Forty-Four Percent of Consumers Use Daily Deal Websites, According to PriceGrabber® Survey

LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber®, a part of Experian, has released the results of its Local Deals Survey, revealing that the daily deal industry is still an emerging sector that is growing in popularity, with 44 percent of respondents saying they use or search daily deal Websites. However, of these respondents, 52 percent expressed feeling overwhelmed by the number of bargain-boasting emails they receive on a daily basis. The survey includes responses from 2,088 U.S. online consumers and was conducted from May 20 to 25, 2011.

Consumers subscribe to several local deal sites and are looking to streamline

U.S. shoppers can't seem to get enough of the thrill of finding a good bargain — but in true American fashion, they still want a shortcut to the greatest deal. According to PriceGrabber, 63 percent of consumers receive emails from two or more local deal Websites a day. Still, fully 60 percent of respondents said they feel the daily deal industry is getting crowded with too many sites.

This emerging frustration felt by shoppers as the daily deal industry explodes is underscoring the market's demand for a more streamlined process to shop for local bargains. On June 1, 2011, PriceGrabber launched a solution: its local deal category, a one-stop shop for consumers who want to browse thousands of deals from more than 20 local deal Websites. Consumers are able to view deals and price information on http://deals.pricegrabber.com or by going directly to the PriceGrabber Website and clicking on the local deal category option. In addition, PriceGrabber offers consumers just one email per day or per week, if they prefer, with incoming deals.

It's simple: Consumers use daily deal sites to save money

Consumers' interest in deals of the day can be attributed to the simple fact that shoppers are always looking for new ways to save money. Survey results find that 78 percent of respondents said they purchase local deals because they like saving money. Only 19 percent listed the ability to try out new services that are normally out of their price range.

"Whether we are in the depths of a recession or the height of a booming economy, consumers are looking to save money — period," commented Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. "The daily deals sector clearly shows promising signs for long-term growth, but the data reinforces the frustration consumers can feel when a new trend explodes so quickly. With our local deal category, PriceGrabber saw the opportunity to fill a niche begging to be added to the daily deal marketplace by providing consumers with a more efficient way to sort through numerous offers."

Shoppers indicate that they love to share deals

The power of social buying is infectious. According to PriceGrabber, 86 percent of respondents indicated that when they find a great deal, they share the information with friends and family. When asked to select all of the ways in which they would share this information, 71 percent said word of mouth; 64 percent chose email and 26 percent shared information through Facebook.

"Our data shows that shoppers truly believe a deal is only as good as the people with whom you enjoy it," said Jones. "Part of the appeal that comes with local deals and group buying is very likely the fact that the discount can be experienced with others. A trend that allows for experiences to be shared will almost certainly have staying power. We are confident that PriceGrabber's local deal category will save consumers money and time by offering them the most efficient way for sharing great deals with their friends and family."

About PriceGrabber.com

PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, is a leading online shopping site with more than 23 million unique shoppers monthly. At PriceGrabber, savvy shoppers can instantly find and compare millions of unique products and services across 25 categories with more than 11,000 merchants. Compare products side by side to find the right retailers at the best prices within popular categories, such as Digital Cameras, Electronics, Computers, Clothing, Books, TVs and more. PriceGrabber provides shoppers with the right product from the right merchant at the best price anytime, anywhere. Visit us at http://www.pricegrabber.com.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was US$4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

SOURCE PriceGrabber.com