Consumers research the purchases before shopping online

JupiterResearch, a Forrester Research company, conducted a study commissioned by Bazaarvoice and richrelevance, on the consumers behavior when they shop online. The research titled “2008 Retail Consumer survey” revealed that 48% of online shoppers plan to spend less this year with 61% of consumers reluctant to make certain purchases which is explained by the impact of online shopping resources.
According to the study consumers start their shopping online with the research. They use online content tools that connect them to the opinions and behaviors of other shoppers. Thus within the next 12 months online shoppers will be reluctant to make purchases in the following categories:

• 50% in automotive sector
• 46% in travel
• 43% in electronics

42% of shoppers visited 3 or more sites to research their last purchase and almost all the shoppers spend more time surfing the Internet prior to purchase. Besides, the research showed that 33% of online shoppers made up their minds about the price they were willing to pay for their purchase in advance of going online to research, 31% made up their minds on which item or title to choose, followed by 23% of those who made up their mind which brand to buy, 16% - which store they would use and 13% - when to make their purchase.