies (49%), and groceries (44%) before reaching the online register.

Of those who have items saved in their virtual shopping carts, the average respondent has 11 items waiting for them. These shoppers typically abandon their purchases four times a month. A lack of available delivery windows comes in as the top reason Americans abandon their online carts (45%). The same number worry that their items will be delivered when they’re not home.

Another 35 percent of respondents have held off committing to a purchase because of concerns about porch pirates. This may be justified, as over the course of the past year, 41 percent of respondents have had a package stolen or gone missing after it was marked as delivered.

During that time period, 45 percent also received a “missed delivery” notice for a package, while 42 percent had a package damaged by the weather when left outside.