It’s safe to say that the popularity of online shopping has transformed the retail experience. From the time, energy and gas money you save by not physically going to each store, online shopping is hard to beat.
A recent report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) on retail stores shows the top online retailers based on feedback from those who shop with them.
The #1 Online Retailer for Customer Satisfaction Is…
According to ACSI’s Retail and Consumer Shipping Study 2022-2023, the #1 online retailer is Chewy, which debuts atop the rankings with a score of 85.
Some notable metrics from this year’s report show:
- Customer satisfaction with internet retailers has improved 4% to an ACSI score of 80 in the latest rankings.
- Amazon’s score is up 8% (84), which is good enough to take second place after ranking at an all-time low in the previous report.
- Walgreens comes in dead last after falling 9% for a score of 69.
The study, which scored retailers on a 100-point scale, centered on customer sentiments toward online retail and was conducted from interviews with 35,685 customers from January to December 2022.
Now let’s take a look at the top online retailers according to customers:
| Company | 2023 Score | Change From Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| Chewy | 85 | NA |
| Amazon | 84 | 8 |
| Etsy | 80 | -2 |
| Gap | 80 | 5 |
| Costco | 79 | 0 |
| Kohl's | 79 | 1 |
| Macy's | 79 | -1 |
| Nordstrom | 79 | -2 |
| Target | 79 | 1 |
| Wayfair | 79 | 4 |
| Best Buy | 78 | 0 |
| Average | 80 | 4 |
Read ACSI’s Retail and Consumer Shipping Study 2022-2023.
How To Shop Online and Save
Avoid Impulse Buying
Money expert Clark Howard says it’s easy to fall into a trend of impulse buying when shopping online. One way stores entice you is by creating a sense of urgency around shopping. You may even see notifications and banners that say “Only two left” or “Limited number remain” to get you to buy now.
“The key is to put it in your cart and walk away,” Clark says.
If you’ve found the item you want online, Clark says don’t make the purchase immediately. Instead, leave an item in your online shopping cart for a full day and then come back to it.
When you return, the item may be cheaper than it was initially or you may decide that you don’t want or need it. That’s a win-win either way!
Buy With the Right Card
Clark is diligent about using the right card when online shopping. If you have a credit card that gives you perks related to travel, you should use a travel card; for shopping, you should use a credit card with shopping rewards.
Based on what you’re buying, you’ll want to weigh whether it makes more financial sense to use one card over another based on the benefits.
Stay Within Budget
Few items are worth it if they put you into debt. That’s why the only way to shop online is to do so while staying within your budget.
If you don’t, you could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars more than the sticker price because you’re saddled with the interest plus principal balance.
Clark always recommends that you pay off your credit card bill every month.
Final Thoughts
While these top online retailers are likely to give you a seamless shopping experience, they don’t promise bang for your buck. It is still on you to compare prices when shopping online.
And don’t forget to check out ClarkDeals.com for the latest information about new deals every day!
Need help staying on track? Read about the CLARK Method to create a budget.
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