Real persona run

Can a low-tech shopper find the right desk lamp?

A single simulated persona, on a live site, with no script beyond the task.

Persona

52-year-old cautious shopper

Low tech confidence · risk-averse

Objective

Find a rechargeable, brightness-adjustable desk lamp on IKEA.

Full session replay — every step, in real time. No purchase was made.

FailedOutcome
LowConfidence at exit
4Friction points

Three moments that mattered

Arrival

A location drawer, cookie panel and app promotion competed for attention before shopping could even begin.

Which one do I have to deal with first?

Search breaks down

A fully-described query — “rechargeable desk lamp” — returned office desks instead of lamps.

If I describe everything, the search should understand me.

Exit

The closest match never confirmed it was actually rechargeable, so the persona left without buying.

I don't want to order the wrong thing.

Top findings

Search intent breaks on compound queries

Weight the full query and category above individual word matches.

High severity

Total product cost isn't obvious

Show the complete price (including required add-ons) near the main price.

Medium severity

Battery terminology is ambiguous

Use explicit labels: disposable battery, rechargeable battery, USB-C, or mains.

Medium severity

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