Consumers reported that the new Corona virus has changed their purchasing habits and priorities, noting that they have followed new patterns of purchasing behavior, most notably in rationalizing spending, limiting purchases to food and essentials, as well as cutting out unnecessary goods, and strongly buying through Internet.
This came in a poll conducted by «Emirates Today» to its readers through its platforms on social media, in which I asked them about the changes that occurred in their purchasing habits due to the crisis of «Corona».
Consumers said that they reduced the number of shopping times, after preparing a pre-purchase list to adhere to, while some indicated that they should not order food from restaurants.
Others attributed the increase in electronic shopping to several reasons, including that they have become more cautious about shopping from public places, for their fear of the transmission of "Corona", in addition to having better offers online.
Reduced shopping
In detail, the consumer who follows the Emirates Today platform on Facebook, Mamoun Al-Hassan, said that he is writing down his needs on a paper after the spread of the Corona virus, and then he goes to the retail stores (hypermarket), noting that he is shopping once Only every week, with health prevention measures taken.
Al-Hassan stressed that he only buys the necessary goods.
For its part, Lynn Abu Shaar, the media, said on the platform of "Emirates Today" in "Instagram": "Our purchasing habits differed greatly, because our needs changed completely during the (Corona) crisis," adding that "purchases have become limited to food, sterilizers and necessities only, Especially since we are heading towards a somewhat unknown future, so the economy must be spent.
Abu Shaar continued: “Nevertheless, the expense increased somewhat on the other hand, because we are trying to find a work environment at home, such as a modest gym in the home, cooking utensils, and so on.” Noting that, at the same time, the expense has decreased overall, with less going out to restaurants and centers Commercialism, fuel provision and external consumption in general, what harms the economy as well .. Therefore we have a duty to support small businesses, in particular, by purchasing (online), or going to the commercial centers with caution and following the instructions ».
Food consumption
In turn, noble follow-up on "Instagram" said: "The volume of our food purchases increased with (Corona), because we have been cooking at home and eating healthy food, unlike what we were previously, where most of the time we were eating from restaurants, and we discovered that the demand from restaurants Tired and harmful to health and increases the expense.
Dr. Silvana confirmed that "Corona" made it possible to save more on expenses while staying at home, and to abandon the idea of giving importance to entertainment and exiting.
In the same context, the follower, Mazar Kattama, said on “Instagram”: “Common sense says that you choose the basic things and try to save somewhat ... and think about setting a budget, because a person must think about the worst days.”
Buy online
Meanwhile, a follower of the platforms of «Emirates Today», Marzouq Al-Zaabi, said: “I have become buying more (online) more, and discovered that there is no effective control over the companies that market in this field.” The follow-up, Maha Al-Kazim, said: “We have been buying essentials and basics via the Internet, for fear of going down to the market and transmitting the virus, and I found that this method is safer, and buying through the Internet in most cases provides better offers than the mall offers.” And one of the followers on "Instagram" stated that "(Corona) introduced us to a new purchasing world, which is the world of technology, which constitutes a new human behavior."
Complaints about price hikes
Consumers complained of high prices for many commodities in malls and on websites.
Some of them, through the poll conducted by «Emirates Today» on its platforms, that the prices of some commodities differ from one store to another, and some pointed to raising delivery fees when purchasing from some websites.
"Unfortunately, most shops have raised prices crazy without looking at people's conditions ... Unfortunately this also applies to some landlords and rental offices," said follower Khaled Abdel-Rahman, who participated in the survey on the Facebook platform.
For his part, the follower, Abdulsalam Al-Fahdi, said on the Twitter platform: "There is no price for purchasing materials, as every trader raises his whims ... Prices are increasing, and online stores also raised their prices and increased delivery amounts."
The trend to cheaper goods
Consumers said that, given the difficult financial conditions experienced by some people, who had long been forced to cut salaries, or who had to quit their work, or take leave without pay, they were turning to cheaper goods, even if it was at the expense of quality, and spending more time researching On the centers that offer goods at a cheaper price than others, indicating that any reduction, however simple, will make a difference to them, in light of these difficult financial conditions in which they live.
Consumers cut their shopping times, after preparing a pre-purchase list to stick to.