The main findings of the study indicate that almost 47 percent of respondents have used social networking sites to share a deal online. This amounts to 3 in 5 (60 percent) among the 18-24 age group.Furthermore, 26 percent of respondents have made an online purchase after seeing something shared through social networking sites. This climbs to 32 percent among the 18-24 age group.
Most of the buyers, 94 percent of the surveyed shoppers, prefer to do some research before purchasing a product online. The most popular sources for this information are review websites, used by 73 percent of the respondents. The review websites are used mainly by friends and family (64 percent). Deal websites are used by 54 percent of the buyers and consumer forum websites by 49 percent. Manufacturers websites are used by 56 percent of male respondents.
The research reveals that 77 percent have bought online after a recommendation from a friend while 89 percent of respondents have recommended an online deal to friends and family through word of mouth. 21 percent of respondents have made their first online purchase within the last month.
The same source indicates that almost 66 percent of consumers involved in the research have stated that if it is cheaper to buy online, they will purchase products or services more frequently. Moreover, 56 percent would buy more often if it was more convenient to purchase online.
The study has been conducted by UAE group-buying website GoNabit and research company YouGovSiraj. The companies have joined forces to provide an insight outlook on e-shoppers behaviour among its registered users in the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan and Lebanon.
The YouGovSiraj research has polled a sample of 2,196 users to determine e-commerce trends in the Middle East.
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