Buying habits change during epidemic as more older people shop online

Love has become a keyword for home-bound Chinese after the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, with a rising number of older consumers learning to buy things online with the help of their children.

According to a report by online fresh food startup Miss Fresh, a surging number of users over 40 years old buy things on its platform, which by Sunday, had grown by 237 percent in a month.

Up to 90 percent of them succeeded in placing an order with the help of their children. Over 13 percent of total users also added their parents' house as a delivery address.

"The epidemic has helped form the consumption habits of middle-aged people and the elderly, which is expected to bring a group of users born after the 1960s and 1970s to online fresh food platforms," the report said.

The report also pointed out that condoms have become hot sellers during the epidemic, with sales increasing by 423 percent compared to the previous month.

Though the epidemic seems to be heartless, a rising number of people showed their kindness. Fifty-six percent of consumers tipped delivery drivers, with the highest tip hitting 2,350 yuan ($334). Users also left more than 200,000 "thanks" and 170,000 "be careful" to deliverymen in the memo.

In total, more than 200 million items and over 30,000 tons of vegetables have been sold through Miss Fresh during the outbreak, it added.