Avoid making any MAJOR purchases on your phone… especially if you’re part of the boomer generation!
It may seem like the more convenient option, but there are many reasons why you should avoid making any MAJOR purchases on your phone. All the generations have squabbled about everything from jean styles to interpreting the word preppy.
But one of the most recent battles has been phone versus laptop purchases. It all began with an innocent post on social media stating that “booking flights on the phone is crazy. That it’s a laptop activity.”
That post caught the attention of millions, sparking a debate about whether or not one should make significant purchases on a mobile device. We get that some people only have mobile devices, so they make it work.
And let’s get real: At this point, we’re all well-versed in two-factor authentication, right? Well, just because we’re comfortable on our phones doesn’t mean it’s the best way to shop, especially for bigger purchases.
Read on to learn about 5 reasons you should avoid making any MAJOR purchases on your phone… and intelligent steps to take if you MUST shop on a mobile device.
Drip and friction
One big reason most retailers would love it if you started making major purchases on your phone is what you could term “friction.” These are all the extra steps and open windows that slow down the buying process a little bit.
If you’ve ever had your finger twitch at the wrong moment and bought the wrong seats for a show, you know how crucial that friction can be. Another reason a PC or laptop is a better option for a considerable purchase is drip pricing.
This is when the initial advertised price of something like a plane ticket is extremely low. Yet, every single amenity, add-on, or adjustment adds more fees, usually behind the scenes.
Individuals tend to make worse spending judgments when dealing with drip pricing strategies because, by the time they realize how much higher the final price is, they don’t believe going back and restarting the process is worth the money they save by making different choices.
This impact if you make any major purchases on your phone can be more potent because of the perceived difficulty level of jumping back and starting over. It’s also because it can be more difficult to see the extra costs added to the total each time you tap on something.
It’s easier to spontaneously buy… and smash your budget
Now that we have all this technology like GooglePay and ApplePay, all you have to do is double tap while making major purchases on your phone.
This kind of convenience can definitely be helpful, but the question remains: Who is it more useful for? The consumer spending money or the retailer making money?
Because we don’t have to type anything in when using a payment app, making a significant purchase can be mindless when it should really take more reflection.
Bigger screen benefits
Even if your smartphone is one of those big folding monsters, there’s a fundamental reason buying stuff on your desktop or laptop is a better way to go than making major purchases on your phone: Information!
You can see more of it on a bigger screen with numerous browser tabs. Even a modest laptop screen of 15 inches can display much more knowledge at a glance than a phone screen.
The expanded screen real estate also makes it easier to flip between browser tabs to compare prices or look up information that can augment or inform your purchase, like digital coupons.
There’s an element of personal preference here, obviously. People who use their phones for every single aspect of their lives might not have an issue with managing 10 browser tabs opened on that tiny screen.
But they’re not getting all of the information on a single screen that a PC or laptop user is getting. And when you make any major purchases on your phone, more information is always a better idea.
Focus
When making major purchases on your phone, you usually fight against the innate way we use these devices.
PC and laptops are frequently used first in school applications and then at our jobs, while we tend to use our phones more casually, frequently as a distraction.
That slight difference can affect how well we focus when making online purchases, making it easier to fall into impulse buying on our phones. The ease of the transaction can aggravate this.
Getting up to open your laptop or boot up the computer forces us to pause before you click “buy” and so-called “dark patterns.” These are design tricks that manipulate you into spending more or making more impulsive choices.
And this can be more effective on mobile devices. The most crucial part of online shopping is that you’re comfortable with the process.
So, if you favor making purchases, even for big-ticket items, on your phone, you do. But it’s worth considering the advantages of the larger screen.
Certain websites may not be optimized for mobile
Even though this isn’t as much of an issue as it used to be, as more brands have shifted to making their sites mobile-friendly, it still comes into play in particular situations.
This is most applicable when purchasing something like sports tickets, during which your phone might slow down because it has to take in so much information simultaneously with hundreds, maybe thousands, of other people.
You may also notice a problem if you’re on a “builder,” like one that allows you to customize jewelry or a car, given that it’s a more intricate program than simple images and text.
This also applies to making major purchases on your phone for airplane tickets, when you might want to check alternate dates or airports to find the best price.
Bonus: Tips for making major purchases on your phone
In certain cases, making major purchases on your phone is unavoidable. So for when these situations come up, here’s how to ensure you’re doing your due diligence:
-Take a break: Most folks use their phone as an impulse tool. So, keeping this in mind, the best practice we can recommend is to do your research and then take a break. Return later and finish the purchase when you’re not so wrapped up. Maybe watch a fun movie in the meantime!
-Read the reviews (on—and off-site): It’s always smart to take the time to read reviews because they provide the most impartial feedback. You’ll want to prioritize reading posts and watching videos from content creators designed for mobile consumption.
-Confirm the return policy: You should always do this regardless of the device you’re on, but it’s easier to forget when you’re on your phone. And by the way, it can be harder to find the policy on a mobile. It’s essential for significant purchases because you can waste tons of money on something you can’t use or don’t want.
-Enlarge the images to see the details: It’s more challenging to know every nook and cranny when dealing with a smaller screen, but always rely on the zoom function.
-Double-check your purchase before checking out: With small screens… and even smaller buttons, it’s reasonable to assume you might accidentally add the wrong size, color, or number of items to your cart. So be sure to take the extra second before paying to ensure you order exactly what you want.
Have you considered these aspects when making major purchases on your phone? Please share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below.
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