Cash, cards, hold no joy for forgetful shoppers

One in three shoppers failed to complete a purchase because they forget to bring their cash or credit cards, a survey by HSBC's e-wallet provider PayMe shows.

The average amount for the missed deal was HK$2,183.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation's PayMe, a Hong Kong-based cashless payment system, conducted a survey last December of over 1,000 local consumers on their shopping habits and payment difficulties.

The survey revealed that 36 percent of respondents could not complete an intended purchases because they forget to bring cash or a credit card, and the average value of these missed purchases was HK$2,183.

Additionally, 10 percent of respondents aged between 18 and 24 reported experiencing this upwards of five times.

In terms of daily shopping, 53 percent of respondents said the long queues at checkouts were their biggest frustration, followed by stores only accepting cash (21 percent) and forgetting or having expired shopping vouchers (15 percent).

Regarding mobile payment habits, over 50 percent of respondents cited convenience and discount benefits as the main appeal of e-wallets, followed by avoiding contact with cash (39 percent).

Chief executive Dharini Kannan Hemant said PayMe will continue to improve its functionality, promote the use of e-wallets and support local businesses by building a comprehensive consumption ecosystem covering dining, shopping and leisure.