Brits slapped with ASSOs (anti-social shopper orders) as online shopping goes extreme

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Brits slapped with ASSOs (anti-social shopper orders) as online shopping goes extreme.

The true scale of Britain's addiction to internet shopping can be revealed today, with new research highlighting the lengths we'll go to bag a bargain. According to Give as you Live, the shopping and price comparison site with a heart, almost half (48%) of us shop in bed, 1 in 10 (11%) on the toilet and 1 in 100 (1%) during sex.

A further 1 in 10 (11%) of us admit to shopping online whilst dining or drinking out – a clear sign that the rise of smartphones and tablets has led to an increase in shopping taking place in previously off-limits areas.

Give as you Live, who commissioned the study, is an award-winning shopping and price comparison website that lets you raise money for your favourite charity, just by shopping online. According to their research, men are the biggest culprits of the non-stop shop, with more men than women admitting to shopping on the toilet, when dining or drinking out, on a date and even during sex.

Men are from planet retail

	On the loo	Eating/drinking out	During sex	On a date
Men	13%	13%	2%	2%
Women	7%	9%	1%	<1%

Steff Lewis, Head of Consumer Insights at Give as you Live, said: "The ability to compare prices and product reviews means that internet shopping has become a staple for many of us – but there's a time and a place! Shopping on the loo or in bed is fine, but on a date or during sex – really? We're slapping the culprits with ASSOs – we hope they learn their lesson!"

Bed, toilet and anti-social shopping capitals of the UK

For Madchester fans, the de facto English second city can evoke memories of late nights, lager and a pioneering music scene. But Manchester is also the bed shopping capital of England, with a whopping two thirds (59%) of locals shopping from a sedentary position.

Across the Irish Sea, Belfast is known well as being known as the home of the Titanic and Game of Thrones. Today, Give as you Live is adding to the city's fame with the sought-after 'toilet shopping capital' award, as one fifth (22%) of residents admit to a lavatorial purchase.

Back in England, York residents have earned their city the title of anti-social shopping capital of the UK, with 18% shopping online whilst dining or drinking out.

Steff Lewis added, "If you're going to shop in bizarre situations, you should at least support UK charities at the same time to elevate that anti-social behaviour somewhat. Give as you Live is the only price comparison site where every purchase helps charity; so whether you're buying lingerie on the loo or DVDs on a date, make sure you support a good cause while you're doing it."

When consumers compare prices and then shop through any of Give as you Live's 3,500 partner retailers, a percentage of their spend goes to the charity of their choice – or to Give as you Live's charity of the month. Shoppers don't have to spend a penny more - as it's the retailer who makes the donation.

To date, Give as you Live has helped to raise over £4.8 million for UK charities. Every registered UK charity can benefit; and over 3,500 online retailers are taking part, from Tesco to Amazon, Selfridges to lastminute.com, ASOS.com and many more.