New uShip report reveals two-thirds of Americans bought a large and bulky item online in 2020

According to a new study from uShip, the leading logistics technology platform for large and bulky goods, during the pandemic, 64 percent of Americans purchased oversized items, such as furniture, mattresses, or exercise equipment online. Of that 64 percent, nearly three-fourths (73 percent) purchased these items online at the same or higher frequency than years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Forty-five percent of Americans who purchase large or bulky items online say they are very or somewhat likely to continue buying large items online once pandemic restrictions end. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Looking forward after the pandemic, 45 percent of Americans who purchase large or bulky items online say they are very or somewhat likely to continue buying large items online. Meanwhile, just 16 percent say they are very or somewhat unlikely to continue buying large items online, and 39 percent are neither likely nor unlikely to do so.

The study, conducted online with third-party research firm YouGov, further demonstrates how widespread Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 drove shoppers online, skyrocketing e-commerce growth. Online shopping sales hit $791.70 billion in 2020, up 32.4 percent from $598.02 billion in 2019, according to Commerce Department figures.

“The pandemic has accelerated e-commerce growth beyond anyone’s wildest imagination -- and this includes buyers’ comfort purchasing large and bulky items online,” said Kris Lamb, CEO of uShip. “This trend has translated into record volumes of large shipments moving through uShip’s network, especially our In-Home Delivery service, since mid-2020 and into 2021.”

“Our hope is that these survey results give online sellers insight into the importance of a solid delivery infrastructure that emphasizes communication, speed, and professionalism,” Lamb said.

Delivery Timeframes

Beyond future online buying projections, the uShip/YouGov survey also revealed that 53 percent of US adults who buy large and bulky items online are comfortable with their items arriving between 8 and 21 days. Meanwhile, 37 percent expected their items in less than seven days.

Influencing Factors

Now, more than ever, buyers’ delivery experience is playing into buyers’ perception of merchants and online sellers. In fact, 57 percent of Americans said shipment status and communication features were “very important” to becoming a repeat buyer, while 51 percent and 50 percent, respectively, said delivery speed and carrier professionalism were “very important” in their repeat buying decision.

View more perspective and graphics on uShip’s blog.

About uShip

uShip makes it quick, easy, and affordable to ship large or bulky items. From cars to cranes and furniture to freight, our straightforward and transparent platform helps people, businesses, e-commerce sellers, and multinational logistics companies ship with incredible speed and efficiency. Launched in 2004, uShip is based in Austin, Texas. Find out more at uship.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

About the Survey

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2461 US Adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between April 12-14, 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US Adults.

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