I don’t envy the job of a retailer in keeping up with the customer expectations formed by Amazon one little bit.
I LOVE shopping. But for me the thrill has always been in the physical – being able to touch, feel and – for clothing at least – try on a product. I shop online sometimes but normally end up a little disappointed at what I get.
And in truth that still happens. I’m fussy. I like to see what I’m getting.
But a couple of months ago I signed up for Amazon Prime. Bizarrely the free delivery part was the least attractive of the benefits offered – it was actually the music and media bundle I was after. The Prime delivery offer would only be useful I thought for those last minute birthday presents or those desperate must-haves.
Only now it’s become addictive. Yesterday I ordered a new sports bra (actually a by-product of ordering a last minute birthday present). It just arrived but didn’t fit properly so I ordered another size. And now that’s coming within 12 hours – I will have it in my hands by 10pm tonight. Now that’s convenient. I don’t have to go anywhere and by tonight can decide which one best fits and which to return – at no ‘percieved’ cost to myself.
This week I also gave in to my son’s nagging and bought him the fidget cube he was going on endlessly about. It arrived the next day (unlike the fidget spinners I mistakenly ordered from an overseas buyer online which have yet to still arrive).
And it’s not just the convenience of delivery. I HATE entering my payment details online. I have to look for my card, enter all the detail – boring, boring, boring. But with Amazon it’s one click and it’s done.
If I need to reorder something – or someone asks where I got something / how much something was – again there’s one place to look and that’s the account history of my spending with the retail giant.
I still love physical shopping I really do. And that won’t change. And whilst this may sound like an ad for Amazon Prime it really isn’t. It’s simply the realisation that by offering simple, convenient, trusted and FAST delivery that suits me and my lifestyle as a busy working single mum of two Amazon Prime is swaying me more than ever to the convenience of online despite my love of physical shopping.
And that shows just how incredibly powerful getting your delivery offer right as a retailer is. It really is something that everyone should be putting huge amounts of effort into.
Image credit: Liz Morrell
