OREANDA-NEWS. A significant portion of consumers (in 42% of cases) choose to make their purchase elsewhere if the retail location or service provider does not accept payments by card.This was found in a study conducted by Swedbank about the shopping habits of consumers and their attitude towards non-cash payments*.The proportion of such shoppers is on the rise – in the poll conducted two years ago the figure was 38%.

The poll shows that consumers appreciate the convenience of non-cash payments and, therefore, expect the retailer to provide such a service when they go shopping. If the retailer did not offer the option to pay by card, almost half of those polled say that it has affected their choice and prompted to opt for other company or service provider.

“The new technologies and customer requirements have been undergoing rapid development in recent decades and today shopping without non-cash settlements, which are available on 24/7 basis, is unthinkable. For this reason businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, should take steps to not lose their potential customers that are ready to take their money elsewhere just because it is much simpler and more convenient to pay there,” explains Be?te Krauze, the Head of Cash Management and E-Products Department at Swedbank.

It’s only logical that it is the digital generation (15 to 19 year olds) that most appreciates the advantages of non-cash settlements – half of the youths polled indicated that the availability of such an option at retail locations is a must. The generation which has essentially grown up surrounded by modern technologies think of non-cash settlements totally as a matter of course. Nevertheless, also the representatives of other age groups are of the opinion that retail locations should offer the non-cash payment option.