Hostway e-Commerce Survey Top-Line Results


Percentage of participating U.S. consumers purchased a product or service from a website?
Yes 87%
No 13%


If no, why not?
Do not feel secure 55%
Prefer to see product prior to purchase 49%
Shipping costs are too high 26%
Returns are difficult 16%
Other 16%*


How many times in the last 12 months have consumers made an online purchase?
2-5 times 43%
6-12 times 26%
More than 12 times 18%
1 time 9%
0 times 3%


How do consumers characterize their satisfaction with their online shopping experience?
Very satisfied 64%
Somewhat satisfied 30%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 4%
Somewhat dissatisfied 2%
Very dissatisfied 1%


Why were consumers dissatisfied?
Other 41%**
Product was not what was expected (color, quality, etc.) 36%
Shipping costs were too high 25%
Delivery took too long 22%
Returning unwanted product was inconvenient 15%
Product did not fit 9%
Product was damaged or defective 3%


How do consumers' online shopping experiences with national or regional companies compare with their online shopping experiences with local independent companies?
No difference 49%
Cannot compare, only shopped with national/regional companies 28%
Usually better with national/regional companies 14%
Usually better with local independent companies 4%
Cannot compare, only shopped with local independent companies 4%


What factors do consumers deem important when shopping online?
Assurance of security 97%
Promise of security 96%
Prices 95%
Website ease of use 94%
Availability of products and services 94%
Pictures of products 93%
Company reputation 91%
Free shipping 86%
Online customer support 82%
Breadth of products and services 80%
Offers a familiar brand 77%
Company is a national or regional firm 51%


How did consumers rank the following media in order of how effective they are in providing information about local businesses in their community?
Ranked #1  
Local newspapers, TV, radio 64%
Internet search sites 13%
Yellow Pages directories 12%
Local companies' own websites 11%
Ranked #2  
Yellow Pages directories 33%
Internet search sites 26%
Local companies' own websites 25%
Local newspapers, TV, radio 15%


To what extent are consumers' decisions to shop on a particular website influenced by knowing that the company also operates a retail store(s)?
Neither more nor less likely to buy from a website that also has a retail store(s) 48%
Somewhat more likely to buy from a website that also has a retail store(s) 27%
Much more likely to buy from a website that also has a retail store(s) 21%
Somewhat less likely to buy from a website that also has a retail store(s) 2%
Much less likely to buy from a website that also has a retail store(s) 2%


During the past 12 months, about how much have consumers spent for purchases they made online, excluding purchases through online auctions such as eBay?
$100 - $500 48%
Over $500 24%
Less than $500 24%
Nothing 5%


* Please contact Tina Janczura at Tina.Janczura@slackbarshinger.com for additional information on verbatim comments.
** Please contact Tina Janczura at Tina.Janczura@slackbarshinger.com for additional information on verbatim comments.