66% of Americans Are Making Purchases Earlier Than Planned, Due to Tariffs or Other Concerns, According to New Position Imaging/Harris Poll Survey

Concerns Drive Early Shopping; Secure Delivery Options Key to Supporting E-Commerce for Big-Ticket Items

STRATHAM, N.H., June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans navigate a shifting retail landscape marked by inflationary fears and confusion over tariffs, a new survey, commissioned by Position Imaging and conducted by The Harris Poll, reveals consumer sentiment around shopping and shipping behaviors. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (66%) report they will make certain purchases sooner than planned this year, primarily driven by concern over price increases tied to tariffs (51%). More than a third (36%) will shop early due to concerns of products going out of stock.

While convenience likely continues to fuel online shopping, concerns about delivery logistics, particularly for larger purchases, are reshaping consumer behavior. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) say they are more likely to purchase oversized or big-ticket items, like TVs or exercise equipment, in-store rather than order them online for delivery. Among apartment and condo dwellers, this trend holds steady at 66%.

"It's clear that consumers are feeling vulnerable when it comes to how, and whether their purchases will arrive safely, particularly for more expensive or oversized items," said Ned Hill, Founder and CEO of Position Imaging. "Our latest findings reaffirm that this concern is not just background noise, it's actively influencing shopping behavior. As online shopping accelerates, trust in secure, scalable, and future-proof delivery solutions is increasingly shaping where and how consumers choose to buy."

Importantly, the survey found that 64% of Americans would feel more confident making oversized item or big-ticket purchases online to be delivered if they had access to a secure package storage room. This number rises to 68% among apartment and condo residents, a demographic often most impacted by the delivery challenges experienced at multifamily properties and student housing.

Younger Americans are significantly more likely to be making purchases sooner than planned this year, with 87% of those ages 18–34 and 83% of those ages 35–44 saying they have or will expedite purchases, compared to just 66% of those ages 45–54, 53% of those 55–64, and 38% of those 65+. The data shows a generational divide, with Gen Z and Millennial consumers more proactively adjusting their shopping behavior.

"As tariffs and other concerns drive earlier and more deliberate purchasing decisions, it's clear that reliable delivery infrastructure has evolved from a nice-to-have amenity into a foundational component of modern multifamily living," added Hill. "Secure package storage rooms, such as our Smart Package Room solution, remove friction from the fulfillment process and ensure that all packages–even oversized ones–are secured inside an access-controlled room for convenient resident pickup."

Position Imaging's Smart Package Room system is an all-in-one package management solution that automates the process of package delivery and pickup using AI-powered computer vision technology. The future-proof, customized solution is deployed across residential, student housing, and commercial properties nationwide, providing a more secure and efficient experience for couriers, property managers, and residents alike.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Position Imaging from June 3-5, 2025 among 2,081 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact:

SOURCE Position Imaging