Alix Partners: Free shipping is increasingly having an impact on online shopping

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Free shipping is having an increasing impact on online shopping, even though delivery times have been significantly reduced in recent years, from 5.5 days in 2012 to 4.5 days, according to Alix Partners.

The longest delivery time that Amazon Prime members can tolerate is 3.8 days (free shipping). In fact, their expectations may be higher because they have already paid for shipping through their membership, and many merchants offer free 2-day delivery to Prime members.

Moreover, Amazon's Prime membership lineup continues to expand, with 56% of respondents saying they have family members who are Prime members, which has doubled compared to 2012.

On the other hand, Amazon Prime membership expectations may have a ripple effect on other retailers. Some retailers will compete on delivery terms. Six in 10 consumers browse products based on their preferred delivery options. Moreover, about a quarter of consumers said they would buy products from retailers that offer free shipping, even if the price is slightly higher.

Another important finding of Alix Partners is that Amazon has become the most trusted source of information. Retailers not only face competition from Amazon's membership system, but also face pressure from the most trusted source of information. 41% of consumers search and buy on Amazon, and 28% of consumers search on Google and buy on Amazon.

199IT.com Originally compiled from: Alix Partners. Please do not reprint without authorization