Consumers Want More Info from Manufacturers: Survey
NEW YORK -- Consumers aren't getting the information they're looking for from product manufacturers, according to a new survey from Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP. Now more savvy than ever thanks to the rise of social networks and Internet sites, consumers are learning more about product features, labels, ingredients, and warnings than ever before, but on their own, firm found.
Among the key findings:
-- 29 percent of consumers say companies now provide sufficient information on their products/packaging to assist in purchase decisions.
--31 percent say companies are reliable sources of product information.
--26 percent say companies don't provide enough product information.
--37 percent say companies provide sufficient information on their Web sites to assist in purchase decisions.
When asked how they generally prefer to receive product information, 50.3 percent said from product/packaging; 19.5 percent, in store (sales help, etc.); 9.82 percent, friends/family; 7.49 percent, online consumer-written review; 6.74 percent, company Web site; and 6.13 percent, third-party Web site.
Dissatisfied with the quality of information available from manufacturers, consumers are turning to third-party resources, which they consider to be reliable sources. Fifty percent of consumers polled said that objective third parties and/or existing product users are the best sources of product information.
The survey was commissioned by Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP and conducted online by an independent research company between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7. The survey polled a sample of 1,018 consumers over the age of 16. The margin of error for the entire sample is plus or minus three percentage points.
Among the key findings:
-- 29 percent of consumers say companies now provide sufficient information on their products/packaging to assist in purchase decisions.
--31 percent say companies are reliable sources of product information.
--26 percent say companies don't provide enough product information.
--37 percent say companies provide sufficient information on their Web sites to assist in purchase decisions.
When asked how they generally prefer to receive product information, 50.3 percent said from product/packaging; 19.5 percent, in store (sales help, etc.); 9.82 percent, friends/family; 7.49 percent, online consumer-written review; 6.74 percent, company Web site; and 6.13 percent, third-party Web site.
Dissatisfied with the quality of information available from manufacturers, consumers are turning to third-party resources, which they consider to be reliable sources. Fifty percent of consumers polled said that objective third parties and/or existing product users are the best sources of product information.
The survey was commissioned by Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP and conducted online by an independent research company between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7. The survey polled a sample of 1,018 consumers over the age of 16. The margin of error for the entire sample is plus or minus three percentage points.