Australians more confident shopping online

Australians more confident shopping online, prefer dealing with retailers with online shopping option

Consumer confidence in online shopping has increased with 81 percent of Australians more confident shopping online now than in the past according to a survey by online comparison shopping site GetPrice.com.au.

 And Australian retailers take note - 71 percent of survey respondents said they prefer dealing with retailers that provide an online shopping option.

GetPrice.com.au managing director Chris Hitchen said the survey shows that a huge proportion of Australians prefer retailers that provide an online shopping option.

 “The message to Australian retailers is clear.

 They need to invest more in their online offerings,” he said.

 The GetPrice.com.au survey conducted across the News Digital Media network also found:

•  Cost savings (43 per cent) and time savings (34 per cent) were the top two reasons Australians preferred shopping online than in a retail store;
• Two in five Australians expect to find the best low-budget items online. This option was chosen above factory outlets, budget department stores and top dollar stores;
•  Two thirds of respondents have never returned a product they bought online;
• The most likely items to be bought online rather than in retail stores are travel fares, music and DVDs, music/concert tickets and consumer and home electronics;
• Items most likely to be bought in a retail store rather than online are clothing and accessories, cars and food and beverages.

Mr Hitchen said the survey found most Australians shop online because of cost savings and the ability to research products thoroughly before purchasing.

 “Our survey results indicate that Australia’s shoppers are considerably more confident than in the past shopping online and even if they don’t purchase a product online, they expect to be able to do their research on the web before entering a retail store, and that includes looking at pricing information,” he said.

“Price is the main driver but there are many other points Australian retailers should take note of when considering their online presence.”

For instance Mr Hitchen said survey participants cited the speedy convenience of online shopping with 70 percent of survey respondents spending less than one hour each day at an online shopping site. ”Time poor Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to visit retail outlets,” he said.

“If consumers can spend less time shopping while getting even better deals, they will.” Mr Hitchen said whether or not an online shopping business is successful depends on the level of trust and integrity established between the retailer and the shopper.

 “Clearly online retailers are building this level of trust as consumer satisfaction with the quality of online purchases is at an all time high,” he said.

 GetPrice.com.au sells more than 500,000 products from more than 400 trusted e-tailers covering clothing and jewellery, computing, electronics, gifts and wine, health and beauty, home and garden, kids and toys and sports and travel. -