More than half the population has switched to online shopping, new statistics from The Australian Communications and Media Authority have shown.
Consumers said convenience and price were the main reasons they turned to online shopping.
Online shopper Benjamin Gadsden said he would never shop in a store if he could buy the same product online for a better price.
“It all comes down to the value I put on that product. I won’t spend an extra 300 per cent when I know I can find the same thing online,” Mr Gadsden said.
And a new website has put the control in the consumers’ hands, allowing shoppers to name the product they want and the price they’re prepared to pay.
New Kid on the Block
Created by Melbourne entrepreneur Jamie Little, I Want To Pay was designed to build confidence in the virtual shopping world.
The concept was inspired by the television show American Pickers, and since the sites August launch, it has received more than 23,000 hits with a wide variety of product requests.
Mr Little said an olive python snake and an aquarium for sea horses are among some of the requests made by consumers.
The latest retail trade figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated turnover fell 0.8 per cent in July after a 1.2 per cent growth in the previous month.
But, online shopping has shown a steady increase, as consumers became more confident with making purchases via the Internet.
Despite the competition of foreign websites, the majority of online shoppers continue to purchase from Australian founded websites.
Victorian Retailers Association Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said online retail is and will continue to be the biggest growth area in retail.
“Rather than seeing the empowered digital consumer as a threat, retailers are seeing opportunity in the many ways they can reach their new and existing customers in ways which are most relevant to them,” Mr Zimmerman said.
Mr Gadsden said I Want To Pay has given the consumer power, unlike websites Ebay and Catch Of The Day.
“By naming your price you don’t get caught out by inflamed prices or dodgy dealers,” Mr Gadsden said.
Founder Mr Little said the site can “cut out a lot of haggling” with direct communication between seller on buyer.
“My ultimate goal is for someone who buys a car every five years to hopefully list what they want and have a car salesman meet their needs,” Mr Little said.
However, the rise of online shopping has seen an increase of illegal sale items, such as concert tickets.
“If it’s too good to be true it’s probably not true,” Mr Little said.
