A recent survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of PayPal shows that we now have a tendency to help our fellow human beings more and more. During the pandemic, 74% of charitable payments were made online.
· The same Ipsos report also records the growing popularity of contactless payment methods. Half of Millennials prefer to avoid contact with the terminal, while 4 in 10 seniors (43%) seem ready to give up cash altogether from now on.
«Faced with an unprecedented situation, all of us made huge changes in our daily lives, now incorporating into our routine new creative ways of employment, combined with an altruistic disposition for the good of the community. In essence, what we experienced urged us to change the fixed perception about our former way of life. The Europe-wide survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of PayPal, reveals a major turning point in shopping and consumption habits in Greece during the restrictive measures, and more specifically, guided by the spirit of solidarity and concern for the local community, with targeted actions», δήλωσε ο Efi Dahan, General Managers της PayPal για την Κεντρική-Ανατολική Ευρώπη και τη Λατινική Αμερική.
While the Greeks remained loyal to the brands during the lockdown, mainly thanks to the wide variety of items on offer, small and medium-sized businesses were the ones that piqued interest and gained both trust and recognition from us, showing in practice the importance we attach to strengthening the local community and economy.
Almost two-thirds of respondents (62%) shopped at small local shops in between quarantineς και το 32% ψώνισε διαδικτυακά από μικρομεσαίες μάρκες. Σχεδόν οι μισοί εκ των ερωτηθέντων αποφάσισαν να πραγματοποιήσουν μια αγορά σε μια μικρομεσαία επιχείρηση ή σε ένα κατάστημα της γειτονιάς προκειμένου να στηρίξουν τόσο την τοπική όσο και την εθνική οικονομία. Η τάση αυτή φαίνεται ότι θα συνεχιστεί και στο μέλλον, μετά την άρση των περιοριστικών μέτρων, καθώς το 58% των Ελλήνων δηλώνει ότι σκοπεύει να αγοράζει ακόμα περισσότερα τοπικά προϊόντα.
Two thirds of the general population (66%) feel obliged to support small businesses in their area. This seems particularly important for older people, as 87% over the age of 65 believe that support for the local economy is necessary to overcome the pandemic crisis.
Προ Even before the crisis, cash was gradually losing its popularity compared to other payment methods. The pandemic has literally accelerated this process, as 6 out of 10 respondents in Greece are considering trying new contactless payment solutions in stores. Half of Millennials prefer to use contactless transactions to avoid using PINs.
43 65% of people over the age of XNUMX would give up using cash altogether from now on.
Other payment methods are gradually shifting and becoming online. During the quarantine, half of Greeks (51%) paid their household bills online or through mobile applications. 70% of respondents said that even after the lockdown they will still pay their household bills exclusively online. "Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been avoiding cash because they are afraid of being infected with the virus. Greeks are also reluctant to touch touch screens in stores. "This mentality is not going to change and we will now experience a new normality," said Efi Dahan.
While they were able to discover a wide range of online services and activities, 9 out of 10 Greeks (89%) pointed out the advantages of online shopping in the midst of the lockdown, such as not having to wait in checkout lines (61%), the possibility delivery at home (46%) and competitive prices or offers-discounts (44%).
«With the entire population of the planet forced to stay indoors at the same time overnight, the appetite for online shopping proved to be truly insatiable. The increase in activity we have seen in recent months can only be compared to the overall situation that has prevailed for the last two or maybe four years, with the progressive adoption of digital payments and the process of abandoning cash.", Adds Dahan.
The most popular categories in the online market in the midst of a pandemic included the following goods: clothing, footwear and fashion accessories (37%), cosmetics and beauty products (31%), electronics-computers (31%), pharmacy items and medicines ( 29%), as well as household equipment and garden items (23%). In addition, one in five Greeks (20%) said they took the opportunity to place food and drink orders online.
Between the age groups and the different generations, several and often significant differences were observed. Young consumers were more likely to buy services online and more willing to sell products and services online. On the other hand, older buyers (65 years and older) mainly appreciated the access in stores or on out-of-home items and direct delivery to their door.
An equally important finding of the research is that the crisis awakened the feeling of altruism in Greeks, as well as the mutual desire for mutual help.
At the time of the coronavirus, one in ten respondents in our country started volunteering or making donations, with 74% of them now prefer online donations. In general, the Greek population tends to choose a specific charity for donations and in most cases it is ultimately about strengthening a small local community and not necessarily a well-known international organization.
About the research methodology
International research firm Ipsos conducted a market research on the development of online shopping and payments, commissioned by PayPal. Participants answered questions about their experience in this area during three different time periods: before, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their motivations and plans after the incarceration period. The survey took place between 8-29 May 2020 with a total sample of 26.000 people in 13 European countries, including Greece (15-29 May 2020).
