Lorenzo Coppa, Chief Executive Officer of eStore.com.au, said: "While it might seem cheaper to buy from an overseas online retailer, the reality is that the price of the product can increase substantially once you add on the shipping cost. Furthermore, with certain types of goods such as technology products, there can be issues associated from buying overseas such as warranties, compliance with Australian standards and damage to the products while in transit which may not be honoured by overseas online stores."
Forecasts for Aussie e-tailers are also buoyant. According to PayPal's ‘eCommerce: Secure Insight' report from Forrester Research and The Leading Edge, the Australian online retail market is set to reach AU$36.8 billion by 2013, up from a forecasted figure of AU$26.86 billion for calendar year 2010.
The report also found that Australians showed a preference to ‘buy Aussie' with nearly a quarter of Australian adults only shopping online with domestic websites. With the main driver of overseas shopping being a wider choice, rather than price.
eStore.com.au's own figures show a rise in the company's online sales. "Over the last few months, we've noticed an increase in Australian consumers shopping online," said Coppa. "This correlates to a 52 per cent increase in our online sales compared to the last financial year."
Coppa adds that consumer behaviour is changing and consumers are getting more technology savvy and comfortable with buying online.
"Shopping for commodities is well suited to an online shopping environment, said Coppa. "Consumers today generally know what they want whilst trying to save time and money. Many consumers research their options thoroughly and then hunt online for the best prices around," added Coppa.
