Asia Pacific shoppers go online to hunt for bargains - survey

MANILA, Philippines - Bargain hunters in Asia Pacific are using the Internet to seek out best buys from online merchants and auction websites, according to the Visa e-Commerce Consumer Monitor1.

The survey found that the most important reason for respondents to shop online is to be able to compare prices and save money (42 percent), followed by searching for bargains or discounted items (24 percent) and saving time (23 percent). The ability to compare prices and save money was the top reason cited for shopping on the Internet for respondents from Korea (54 percent), Australia (52 percent) and Japan (41 percent).

Bob Joubert, Visa country manager for the Philippines, said: “Budget conscious consumers in Asia Pacific know that some of the best buys are on the Internet. As online merchants across the world offer attractive promotions during lean economic times, there is no better time for consumers to land cheaper buys from the Internet. From knick knacks to branded goods, online shopping is not only a smart way to save money, but is also a convenient way to browse a retailer’s full range of products whether at home or abroad.”

Across the region, more than three in five respondents said they have participated in online auctions - 79 percent said they participated in an online auction on a local website and 69 percent have participated in an online auction on an overseas website.

Heading the list, respondents from Hong Kong (91 percent) are the most likely to have participated in an online auction on a local website, followed by Australia (87 percent) and Korea (77 percent). Overseas online auction websites are most popular with respondents from Hong Kong (83 percent), Australia (72 percent) and India (71 percent).