Is there any question people won't answer in a survey? Apparently not.
According to results announced by CashStar, which bills itself as "the world's leading digital gifting and incentives company," more than 38 million online adult Americans admit to having shopped online while on the toilet.
The survey, conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CashStar from November 6-8, 2012, also found that almost 17 million shopped using a mobile device while standing in the retailer's physical store.
Blame it on smartphones
"Smartphones and tablets have enabled consumers to shop and gift on-the-go in more ways and places than ever before," said David Stone, co-founder and CEO of CashStar. "The retailers who have been paying attention and catering to where and how consumers want to shop by mobile-optimizing their e-commerce sites and offering mobile eGift Cards will reap the rewards this holiday season and have a jump on the competition going into 2013."
In fact, he says retailers on the CashStar platform whose eGift Card Website "is optimized for mobile" have seen 3,700 percent more sales from mobile devices this year than retailers whose sites are not mobile-optimized because the experience is so much better, faster and easier for consumers.
Surprising shopping trends
The strangest places consumers have shopped?
Do not disturb -- Men were more inclined to shop while on the toilet than women.
Shopping and driving -- Despite the danger, more than four million Americans have shopped online while driving a car.
Just checking email at the conference table? -- More than nine million Americans admitted they have secretly shopped while in a business meeting.
Bringing physical and online retail together -- More west coasters indicated that they were inclined to do this than people in other regions of the country.
Milk, bread, and that new flat screen -- More than seven million Americans have filled their grocery and online shopping carts at the same time; they have shopped from their mobile device while at the grocery store.
How they voted
Yes
Yes