One in three Germans steals advice – a pitfall for retailers!

One in three Germans steals advice – a pitfall for retailers!

A recent survey has shown that around one in three consumers in Germany seek advice from brick-and-mortar stores and then make the purchase online. This behavior, known as “advice theft,” is met with mixed reactions. Almost half of those surveyed by YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency expressed a negative opinion about it: 21 percent completely reject it, while 25 percent rather reject it.

Only nine percent are somewhat in favor of the approach, and five percent fully support it. 34 percent of those surveyed remained undecided and stated that they see the situation “partly/partly”. Stefan Genth, chief executive of the German Retail Association (HDE), describes the behavior as extremely painful for retailers who provide their services and information to generate sales.

Dealer in a quandary

Genth also points out that it is much more common for customers to research online and then purchase in store. This shows the current market dynamics that pose a challenge for traditional retailers. However, he emphasizes that it is ultimately consumers' decisions about where to look for information and make their purchases that is the basis for free and fair competition.

In a completely different context, the Ohio State Buckeyes football team recently celebrated success. They secured their ninth national championship in 2024 and are ranked third in the latest Associated Press preseason rankings for the 2025 season with 1,472 points and 11 first-place votes. The Buckeyes have reached a new milestone as they become the first team to appear in the AP Top 25 1,000 times since the rankings were introduced in 1936.

Ohio State and the anticipation of the new season

The Ohio State Buckeyes currently have 978 program wins and only need 22 more to reach 1,000, which could potentially be realized in the 2026 season. In Week 1 of the 2025 season they have an exciting duel against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns ahead. Despite their lower ranking in the AP Ratings, the Buckeyes enter the game as 2.5-point favorites, which represents a rare situation: It's the first time the top-ranked team has been considered an underdog in the first week of the season, according to ESPN Research.

Ohio State's defense was the best in the league in 2024, allowing just 12.9 points allowed per game and 254.6 total yards allowed per game. Fans are excited to see how the team will perform in the coming season and whether they can continue their successful run.