Wealthy people still prefer shopping the old-fashioned way

New York

EVEN as shoppers flock to the Internet to get the skinny on everything they want to buy, many wealthy patrons still prefer the traditional method. They want to go to shops, peruse the racks, and have a salesperson help them pick out the perfect item, according to a new survey.

Research and advisory firm the Luxury Institute surveyed 1,600 wealthy people about their shopping habits. The men and women earn at least US$150,000 a year and boast an average net worth of US$2.9 million. The study found that very few affluent shoppers research exactly what they want to buy, then go out and make the purchase. Instead, they'd rather walk around a store and see things up close. Plus, many insist on guidance from living, breathing humans.