According to the latest Ipsos survey into customers’ preferences regarding channels of communication with service providers (customer service desks), the traditional options of seeing somebody in person, sending a letter by post and contact by telephone are still those chosen most often. Signs of change can be seen in what is known as ‘generation Y’, making much greater use of modern forms of contact such as e-mail, inquiries submitted on-line via providers’ web sites, or live chat on-line conversation.
Most effective channels of communication according to customers
The usage of various channels for communicating with service providers is widespread in Poland. 89% of consumers at least occasionally contact a customer service desk. Personal contact is important both for older and younger generations. Modern channels, such as e-mail, web site inquiries and on-line chatting, are used much less often, despite awareness of these options being pretty high.
The research company Ipsos is launching a new survey, ‘The Polish OTC Consumer’. Its goal is to analyse Poles’ habits and attitudes towards non-prescription medicines and parapharmaceutics.
‘The Polish OTC Consumer’ is a survey designed to embrace the following issues: assessment of one’s own health and resistance; prophylaxis; the most common disorders; self-treatment; the role of the doctor and pharmacist; sources of information on OTC medicines and parapharmaceutics; the process of buying such products; reasons for buying; and attitudes towards health and medicines. Consumer segmentation based on attitudes towards health and OTC products will constitute an important part of the report.
Two thirds of parents with children aged 4-18 give their kids spending money - at least from time to time. The average allowance is approximately 50 PLN a month, with older children (aged 16-18) getting an average of 76 PLN a month. They spend this money primarily on candy, newspapers, magazines, beverages, as well as costs associated with using cell phones and toys. Children also have a significant influence on their parents' shopping decisions.
Where do children acquire money?
Over half the Polish population have a camera in their homes. Most of them are simple compact models, taking their pictures on film. Those buying new cameras, though, are choosing digital devices most often; if this trend continues, then in just a few years amateur digital photography will displace traditional photography.
What kinds of camera do we have?
Over half the people of Poland (55%) have a working camera in their homes. Most of these are cameras using film (86% of homes with a camera), while much less common types are digital cameras (in 18%), mobile phones equipped for taking photographs (7%) and other camera types, including Polaroid models (2%).
What kind of camera do you or any other members of your household have?
According to a study of Internet service users conducted by Ipsos, the growth of the Internet in Poland primarily rests on the slow but systematic increase in the individual users category. The percentage of those who use the Internet has stabilized.
In the group of individual Internet users, dial-up links continue to be popular (42%), while a majority of the rest use some form of permanent link. Seven in ten of those who don't have a permanent link are not interested in installing one. Three quarters of individual users do not know how fast their home Internet link is.
A majority of Poles (55%) are satisfied with the fact that Poland has become a member of the European Union. A quarter of the respondents (27%) expressed dissatisfaction with this fact. The main reason for fears relating to Poland's accession to the EU are concerns about rising prices.
Change in prices after Poland's accession to the European Union
