Online shopping dropped dramatically

Against the up beat expectations that online shopping would be rising in 2009, a survey commissioned by ClickandBuy shows merchants are losing millions. According to the research initiated by the Internet payment system, 50 per cent of regular online shoppers cancel purchases if preferred method of payment is not available. Online merchants are actually losing business by not offering a sufficiently wide choice of e-paying options.

The survey of 2,030 online British adults, which was carried out by independent survey firm YouGov, also found that over one third (40 per cent) of all adults surveyed said that they would feel more comfortable purchasing from a retailer who offers a wide range of payment methods than a retailer whit only one.

Merchants risk missing out on valuable business at a time when e-commerce is expected to grow with one third (36 per cent) of survey participants predicting that they will shop more online than on the high street in 2009 than in 2008. 45 per cent of those questioned agreed that they would be spending more time shopping online for cheaper versions of things they used to buy on the high street during the recession.

While consumers are set to increase their online shopping habits, the financial security risks associated with e-commerce continue to be a concern. 83 per cent of all adults questioned believed that the number of people trying to commit fraud on the Internet is increasing as more people around the world use the web. Only one third disagreed with the statement ‘I feel no safer when buying online now than I did five years ago’ and that less than half (42 per cent) of regular online shoppers are totally confident that their credit card details are secure when entered online.

The online survey was undertaken between 3rd and 6th April 2009 by YouGov. The figures have been weighted and are representative of GB adults (aged 18+). ClickandBuy is one of the leading payment systems in Internet as well as being an international full-service provider for e-payment, billing and e-marketing.

Image: YouGov