A new customer satisfaction survey from analytics firm ForeSee has ranked Amazon (AMZN) as the top destination for shoppers who used their mobile devices to browse for gifts. According to the survey, the online retail giant scored 85 points out of a possible 100, ranking it ahead of every other company. Apple (AAPL) tied with shopping network QVC for second place with a score of 83, while NewEgg and Victoria’s Secret rounded out the top five with a score of 80 points. The firm found that consumer satisfaction with the mobile retail experience is improving as a whole, climbing two points in 2012 for an overall score of 78 points.
“The mobile platform is maturing much faster than the PC platform. We see it in the rate of consumer adoption, and fortunately we are seeing it in how well the top retailers are adapting to multichannel consumers who are embracing yet another powerful tool,” said Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee. “But retailers shouldn’t get too comfortable because change is just about the only thing you can count on. Consumers expect retailers to provide a consistent and seamless experience, regardless of the channel.”
ForeSee’s results come from a survey of more than 6,200 consumers during the holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
ForeSee’s press release follows below.
Amazon, QVC, Apple Dominate the ForeSee Mobile Retail Satisfaction Index as Customer Experience Improves
Consumers “Showrooming” with Mobile Devices Present Opportunity Along with RiskANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Amazon extends its domination of e-retail into the mobile platform, according to the ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index: Holiday Retail Edition, released today by customer experience analytics firm ForeSee. In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the retail juggernaut scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies. The report shows that consumer satisfaction with the mobile retail experience is improving, as the Index climbs two points since last holiday season to 78 on a 100-point scale.
Amazon tops the list at 85, with Apple (83), and QVC (83) close behind. Rounding out the top five are NewEgg (80) and Victoria’s Secret (80). The retailers with the biggest improvements over time include Target (+5), Victoria’s Secret (+5), and Barnes & Noble (+4).
“The mobile platform is maturing much faster than the PC platform. We see it in the rate of consumer adoption, and fortunately we are seeing it in how well the top retailers are adapting to multichannel consumers who are embracing yet another powerful tool,” said Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee. “But retailers shouldn’t get too comfortable because change is just about the only thing you can count on. Consumers expect retailers to provide a consistent and seamless experience, regardless of the channel.”
The study investigated the role and impact of mobile on “showrooming”—the practice of examining merchandise in a traditional brick-and-mortar retail store only to shop online for the same item, often at a lower price. The results are surprising. While nearly 70% of survey respondents reported using a mobile phone while in a retail store during the 2012 holiday season, most of those consumers (62%) accessed that store’s site or app. But the competitive threat of showrooming still exists, as 37% reported accessing a competitor’s site or app.
“Customers are using their mobile phones as integrated parts of their shopping experience,” said Eric Feinberg, Senior Director of Mobile at ForeSee and co-author of the report. “Mobile is the ultimate companion channel, making showrooming as much of an opportunity as it is a threat. Retailers need to engage their customers equally well through all channels, especially through mobile sites and apps, or risk losing customers and sales to competitors that do a better job of meeting their needs.”
