Analysis on Tuesday, updates on Friday. More than three-quarters of German and U.K. respondents bought online in 2000, as did 74 percent of U.S. consumers. For 97 percent of participating consumers, the number of online purchases has either increased or stayed the same. For 96 percent, the total dollar volume of online purchases either stayed the same or increased compared with one year ago. Books, CDs, and computer equipment remain the top-selling products online, but consumers are moving into different categories as well.
Clothing now ranks in the top five online purchase categories in both the U.S. and Canada.
Categories such as health and beauty products, sporting goods, flowers, and toys have become more popular with online shoppers. But when it comes to negatives, nothing can surpass shipping costs. Shipping costs remain the biggest concern of online shoppers, the factor that most discourages online shopping, and the number one reason for abandoning shopping carts. Eleven percent of the retailers said they use their delivery service as a profit center. Even more unbelievably, the report found that many e-tailers increase their shipping costs based on the value of the purchase, which effectively penalizes those who buy more.