It Pays To Shop Around On The Internet

UK consumers have well and truly caught the online shopping bug and research out this week confirms that Brits are now choosing the convenience of the internet over trawling the high street in search of savings.

Over two million Britons have jumped on the internet shopping bandwagon since the beginning of 2006 alone, with a record 18.6 million online purchases being made in July. Figures also show that as a nation we’ve spent approximately 23.4 million hours shopping on the web this year. Experts from Nielsen/NetRatings and eBay.co.uk who compiled the statistics, say the findings are a clear indication that internet sales are set to exceed high street transactions in the not so distant future.

The research also revealed that eBay.co.uk is the UK’s favorite online shopping destination, along with being the most searched for website for internet users - suggesting that UK surfers are turning to the net in search of bigger bargains that just can’t be found on the high street.

For many people the internet has become the ultimate shopping tool – at the click of a mouse consumers can browse through an infinite number of websites selling every conceivable item; from the latest fashions, technology, music and interiors, through to literally the kitchen sink, the dazzling array of goods and services on offer is both mind-boggling and awe-inspiring.

The net is also a global medium, meaning consumers can now shop from almost any country around the world – 24 hours a day - with many websites offering international shipping at affordable rates. Since relocating to Spain from the UK earlier this year, the internet has become an increasingly indispensable part of my life, not only as an extremely convenient means of communication, but also because it allows me to purchase international brands that aren’t readily available in Spanish stores.

But with so much choice, where does the novice e-shopper start? Well let’s start at the beginning - internet merchants predominantly fit into one of two categories; firstly there are those websites which are an online extension of a traditional “offline” store, for example major high-street players including Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, French Connection and Topshop (to name but a few) all have a strong online presence. Secondly, there is the new breed of online retailer – or the “e-tailer” - that has been born out of the internet revolution and whose presence is purely online, among them the e-tailing pioneers including Amazon.com and eBay.com.

Whilst being able to purchase familiar high-street brands without leaving the house is extremely handy in our time-poor society, more often than not it’s the e-tailers that have the most to offer in terms of brand variety and value for money. Without costly prime-location stores and the high staffing volumes associated with their offline counterparts, e-tailers can often sell brand name goods at significantly discounted prices, which is exactly why it pays to shop around on the internet.

For starters: -

All e-shoppers should familiarize themselves with price comparison websites such as Kelkoo.com, Pricerunner.com and Google.com’s Froogle - these companies offer a fantastic service which uses search technology to find the lowest prices on the web for everything from common household items to the most obscure products imaginable!

For bargain-hunting fashionistas: -

Start by looking at yoox.com and bluefly.com – two of the best e-tailers for luxury apparel, offering amazing savings on famous designer names such as Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Jimmy Choo and many more.

For shipping: -

Many websites offer international shipping at competitive rates, but if you happen to spot something on zappos.com or nordstrom.com that you really can’t resist, then visit internationalcheckout.com where you can order from any American online store and have your purchases shipped direct to your door.

Liz Southall – Fashion Editor