As the second-largest eCommerce market in the world, Americans are no strangers to online shopping and have strong preferences when it comes to delivery. There’s certainly no shortage of delivery options — or carriers able to fulfill them.
Whether you’re just starting to ship to the USA or have been involved in the market for a while now, staying up to date on your customer’s delivery preferences will help your business succeed.
This article will explain the different delivery options and what service Americans prefer best. We will also cover topics like delivery costs and expectations, as well as how you can ship to the USA with ease using Pro Carrier.
An Overview of the USA eCommerce Market
The eCommerce market in the USA is massive and continues to grow every year. As with many other countries, the pandemic accelerated online selling trends in the states, with sales increasing by $244 billion in 2020.
Online shopping continues to boom after Covid-19. In 2022, USA eCommerce sales passed one trillion dollars. About 70% of Americans shop online, and this number is also expected to grow. By 2025, experts project that there will be 226 million digital buyers in the USA.
When it comes to what products people buy, the top online shopping categories in the USA are fashion, electronics, toys and hobby products, beauty, health and food.
American Consumer Delivery Preferences
With all the delivery options out there, most Americans prefer one over the other, whether that is right to their door or with more sustainable packaging. Americans also value different factors, such as fast shipping and affordable prices.
In this section, we will review a few different delivery methods.
Home Delivery
Home delivery is one of the most common (and popular) delivery options, and Americans across the country love having parcels delivered right to their door. Home delivery saves a trip to the post office and, with it, saves time and gas.
According to a recent poll by BOXpoll, around 64% of online shoppers would select home delivery over curbside pickup. Furthermore, out of 2000 Americans, around 83% expressed that home delivery may become their primary shopping method.
Express Delivery
More and more eCommerce companies are offering express shipping as online shoppers are now used to receiving shipments in a matter of days.
If your company doesn’t offer express shipping, customers can easily find another business that offers same-day or next-day shipping. We recommend offering this delivery option to avoid losing customers and stay on top of the market.
In fact, over 40% of American consumers expect their products to be delivered in two to three days. Furthermore, 41% of online shoppers are willing to pay extra for same-day shipping.
PUDO
PUDO refers to a pick-up and drop-off location where consumers can collect packages at a time that suits them. While some are staffed, others are not. These locations are typically stores, post offices or parcel lockers. This delivery option is more flexible, as it allows customers to visit the PUDO location anytime they want during business hours.
PUDO as a delivery option is already popular in the USA and will continue to grow. It is estimated that over 70,000 access points are already in use, with 25,000 more locations set to open throughout the country in the next few years.
Around 21% of American shoppers have tried the PUDO delivery option, and that number is estimated to keep rising, as PUDO points are usually free.
Sustainable Delivery
Since so many people in the USA rely on online shopping, sustainable delivery options are becoming increasingly popular. More consumers are starting to consider how delivery affects the environment and will prioritise cleaner companies.
A survey by Onfleet reveals that 46% of Americans would pay a higher delivery fee if the company is actively trying to reduce its carbon footprint. Furthermore, 54% of online shoppers would accept a longer wait time if it meant their delivery was more sustainable.
With more Americans wanting sustainable deliveries, Pro Carrier can help curate relationships with sustainable couriers to ensure customer satisfaction.
Delivery Costs and Expectations
Since Americans have access to a vast array of courier companies, you’ll have to be mindful of their expectations when entering the USA market.
Pleasing USA consumers may be challenging, as 65% of Americans expressed that their online shopping expectations have risen over the past few years. When it comes to cost expectations, around 66% of American online shoppers expect that all online orders will have free shipping.
For most online shoppers (79%), free two-day shipping is the norm and will be expected from most eCommerce customers. Finally, a study by the Baymard Institute indicated that the main reason why 48% of customers abandon their cart is due to high unexpected costs, such as shipping costs.
Ship to the USA the Easy Way With Pro Carrier
Entering the USA eCommerce market may be daunting, but Pro Carrier will give you all the help you need.
Our company provides a cross-border delivery platform that offers a variety of services to eCommerce business owners. Built by eCommerce experts, Pro Carrier allows you to serve each customer with the right provider and in their local language.
Pro Carrier integrates with every major eCommerce platform, has global coverage and allows you to choose the most efficient and cost-effective courier service for your customers.
If you have more questions about how to better serve your customers in the USA, speak to an expert today.
