Today is ‘free shipping day’ for hundreds of companies

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Today is ‘free shipping day‘ — hundreds of companies in Canada are offering shoppers a chance to save a few bucks, today only, with guaranteed delivery by Christmas eve.  And it seems a new trend is emerging when it comes to online shoppers looking to take advantage of the free-shipping event.

A new survey from Ipsos shows that more than ever, online shoppers are turning to their smartphones and other portable devices to make that purchase, instead of using the traditional home computer.  Globally, 27 per cent of consumers reported using portable technology to make a purchase, at some point in the last six months.

This trend is gaining strength in Canada, though numbers here are lower than those seen around the world.  “Only 17 per cent have made a purchase in the past six month,” says Ipsos Global Marketing Director Janis Gilman.  “And it follows the same pattern as we see globally in terms of gender and age.  20 per cent of males versus 14 per cent of females, and age wise for those under 35, 28 per cent.”

Only 15 per cent of Canadians in the 35-49 age group have used a smartphone or tablet to make an online purchase in the past six months, and the number drops to 5 per cent in the 50+ bracket.

Along with age and gender, education seems to have a strong influence on the likelihood that a person will use a phone to shop online. People with higher education levels seem more willing to make a purchase this way, with 25 per cent in this bracket saying they’ve done so in the past six months.

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