
Background information
Confession: I’m a shopaholic
by Thomas Meyer

A recently introduced feature on Galaxus provides customers with an overview of how much they’ve been spending on online shopping over the last months and years. It also has an option to set a spending limit.
A new overview feature shows customers how much money they’ve been spending on Galaxus – no calculator needed.
A few weeks ago, a test link for the new feature popped up in my inbox. I clicked and was shocked. Turns out, I’ve spent a mid-five-figure sum in recent years, essentially reinvesting a large chunk of my salary in my employer. This had me questioning whether my shopping habits were healthy.

A solid year ago, Thomas Meyer asked himself the same question in an article he posted on Galaxus. His confession «I’m a shopaholic» got the ball rolling and inspired the new feature.
«The idea was spawned by his article,» says Thomas Bachmann, Product Owner at Galaxus and the man in charge of the new spending tracker. The first step Thomas and his team took was to ask the customers about their shopping behaviour. Four per cent stated that they struggled to stick to their budget. But the big surprise was revealed by another figure: half of those surveyed said they already tracked their spending using tools such as budget spreadsheets or apps. This gave rise to project Shop Mindfully – a tool that provides customers with a clear and transparent overview of how much they’ve been spending on Galaxus.
Customers can access the feature at several points throughout the customer journey: their shopping cart, order overview and in their account under Purchases & Sales. The monthly or yearly overview breaks down expenses by product category. Returns and cancelled products aren’t displayed. There’s also the option to deep dive into a specific order by clicking on the product group.
What’s more, customers can set an individual spending limit. If it’s exceeded, a warning will appear in their shopping cart. However, it won’t block their purchase in any way. «We want to encourage customers to shop mindfully,» says Thomas. «Whether they do or not, is ultimately still up to them».

It sounds contradictory. An online retailer making its customer base aware of how much they’re spending and providing a way to shop with intention? «It probably doesn’t promote business,» says Thomas Bachmann. «But it reflects our DNA.»
Galaxus has been committed to radical honesty for years: real customer reviews in advertising campaigns as well as graphics displaying the price development and reported warranty cases and return rates for products and brands. «An expense overview is the next logical step,» Thomas adds.
What do you make of the new feature and how much have you spent on Galaxus over the last few years? Let us know in the comments!
As a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.
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