Nearly 80% of Consumers to Cut Back Spend Amid Record Inflation, According to New UJET Research

Brands with Poor Customer Experience will be Cut First as ‘Skimpflation’ Rises

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 13, 2022 - Seventy-nine percent of consumers plan to cancel subscriptions, move to lower-cost providers or renegotiate existing contracts to combat inflation, according to new data released today by UJET, Inc.

The research, which is based on data from 1,600 consumers, reveals a major shift in buyer behavior due to rising prices and ‘skimpflation’ – where companies skimp on the goods and/or service they provide to help combat rising costs. Key findings include:

73% of consumers said they’ll first cut providers and subscriptions with the worst CX or user experience, app or platform.
66% of consumers experienced customer service skimpflation in the past six months – with 87% reporting they will spend less or stop spending money altogether at brands who skimp on customer service.
The top areas consumers are experiencing CX skimpflation are quality of service (60%), wait times (58%) and expertise and helpfulness (54%).

“Rising inflation - along with predictions of a looming recession - have fundamentally changed consumer confidence and purchasing power for the worse. Households are thinking twice about how they spend and are looking to quickly make cuts,” said Vasili Triant, COO of UJET, the world’s most advanced cloud contact center provider. “If brands want to retain consumers through this economic hardship, investing in the customer experience is the only way forward. The bare minimum simply won’t cut it -- skimping on customer service will cost brands customers, revenue and loyalty.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, real consumer spending slowed from a 1.8% annual growth rate in the first quarter to a low 1.0% rate in the spring quarter. With the U.S. economy contracting for the second straight quarter from April to June, all signs point toward recession. Many brands are cutting costs by reducing technology investments, headcount and team trainings. In the contact center, this has led to record wait times, burnt-out employees and insufficient service – as most recently illustrated by the airline industry.

“While these findings are alarming for many brands, for others, it’s an opportunity to double down on their differentiators and expand market share,” said Justin Robbins, who led the research for UJET. “Consumers are clearly saying that CX is a top factor determining how and where they spend money. Smart, customer-centric businesses recognize this. When they see competitors cutting back, they invest more, further increasing loyalty and brand reputation.”

Although some businesses are combating rising prices, labor shortages and ongoing global disruptions with CX skimpflation, UJET’s new research shows that customer service should be one of the last areas brands cut back, if ever, to stay afloat.

To discover more findings, download the full report - Customer Service Skimpflation: The Impact on Sales, Retention, and Loyalty.

About UJET:

UJET is reimagining the contact center for modern consumers and brands. Our one-of-a-kind architecture delivers an entirely new foundation for security, reliability, and scale across customer service operations. A full voice and digital engagement suite is complemented by powerful AI and advanced analytics capabilities, and easy-to-use, intuitive design to make life easier for everyone involved - from customers and agents to supervisors and executives - all while driving meaningful operational efficiencies. Smart device capabilities like channel blending, photo and video sharing, and biometric authentication are available to deploy for full CX transformation when you’re ready. Innovative brands like Instacart, Turo, Wag!, and Atom Tickets trust UJET to deliver exceptional CX, no matter their size or location. So can you.

Learn more at www.ujet.cx and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe to our blog!

Media Contact:

Victoria Stevenson
Corporate Ink for UJET Inc.
617-969-9192
ujet.cx@corporateink.com