15 November 2021. VCIOM in cooperation with WANTA Group presents the findings of a survey of online purchases on the Russian and international marketplaces; the survey is commissioned by the Kommersant Publishing House.
Most of Russians who have purchased goods on an online international marketplace over the recent six months buy clothes, shoes and accessories (38%), domestic appliances (29%), gadget and car parts, domestic appliances and electronics (24%, each), and children’s goods (19%).
Of those respondents who have purchased goods on an online international marketplace over the recent six months, 41% will stop buying goods from abroad if they have to pay on their own a tax for orders exceeding 1,700 rubles (53% will continue purchasing from abroad).
However, if a tax of 15% is imposed on any parcel, 53% of respondents will stop buying goods from abroad; and 39% will keep doing it.
Every fifth Russian who has purchased goods on an online international marketplace over the recent six months and who would stop doing it in case the tax is introduced (21%) considers that their refusal to buy on online international marketplaces will have a bad impact on their situation and the situation in the family.
The basic advantages of online stores are more beneficial prices (51%), time saver (25%), and a wide range of products (21%). In addition, 14% prefer online stores as they cannot buy things they need in physical stores in the city they live (this is especially true for those who live in small cities and rural area — 24%).
Overall, a majority of respondents who have purchased goods on an online international marketplace over the recent six months (70%) say they cannot find items they buy from abroad or their counterparts at an affordable price in local stores; 28% say they can. At the same time, half of Russians (51%) think that it is hardly possible to find similar items on the Russian online marketplaces (however 42% think that it is possible).
Russian nationwide representative survey was commissioned by Kommersant Publishing House and conducted in cooperation with WANTA Group on November 5, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Have you happened to buy non-food items online, or not? If you have, what was the last time when you bought anything online? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Over the last week | 20% |
Over the last month | 14% |
Over the last three months | 8% |
Over six months | 4% |
More than six months ago | 9% |
Never | 45% |
Don’t know | 0% |
What types of non-food items do you buy online most often using these platforms? | |
| Total respondents |
Clothes, shoes, accessories | 38 |
Household goods, gardening | 29 |
Gadget and car parts and accessories | 24 |
Domestic appliances, electronics | 24 |
Children’s goods | 19 |
Leisure and hobby goods | 14 |
Beauty and health goods | 14 |
Goods for pets | 11 |
Sport and outdoors goods | 9 |
Other (specify) | 8 |
Don’t know /I do not remember | 2 |
Imagine that in the near future you will have to pay on your own an extra tax of 15% per package of over 1,700 rubles ordered from abroad on an online store (Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, Joom, Shein, Wish). Will you continue ordering goods from abroad under these conditions, or not? | |
| Total respondents |
Definitely to continue ordering | 6 |
Likely to continue ordering | 47 |
Likely to stop ordering | 28 |
Definitely to stop ordering | 13 |
Don’t know | 6 |
Now imagine you will have to pay on our own a tax of 15%, but at least 150 rubles, for each order. Will you continue ordering goods from abroad under these conditions, or not? | |
| Total respondents |
Definitely to continue ordering | 5 |
Likely to continue ordering | 34 |
Likely to cancel the order | 34 |
Definitely to cancel the order | 19 |
Don’t know | 8 |
If you stop buying goods on online marketplaces such as AliExpress, will it have any impact on you personally and your family, or not? If yes, how will it impact you? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have bought items on the largest international marketplaces over the recent six months and those who will stop buying items on the international online marketplaces if they have to pay on their own a tax of 15% of the order that exceeds 1,700 rubles or any order) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60+ |
It will worsen my personal situation, the situation in my family | 21 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 14 | 18 |
It will improve my personal situation, the situation in my family | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nothing will change for me and my family | 78 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 74 | 75 | 86 | 82 |
Don’t know | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
If you think that the situation will worsen, in what way? Can you cite 2-3 examples? | |
| Total respondents |
We will have to pay more / I won’t be able to buy goods at affordable price | 60 |
I cannot buy what I need | 34 |
There will be a smaller choice /a smaller range of products | 19 |
I will get upset / I will be discontent with that | 11 |
I will have to buy less things | 7 |
Why do you buy these products online, not in a physical retail shop? Can you cite reasons for those goods that you buy most often? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who have bought items on the largest international marketplaces over the recent six months) | |
| Total respondents |
Online prices are more competitive | 51% |
Online shopping is time saving | 25% |
Larger assortment and a wider choice online | 21% |
These goods are not available in physical shops in my city/settlement | 14% |
Online goods are higher quality | 4% |
You get bonus points when shopping online / benefits of using loyalty card | 1% |
It is easier to return and exchange items | 2% |
Other | 40% |
Don’t know / I do not remember | 0% |
Please recall the goods that you bought on platforms such as Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, Joom, Shein, Wish with delivery from abroad. Could you buy these or similar goods at affordable price in physical retail shops in your city/settlement, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have bought items on the largest international marketplaces over the recent six months) | |
| Total respondents |
Likely yes | 28 |
Likely no | 70 |
Don’t know / I do not remember | 2 |
Could you buy these or similar goods at affordable price on Russian online stores with delivery from Russia, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have bought items on the largest international marketplaces over the recent six months) | |
| Total respondents |
Likely yes | 42 |
Likely no | 51 |
Don’t know / I do not remember | 7 |