Over 60 percent of women admit to buying goods they do not need because of discounts

Photo: Tomáš Adamec / Czech Radio

Shopping surveys indicate that the majority of Czechs are still heavily influenced by discounts in their choice of goods, and the coronavirus crisis and economic concerns have only strengthened this trend.

A survey by Česká distribuční  during the coronavirus crisis revealed that more than half of Czechs actively looked for special discounts and offers during the coronavirus pandemic because it helped them save money.

While the practice of buying according to discounts is usually associated with seniors, the most active in this respect were people aged 45 to 54, often people who lost part of their income or feared for the future.

A total of 72 percent of people said in the questionnaire that they prepared a shopping list at home so as to avoid impulse buying and 29 percent compiled a list on the basis of the discounts offered in leaflets.

Another survey, conducted by STEM/MARK shows to what extent people are influenced by discounts even when they are not overly concerned about the need to save money.  In the survey 64 percent of Czech women admitted they sometimes buy goods that they do not use or even currently need because of the advantageous price.

Statistics show that the share of sales in discounts in the Czech Republic is around 55 percent, one of the highest in Europe. Slovakia has similar numbers. In contrast, in Austria or Poland it is around 35 percent, in Germany it is only around 20 percent.

In view of the predicted economic crisis, experts do not expect this trend to change in the near future.