Sony PSP tops 2010 list of ‘most returned tech gadgets’

Oct 21, 2010 – Research and purchase return statistics from the UK’s leading discount voucher code website has found the top ten ‘most returned tech gadgets’ of 2010, with Sony’s PSP handheld console topping the list. According to return information, 6.2% of PSPs are returned.

A related survey of 1,833 people by www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk found that 62% of Brits have returned technology purchases in the last year, with 34% suggesting that ‘disappointment’ with the purchases was the main reason for doing so.

Sony feature three times in the list of most returned gadgets, with their Reader eBook listed at 7th on account of the percentage of units returned and Sony netbooks in at tenth, across a large number of retailers listed through MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.

41% of the respondents that said they have returned products said that having bought a product, they often return it when they weigh up whether or not they can actually afford to keep it, both in terms of the initial cost and ongoing costs.

17% said that they were often influenced to buy products based on ‘hype’. Of the people that admitted to purchasing a product due to hype, the returns rate was higher, with 82% saying they’d returned technology purchases in the last year.

The top ten most returned technology products are as follows, by percentage of purchases that are returned:

1.    Sony PSP – 6.2%
2.    Kindle – 5.7%
3.    Apple iPad – 4.9%
4.    Microsoft Xbox 360 – 4.8%
5.    HTC Desire phone – 4.6%
6.    iPhone 4 – 4.5%
7.    Sony Reader eBook – 4.2%
8.    TomTom satnavs – 4.1%
9.    Motorola Bluetooth headsets – 4%
10.  Sony netbooks – 4%

Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk had the following to say,

“As retailers and consumers are gearing up for Christmas, we wanted to look at the items people are buying and returning – often in disappointment. The fact that Sony have three products in the top ten is in likeliness simply because their products are at the higher end of the price range.

“The surprising aspect of the list is that the products are, on the whole very prominent and popular sellers, via our partnered retailers. I personally believe that the recession may in part be responsible for many returns, with consumers questioning whether or not the product is worth the money they paid for it.”

He concluded,

“My advice for consumers would be to pay close attention to returns policies and the term in which you can claim your money back. The majority of retailers will be a lot less happy to receive a product if it’s been used, for instance.”

LINK http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk  

ENDS

For more information, please contact Rich Leigh, 10 Yetis PR Agency on 01452 348 211 or rich@10yetis.co.uk

EDITORS NOTES

Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29, his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year

Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009

MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site