Drunk shoppers target sexy purchases

Dutch courage is giving drunk UK shoppers confidence to buy slightly more risqué items online, according to new research from consumer delivery specialist Hermes.

While clothes are the number one item on shopping lists after a night out, the second most popular item bought by drunk UK shoppers is sex aids.

The findings are drawn from The International Online Shopping Survey 2013, commissioned by Hermes, which for the first time includes 1,000 responses from consumers in both Russia and Germany, in addition to 1,000 in the UK.

The alcohol-fuelled purchase of sex aids in Germany and Russia ranked only fourth and sixth respectively, with computer equipment, phones, jewellery and books positioned higher.

Gary Winter, sales and marketing director, Hermes, said: “It is important for people to be careful when shopping online after a few drinks. Our couriers have reported back countless times that they handed over parcels to customers who had no idea what the product was, or even where it was ordered from.”

When asked about their top purchasing mistakes when intoxicated, shoppers said that overpaying for the item was their most common error. Ordering the wrong quantity or size ranked number two, while buying impractical items came in at three. Erratic bidding on eBay and completely forgetting about a purchase until it was delivered also made the list.

Have you made a mistake with drunk online shopping? Leave a comment below and let us know.