The five days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday are among the busiest shopping days of the year. 2021 was no exception.

Roughly 180 million Americans shopped during this period, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Unsurprisingly, this number is down compared to each of the past two years – 186 million in 2020 and 190 million in 2020 – as consumers began shopping much earlier because of global supply chain issues.

But where things get interesting is when you look closer at how folks are shopping.

Online vs. in-store shopping: What direction is traffic flowing?

It’s common knowledge that most customers prefer to do their shopping online, and the numbers reflect as much.

This year, there were 130 million online shoppers over the five-day period. However, that’s 10% less than 2020 when 145 million bought goods online. Brick-and-mortar, on the other hand, saw traffic move in the other direction.

In 2019, just 90 million Americans went to the stores. This year, 105 million did their shopping in person. While it’s considerably less than the 124 million in-store shoppers from back in 2019, it’s a step in the right direction. 

Of course, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Which begs the question: How satisfied were these individuals? That’s a different story.

Swing and a miss for in-store shoppers 

Malls across the country prepared for shoppers to return on Black Friday. Some went bigger than others.  

New Jersey’s American Dream – the country’s latest and largest mall – was promising gifts worth as much as $800 to the first 500 shoppers. The Irvine Spectrum in Southern California tried to entice customers with free valet parking, carousel rides, and ice skating.

When they arrived, however, many customers were disappointed – especially in the “deals.” 

Shoppers found the bargains were no different than the ones offered online. For example, at Tysons Corner Center in Northern Virginia, stores like H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch were advertising “30% off everything” – which you could get without venturing to the stores.

Once in the store, shoppers had to decide whether buying an item was worth it. At that point, it was often better to take the plunge than risk losing on a desired product. Not an ideal situation. Fortunately, brick-and-mortar stores are evolving.

A modern in-store experience can change the game

The Macy’s and Toys R Us partnership could flip the script on the “shop-in-shop” model. Bloomingdale’s is creating smaller, curated, tech-friendly versions of itself, dubbed “Bloomie’s.” Amazon is bringing the “Just Walk Out” technology to full-size supermarkets. Philly-based delivery service company Gopuff is adding physical locations to its portfolio.

Each of these endeavors are incorporating various elements that have made online the preferred path for shopping. If brick-and-mortar becomes faster, more efficient, tech-centric, and user-friendly, people will be more inclined to step away from their screens and into stores.

While this wasn’t the case this holiday season, there’s always next year. Stay tuned.

Christmas is right around the corner, but for most customers, the holiday shopping season is already well underway — and has been for quite some time.

Thanks to global supply chain issues, limited inventory, and the fear of missing out on hot-ticket items, many consumers began shopping much earlier this year. As a result, brands had to adjust.

Enter: shoppable content — a digital asset – such as video, social media post, advertisement, etc. – that lets customers purchase products directly from the content. 

While this might not be entirely new, brands are leaning into it and finding creative ways to reach, appeal to, and intrigue their customer base. If done correctly, it could pay dividends now and in the future.

Here are some notable examples of how companies are utilizing shoppable content to entice customers during the holidays. 

Pinterest does TV

Pinterest already leads the social media industry in customer satisfaction with an ACSI score of 78, per our most recent E-Business Study. Now, it’s trying its hand at livestream shopping.

Introducing Pinterest TV – “a series of live, original and shoppable episodes featuring creators right on Pinterest” that was launched back in November.

Pinterest will release new episodes every weekday and record them for users to watch on-demand later. Every Friday, there will be exclusive, live product drops from brands like Allbirds, Outdoor Voices, Crown Affair, Mented, and more. 

According to Coresight Research, the livestream market is estimated to reach $6 billion this year and grow to $25 billion by 2023. With this latest endeavor, Pinterest is making its presence known and positioning itself to be a major player. 

Walmart looking to connect through ‘Joy’ 

At the end of October, Walmart announced its “Joy. Fully” campaign, which will embrace multiple “content-to-commerce” pathways. 

Walmart plans to offer holiday shoppable livestreams with numerous publishers and popular influencers, including a large-scale launch of shoppable recipes on Pinterest – where shoppers can effortlessly add ingredients to their Walmart carts for purchase – and a “first-to-market AR lens retail experience” through a partnership with Facebook. The lens uses facial expressions to detect which products “spark joy” for the customer. From there, they can visit Walmart’s “gift finder experience” directly from the AR lens to buy those products.    

Walmart has struggled to satisfy online customers. This year, it sits near the bottom of the internet retail industry after slumping 1% to a score of 73. Perhaps it needs a little “Joy” to turn things around this holiday season.

Dress like your favorite TV show character? Yes, please

It’s true that “Squid Game” took the world by storm after 111 million viewers watched the Netflix original series in under a month. But the streamer also struck gold with “Emily in Paris.” 

Back in October 2020, the story of a young American who lands her dream job in Paris debuted to over 58 million viewers in its first month. Not only did many folks fall in love with the romantic comedy series, but they also fell head over heels for the fashion. 

If only there was an easy way for them to get their hands on the stylish wardrobe. Well, now they can.

Ahead of Season 2’s premier on December 22, ViacomCBS is launching a show-inspired shoppable content pop-up, where customers can purchase curated luxury items on Saks.com and the luxury brands’ e-commerce sites (and select retail stores). Netflix.com will even make some merchandise available for sale as the release date approaches.

The marriage of entertainment and retail through branded merchandise is not uncommon. However, luxury brands aren’t typically at the center of it. This drop changes that, offering fresh and exciting ways for brands to connect to consumers. 

If this succeeds, other retailers and companies may take similar routes.

Curating the online shopping experience

Most consumers prefer to do their shopping online, opting for the speed and efficiency they likely can’t get when shopping in stores. 

Yet, we’ve seen that, compared to other retail industries, online retail is experiencing the biggest satisfaction slump, down 3.7% year over year to a score of 78. As these retailers work to sustain the relationships they’ve built with their customers, they must always be thinking ahead. 

Creating an experience that engages and connects with shoppers directly is one way to keep their attention. Curating that experience to meet them on a personal level is even better. 

Through shoppable content, companies are doing just that. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a more regular part of the shopping experience moving forward.

It wasn’t too long ago that we were singing airlines’ praises. 

At a time when the industry saw revenue decline and passengers become more averse to fly because of COVID-19 (even when travel restrictions loosened up), airlines adapted, finding ways to successfully navigate the murky weather and stay in the good graces of their customers. 

Airlines were the only travel industry to enjoy customer satisfaction improvements, according to our most recent Travel Report, rising 1.3% to an all-time high ACSI score of 76 (out of 100). They took strong safety precautions – making cabin “cleanliness” a main priority – and even blocked off middle seats for extended periods (which aided in enforcing social distancing, while also enhancing seat comfort, up 1% to 73). 

However, they say, “All good things must come to an end.” Given recent events, airlines may soon find themselves facing a satisfaction problem.

Cancellations becoming commonplace

Over the course of five days in August, Spirit Airlines canceled over 1,700 flights because of bad weather (toward the end of July) and staff shortages, impacting “tens or hundreds of thousands” of passengers. According to the airline, more than 2,800 flights were canceled over an 11-day span, resulting in $50 million in lost revenue.

But cancellations weren’t limited to Spirit.

Between Oct. 8 and Oct. 13, Southwest canceled 1,800 flights because of a mixture of air traffic control troubles, poor weather, and staffing problems. Later in the month, American Airlines canceled more than 2,300 flights. According to the airline, most of the cancellations resulted from, you guessed it, crew shortages.

If these cancellations and disruptions were infrequent occurrences, passengers – while understandably annoyed in the moment – may be more forgiving in the long run. But that doesn’t appear to be the case. 

More individuals are looking to travel again, and airlines haven’t been prepared to handle the surge. With the holidays fast approaching, this isn’t exactly the time to be leaving passengers on standby – or worse, grounded. 

Remember what we said about happy employees …

The crux of the issue boils down to staff shortfalls. But this shouldn’t be that surprising.

For months, airlines asked employees to take buyouts, leaves of absences, or early retirements. It was either that or face possible furloughs. Many employees didn’t take the chance.

Almost 17,000 Southwest employees took buyouts or extended leaves of absence. At Delta, 2,235 pilots signed up for early retirements, which offers them partial pay for up to three years and extended health insurance. This comes after the airline had initially proposed a 15% reduction to pilots’ minimum pay to prevent furloughs for a year. 

Now, as air travel ramps up, airlines are struggling to get their staffing in order, and passengers are getting the short end of the stick. To avoid more cancellations, airlines are now trying to entice their employees with additional benefits.

American Airlines is giving flight attendants the chance to earn triple their pay for holiday trips if they have perfect attendance through early January. The airline also said that flight attendants and reserve crew members who work during peak-period trips will receive time and a half. Southwest did the same thing over the summer, offering flight attendants and ground and cargo operations workers double pay for picking up shifts over Independence Day weekend.

Many airline workers, however, aren’t eager to return to work – especially after federal vaccine mandates, which includes airlines, were announced. Of course, there’s a strong likelihood that not all airline staff will be vaccinated this holiday season. A fact that could create discomfort for many travelers.

As we’ve said before, there is a genuine link between employee and customer satisfaction. If your employees are happy, this usually means your customers will be more satisfied. This holiday season, we don’t know which way airline employees will be leaning. And that leaves the state of customer satisfaction pretty much up in the air.

Home for the holidays?

The holidays looked a little bit different over the last 18 months, as many family get-togethers were orchestrated through screens or other means of communication. 

Now, in-person events are picking up and the opportunity to spend the season with friends, family, and loved ones is here for the taking – if those who need flights get them, that is.

Despite improving customer satisfaction during the pandemic, the airline industry’s barrage of mass cancellations and disruptions over the past few months is testing the patience of passengers, potentially destroying any good will it built up lately. 

Airline staff shortages could become the latest wrench thrown into holiday plans. And, even if not, who’s to say these workers will provide the sort of holiday cheer required to keep customers satisfied? We’ll know soon enough.   

For all you heavy streaming fans out there, we have a question: Are you still watching?

While 55% of U.S. consumers added a streaming service in the last year, 36% plan to reduce their number of subscriptions over the next six to 12 months. Which isn’t necessarily all that surprising.

Despite outperforming other telecom industries, satisfaction with video streaming diminished 2.6% to an ACSI score of 74, per our most recent Telecommunications Study. Viewers took issue with everything from the number of TV shows (down 4% to 73) to the quality of original programming (down 3% to 74) to the variety of TV shows by category (down 3% to 74). 

If you combine the screen fatigue that’s been setting in over the past 18 months with this undeniable dissatisfaction with recent content offerings, it’s fair to wonder if the masses have finally reached a breaking point with streaming services. 

We first voiced this concern a few months back but prefaced it as an opportunity: “Perhaps this consumer (summer) break from screen time is exactly what streaming services need. It’ll give them a chance to regroup, rebuild their content libraries, and give people the fresh content they’ve been clamoring for. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.”

It seems streamers answered the call.

Netflix doesn’t play games 

Just when you thought Netflix might be a bit out of touch with consumers – satisfaction with the streaming giant was slipping, down 4% to a score of 75 – it reminded everyone that it knows how to produce hits. 

“Squid Game,” an original South Korean drama about debt-ridden contestants who compete against each other in children’s games (with deadly consequences) for a large cash prize, premiered worldwide on Sept. 17 and quickly became Netflix’s most-watched show of all time. 

In less than a month, 111 million members had tuned in, marking the streamer’s biggest-ever series launch. The previous record-holder, “Bridgerton,” a more light-hearted original, debuted to 82 million households in its first 28 days on the site.

While Netflix didn’t expect “Squid Game” to become a global phenomenon, it understands the importance of investing in international content. This year, it will invest $500 million in South Korean films and TV. Netflix is also spending significantly in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Consumers have been screaming for better original content with more variety. Netflix clearly isn’t playing games (unless it’s “Squid Game”) – and it’s not alone.

Apple TV+ breaking records of its own 

Like Netflix, satisfaction with Apple TV+ was trending in the wrong direction, sliding 3% to 72. Yet, if you’re looking for high-quality original content, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than “Ted Lasso.”

A comedy about an American football coach who’s tapped to manage an English soccer club might sound borderline ridiculous, but it’s easily one of the best shows in recent memory. It’s funny, heartfelt, and smart, with impeccable performances across the board. And critics agree.

“Ted Lasso” earned 20 Emmy nominations – a record for a first-year comedy series – and Apple TV+ became the first streamer to nab an Emmy in a program category in its second year of eligibility. 

If this is the quality of content consumers can come to expect from the young streaming service, then its ACSI score could be turning around faster than you can say, “AFC Richmond.”

Is a streaming resurgence on the horizon? 

By all accounts, consumers appeared frustrated with streaming services. The quality of content was lacking, and there was no variety in sight. Perhaps it was time to change the proverbial channel?

Not so fast. 

Shows like “Squid Game” and “Ted Lasso” are further proof that, when done right, original content resonates with audiences in a way that very few other forms of entertainment can. The real challenge now for streaming services will be to identify other potential international hits rather than hoping derivative material will have the same effect. 

Streaming services remain popular, but the numbers indicate that consumers are less satisfied. Shows like these are a step in the right direction. If consumers feel the same way, they’ll continue watching. Stay tuned to find out. 

Speed. Convenience. Efficiency. These are just some of the reasons that consumers have gravitated to online shopping. But satisfaction with internet retail isn’t as strong as it once was.

According to our most recent Retail and Consumer Shipping Report, customer satisfaction with online retail declines more than any other retail industry, down 3.7% to a score of 78 (out of 100). While still outperforming the likes of department and discount stores (75) and specialty retail stores (77), the margin for error is now razor-thin.

There’s an opportunity for brick-and-mortar stores to regain some of the foot traffic they’ve sacrificed to the e-commerce space, but it won’t happen without a little fine-tuning.

Recently, Macy’s announced a partnership with Toys R Us that could change the “shop-in-shop” model as we know it. And they’re not alone in the quest to reinvent the in-store experience. Here are examples of other companies that are changing their approach to the brick-and-mortar model.

Bloomie’s is no longer just a nickname

Like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s sees an opportunity to spruce up the department store. However, instead of teaming up with a faded – albeit well-known – brand, it’s giving itself a more modern facelift.

Enter Bloomie’s: a smaller (22,000 square feet), modified, tech-centric, toned-down version of Bloomingdale’s that’s built for convenience, ease of use, and speed. The store will have a “tech-enabled stylist service model,” merchandise that’s curated and rotated regularly to introduce new trends, a centralized front desk that’s built to handle everything from returns to in-store and curbside pickups to alterations, and more.   

Some of the biggest gripes customers have with department stores include inventory stocks (74), courtesy and helpfulness of staff (74), frequency of sales and promotions (73), and the speed of the checkout process (72). With the way Bloomie’s is being constructed, many of these woes could easily be addressed.

Gopuff goes brick-and-mortar

If you have a hankering for chips, snacks, beverages, toiletries, and other essentials delivered straight to your door stat, Philly-based delivery service Gopuff is for you. But it’s not stopping at online delivery – Gopuff is going the brick-and-mortar route as well.

The company already has physical locations in Texas and Florida, with plans to open spots in San Francisco and Ardmore. While this may not feel like a reinvention of the in-store experience, the idea of online retailers adding a physical presence to their already burgeoning online portfolio is an interesting development.

As we already pointed out, customer satisfaction with internet retailers took a major hit this past year. While we don’t expect these companies to shift their business models entirely, it couldn’t hurt to expand their reach a little bit.

Sometimes, you want your goods delivered. Other times, it’s more convenient to go to the store. Gopuff is making sure it has both bases covered.

Amazon is ready to revolutionize the grocery store game

Shopping for groceries can be a chore – especially if you’re doing it at a supermarket.

Customer satisfaction with supermarkets declined 2.6% to 76, according to our latest report. Toward the bottom end of the customer experience benchmark is a common pain point: speed of checkout, down 1% to 75.

Would avoiding long checkout lines altogether make the experience more tolerable? Amazon seems to think so.

Based on the planning documents for a store being constructed in Brookfield, Connecticut, Amazon appears ready to bring its automated checkout technology, dubbed “Just Walk Out”, to full-size supermarkets. This could be a game-changer for the industry.

We’ve seen Amazon try to streamline the grocery store experience in other ways, whether it’s using Dash smart carts or the recently introduced Amazon One, which allows customers to pay for items using just their palm (yes, you read that correctly). But this “Just Walk Out” tech is different and could offer an element of convenience the likes of which we’ve never seen.

Right now, Amazon’s Whole Foods ranks just above the industry average after slipping 3% year over year to a score of 77. This technology, if proven successful, could help turn things around.

Time for brick-and-mortar to evolve

Most consumers prefer online shopping. That’s not going to change anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a place for the physical store.

The brick-and-mortar model isn’t going away. It does, however, need to evolve.

Infusing it with elements that promote speed, efficiency, convenience, and technology would go a long way toward improving the in-store experience. Bloomingdale’s, Gopuff, and Amazon got the message. Hopefully, others will too.

It’s a new record for household appliances – and not in a good way.

Customer satisfaction with the industry – including washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ranges/ovens, and over-the-oven microwaves – slides 1.3% to a new all-time low score of 78 (out of 100), per our latest Household Appliance and Electronics Study.

But the bad news doesn’t stop there.

Nearly all the major brands we measured experience satisfaction slips. However, none more so than Bosch, which nosedives 6% to the bottom of the industry at 74.

How did this major appliance manufacturer go from near the top of the category to its worst-ever mark? Let’s take a look.

Earnings up, stock down

Bosch reported strong Q4 earnings, with a five-fold increase in net profits and 44% revenue growth year over year. Yet, the stock tumbled, and the company ended up making significant changes to its board.

Are we surprised? Not really.

Satisfaction is a strong indicator of an organization’s financial performance. Historically, stocks of companies with high ACSI scores perform stronger than companies with low scores. 

For Bosch, the chasm between revenue growth and stock decline seemed to predict what our data now confirms: The company was struggling to keep customers satisfied.  

A less-than-satisfying experience

This is the first year we measured customer experience benchmarks for household appliances. Bosch did not fare well.

From mobile quality and mobile reliability to durability and exterior design, from website satisfaction and warranty coverage to service technician courtesy and outcome of the service repair, and so on, Bosch was at or near the bottom in every single one.  

Not exactly an ideal place to start. Unfortunately, as much as we’d like to say there’s nowhere to go but up, that’s not entirely true.

Appliance and chip shortages remain problematic

COVID-19 brought about a national appliance shortage, and it’s not going away. 

According to one retailer, his three top-rated dishwashers were on back order were four months. Can you guess the manufacturer? If you said Bosch for all three, congratulations, come up and collect your prize.

The global chip shortage is also wreaking havoc. According to BSH – maker of Bosch appliances – some products are facing lead times of up to six months. 

In the end, the consumers are going to end up suffering the most, as they can expect higher prices and longer wait times for the appliances they want.

What’s Bosch’s next move? 

If Bosch is hoping for a cure-all for its satisfaction woes, it’s out of luck. 

The appliance manufacturer has a lot of ground to make up, and until this chip shortage gets sorted out, it could be years before production fully recovers. 

The only silver lining – if you can call it that – is that other household appliance companies are in a similar boat. This year, GE Appliances (Haier) slides 3% to 78, while Whirlpool hits an all-time satisfaction low after dropping 3% to a score of 77.

Sure, Bosch is firmly planted at the bottom of the industry. But the consumers have spoken and laid out their expectations. It’s now up to Bosch to clean up its mess. 

The “shop-in-shop” concept is not new.

Sephora has been putting mini shops in JCPenney stores for over a decade, and it’s now doing the same with Kohl’s. Ulta Beauty and Target have a similar arrangement, while Apple will open mini stores in 17 Targets, with plans for further expansion.

So, when word of Macy’s and Toys R Us’ new partnership broke – which includes a “shop-in-shop” strategy – it felt like a non-story. But that’s not entirely true. 

Despite following a repeated model, this case is more unique and could have bigger windfalls that redefine how these partnerships are approached in the future. Let us explain. 

Macy’s is bringing toy stores back

Unlike Sephora, Ulta, and Apple, Toys R Us is not a thriving standalone brick-and-mortar retail brand. In fact, it’s not a brick-and-mortar anything. That’s about to change.

Next year, Toys R Us will be in over 400 Macy’s department stores. In other words, save for the rare mom-and-pop shop, Macy’s is essentially bringing back physical toy stores – a place where kids (and adults) can play with actual toys. And that opens a world of possibilities. 

For Toys R Us, it’s the chance to hitch its wagon to a relevant brand and dip its toes back into the retail game without overextending. For Macy’s, it’s a chance to recreate the ultimate department store experience of yesteryear – a little Miracle on 34^th Street magic, if you will. And boy do they need it.

Department stores were struggling before COVID-19 cut off foot traffic and sent in-sales stores plummeting. The pandemic hasn’t helped. Macy’s same-store sales dropped by more than 20%, and the company announced it’ll be closing dozens of stores this year. Further, in our most recent Retail and Consumer Shipping Report, customer satisfaction with Macy’s dropped 1% to a score of 77 among department and discount stores. 

With this new arrangement, Macy’s has signaled it isn’t ready to give up just yet. It’s looking to flip the script, transforming into a one-stop shop for shoes, shirts, pants, ties, makeup, and toys. Macy’s can position itself as a place the whole family can enjoy. Talk about marketability. 

And the benefits are not limited to the physical retail space.

A new place to purchase toys online

For a stretch, Target ran Toys R Us’ website. Now, that honor belongs to Macy’s. It couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

On the internet retail side, customer satisfaction with Macy’s tumbled 4% to 77. The retailer now sits below the industry average. 

Although Macy’s is struggling from a satisfaction standpoint, the retailer has a growing online customer base and a burgeoning toy business. Powering Toys R Us’ website should only improve its standing in the space.

Meanwhile, Toys R Us, which still has name recognition, gets prime real estate on the Macy’s website, likely expanding its reach to new customers. It’s a real win-win possibility. 

The reward outweighs the risk 

There’s always risk in deals like these. And there are no guarantees that this will be a fruitful partnership. But it feels like a risk worth taking.

Macy’s customer satisfaction was slipping both in-store and online, and it needed a jolt. Toys R Us, well, do you really need to ask?

Together, however, there’s something exciting brewing. 

Whether you’re searching for a new place to shop for toys online or eager for the chance to get your hands on the toys themselves, this Macy’s and Toys R Us partnership has all the makings of a slam dunk. 

The shine surrounding luxury vehicles has all but vanished.

According to our recent Automobile Study, customer satisfaction slid another 1% to an ACSI score of 78 following a 4% loss last year. The luxury segment now stands just one point ahead of mass-market manufacturers, steady at 77. 

Luxury automakers’ satisfaction advantage over their mass-market counterparts has been dissipating over the years. It’s all but vanished lately – and now, the line between the two segments is blurrier than ever. 

Which begs the question: What is luxury anymore?

The changing perception of luxury vehicles 

The widespread belief has been that luxury cars weren’t just fancy; they were also better made. But the idea that luxury equals a superior ride doesn’t necessarily hold up anymore. 

In terms of customer experience, luxury and mass-market vehicles rate the same for dependability (81), driving performance (81), gas mileage (76), and, even, vehicle safety (82). 

As for the attractive features that typically set luxury vehicles apart, they don’t have the same impact they once did. 

Customers agree that luxury cars outshine mass-market vehicles in terms of interior (82 to 80), comfort (82 to 80), and technology (80 to 77). But the gap in each of these categories is smaller than the previous year. And the slight advantages aren’t enough to give luxury manufacturers a leg up overall.  

In another surprise twist, luxury manufacturers can no longer point to their vehicles’ “look” and “overall style” as differentiators. After slipping 2% year over year, luxury falls into a tie with mass-market vehicles for exterior at 81. 

The fluidity of the auto industry

Last year, we pointed out that luxury vehicles were losing their luster in satisfaction. However, now we’re seeing that it’s less about the luxury segment falling by the wayside and more about the fluidity that exists in the auto industry. 

Manufacturers are altering the look and feel of certain vehicles to exude higher quality. 

Honda’s 2022 Civic Sedan, for example, boasts a cleaner exterior, a streamlined interior, and more tech features. The automaker, as it were, now sits atop all automobiles and light vehicles after surging 4% to a score of 82.   

Honda isn’t the only mass-market manufacturer making strides this year. Subaru (up 3% to 81), Hyundai (up 4% to 79), Dodge (up 4% to 78), and Ford (up 3% to 78) all show relatively strong gains year over year. 

Mass-market vehicles used to be the bare-bones option to get you from point A to point B, with flashy features only reserved for the luxury class. Now, mass-market manufacturers offer a range of add-ons to rival any high-end vehicle. You might not get all the bells and whistles, but with accessories like touchscreen controls, Bluetooth pairing, rearview cameras, and blind spot detection, you could beef up a car with a lower base price to feel more luxurious. 

Room for improvement in autos

Luxury versus mass-market. It’s easy to distinguish them based on name recognition. BMW, Lexus, and Audi evoke a certain image compared to Honda, Subaru, and Ram.

Yet, the flashier components – interior, exterior, technology – no longer give luxury vehicles a significant edge. And in terms of basics like dependability, drivability, and vehicle safety, the gap between luxury and mass-market has disappeared. 

That doesn’t mean, however, that customers are totally satisfied with their vehicles. This is most evident when looking at warranties and gas mileage. Mass-market manufacturers score 76 for both, while luxury automakers score 78 and 76, respectively.

The fluidity in the industry has led to a neck-and-neck race between mass-market and luxury vehicles. It’ll be interesting to see what factors lead to one – if any – breaking away in the years to come. 

At first glance, user satisfaction with e-business can best be described as steady.  

Per our E-Business Study 2020-2021, all three e-business industries – social media, news and opinion, and search engines and information – are unchanged year over year, with ACSI scores of 70, 74, and 76, respectively. 

However, if you dig deeper than the industry level, you’ll quickly realize these marks don’t tell the whole story. 

Take Twitter and FoxNews.com, for example. These two entities are extremely popular among the masses. Currently, Twitter has 353 million monthly active users and generated $3.72 billion in revenue last year. Meanwhile, Fox News Digital had a record year in 2020. 

But popularity and customer satisfaction don’t always go hand in hand. Regrettably for Twitter and FoxNews.com, that’s not a good thing.

Twitter takes an epic fall

User satisfaction with Twitter tanks, dropping 10% to an ACSI score of 61. With the biggest decline across all three e-business categories, Twitter now sits in last place among social media companies.  

Users feel that Twitter is worse in every customer experience benchmark – sometimes, significantly worse. They say the social media network is harder to navigate, lacks variety of services and information, and offers poor site performance. And we haven’t even touched on privacy. 

While privacy has the industry’s worst score among customer experience benchmarks, users feel social media improves in this area (69 to 71). However, it’s Twitter’s biggest issue, according to the data. The social media giant finishes near the bottom of the industry in this area.”

This shouldn’t be all that surprising if you follow the news. Twitter has received negative press for countless security blunders, including a cryptocurrency scam stemming from the hacks of high-profile accounts like President Joe Biden, Kanye West, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and more. 

Twitter also faces a “content” problem. According to users, the content isn’t as fresh or relevant as last year. Identifying who is most dissatisfied with Twitter is a fool’s errand. 

Individuals on both sides of the political spectrum have voiced frustration with Twitter. Conservatives, upset over numerous account suspensions – like former President Donald Trump’s – are citing attacks on free speech, while liberals are perturbed that Twitter waited so long to curb the spread of misinformation.

FoxNews.com faces unfamiliar territory

FoxNews.com’s satisfaction struggles aren’t as sudden or intense as Twitter’s, but the writing’s been on the wall, it seems, for some time.

In 2012, FoxNews.com led internet news and opinion with an ACSI score of 84. By 2014, that number dropped to 76. It climbed as high as 79 in 2016, but FoxNews.com hasn’t hit 80 or above since 2013 – when it was 82 – and user satisfaction has declined for three years straight.

This year, FoxNews.com stumbles 4% to a new record-low score of 72. While that’s still good enough to remain atop individually measured sites, it now shares the lead with USAToday.com, and its position as the industry’s bona fide leader is in jeopardy.

According to users, FoxNews.com’s site performance is poorer, the content is less fresh, and the site is more difficult to navigate. Additionally, when it comes to the ease of using the site on different devices, FoxNews.com is among the industry’s worst. 

Can Twitter and FoxNews.com find their footing?

Twitter and FoxNews.com aren’t the only ones in the e-business sector experiencing satisfaction slumps, but their declines are the most notable. 

FoxNews.com is now closer to the middle of the pack in internet news and opinion than it is to the top, and Twitter now sits at the bottom of social media.

They each have work to do to turn things around, but at least users are giving them an idea of what needs to be fixed. Twitter users desire fresher and more content, as well as a greater variety of services and information, while FoxNews.com readers wish the site was easier to navigate and easier to use on different devices.

There’s no guarantee that making these changes will improve satisfaction, but it can’t hurt. Given each of their current situations, any improvements might be welcome.   

Customers got beef with burger joints.

According to our Restaurant Study 2020-2021, burger chains hold four of the bottom five spots among fast food restaurants. Jack in the Box (unchanged), Sonic (down 1%), and Wendy’s (down 4%) all have ACSI scores of 73, while McDonald’s sits at the bottom of the industry, stable at 70.

Although you might think this spells trouble for the patty pioneers, a closer look reveals that the burger experience isn’t all bad.

In its ACSI debut, Five Guys finishes near the top of the limited-service restaurant industry with a score of 78. Let’s see how this newcomer managed to outshine its fellow burger makers in its first appearance.

Five Guys offers 5-star experience with a mouth-watering burger

Five Guys outperforms the other burger chains in most customer experience benchmarks.

For starters, the fast casual burger chain has the most helpful and courteous staff. Food orders are most accurate at Five Guys, and it boasts superior restaurant layout and cleanliness.

Five Guys also stands out for store speed, reliability of mobile app, and likely the most appealing, food quality. We’re not saying it’s the best burger you’ll ever have, but some customers legitimately feel that way.

In truth, it’s easy to get behind the Five Guys way of doing burgers: The patties are fresh and made to order (no frozen patties here), there are free unlimited toppings (15 different toppings really, but that’s still pretty good), and the fries are crispy, tasty, fresh (obviously), and you get them by the boatload.

This burger joint may be in the fast food category, but make no mistake, this thing is gourmet.

Identifying the secret sauce

Although Five Guys has quickly established itself as the burger place to beat, some aspects of the customer experience do allow room for improvement.

Customers agree, for instance, that Five Guys’ mobile app, while reliable, lacks the quality of other fast food restaurants. Beverage quality and variety fall behind those of its burger brethren as well.

Five Guys also doesn’t offer as wide a variety of food. However, it’s difficult to hold this last point against them. They’re known for their burgers, and they consistently deliver excellent burgers.

Certainly, there’s something to be said for not spreading yourself out too thin. Chick-fil-A has led the fast food industry – and all restaurants – for seven straight years, and its bread and butter is chicken. Specializing seems to be working out well for them so far.

Other traditional burger places have attempted to branch out. Wendy’s launched a breakfast menu, and the brand is near the bottom in food quality and the fast food category overall (73 ACSI score). Burger King is expanding its palate with the new Ch’King sandwich, and the jury’s still out on that one. But the restaurant’s ACSI score of 76 places it below the industry average.

The lackluster performance of burger joints in this year’s Restaurant Study could be a reflection of the sheer volume of quick-service restaurants customers can now choose from. Diners have either tired of burgers altogether, or if they’re ordering one, their expectations for quality are high.

And this is where Five Guys performs well. So, while the company could choose to improve the quality of its mobile app, it will likely have no bearing on its burgers (which is all that really matters). As long as those patties remain fresh and delicious, customers should stay plenty satisfied.