Title: Shoppers are abandoning their online carts more than ever — here's why
Headings: Shoppers are abandoning their online carts more than ever — here's why
Shoppers are abandoning their online carts more than ever — here's why
Are we abandoning our shopping carts more often?
Are we more likely to leave certain products in our carts?
As retail stores reopen their doors, shopping is going to look different
Why are we browsing so much but buying less?
There are plenty of reasons why we fill an online cart only to abandon it later, but here are a few of the most common ones:
Psychological effects of browsing but not buying
Do those reminder emails influence consumers?
Shopping malls prepare to welcome back customers as unemployment skyrockets

Content: How does all that browsing affect your mental health? Getty Images stock
Psychological effects of browsing but not buying
Part of the appeal of shopping is the thrill of the chase, and you don't always have to come home with a deal in order to feel satisfied. Sometimes, finding it in the first place is enough. "For the consumer, the act of placing items in an online shopping cart does have positive effects. Just the process itself, even without a final purchase, brings a rush, excitement, anticipation and satisfaction," said Barbara L. Stewart, a professor of human development at the University of Houston's College of Technology. Plus, stepping away from a sweet deal you know you don't need can also feel rewarding and can be a good self-control strategy for impulse purchases. " When a consumer places items in an online cart and then abandons it, they may feel even greater satisfaction and a 'pat on the back' from having decided not to spend the money and being a wise consumer," Stewart said. For the most part, checking out the latest fashions or new home goods is a fun way to sneak in some entertainment, as long as you don't spend too much time endlessly browsing. "Browsing is a harmless way of occupying time and indulging in whatever emotional high one derives by shopping without that nasty surprise at the end of the month when the credit card statement arrives," John P. Vincent, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston said. " Looking without buying may help people cope, but unfortunately can also keep alive the erroneous belief that happiness is linked to what you can buy."