eBay Predicts Busiest Online Shopping Day of the Year

According to eBay Australia, 2.6 million people will visit its online marketplace on Monday, December 3, with 1.8 million consumers coming from mobile devices alone.

“Aussies are getting a head start on Christmas, and this year, the busiest online shopping day is a full week earlier than the past few years,” Head of Retail Insights for eBay Australia and New Zealand, Gavin Dennis said. “We’re seeing people taking advantage of great deals throughout November and early December to take some of the stress out of the Christmas period,” he continued.

eBay Australia’s data analysts have reportedly used forecasting models to determine which day will be the busiest online shopping day for the marketplace, with the company determining that site-wide shopping will peak between 8.30 and 8.45 pm, while mobile shopping will be at its busiest between 9 and 9.15 pm. The marketplace also says that it expects to see a decline in desktop spending, especially during the evening, with spending predicted to peak mid-afternoon between 2 and 3 pm.

“Electronics, health and beauty, toys and jewellery will be the most popular items; this year we’re also expecting to see even more buying Apple products, with a purchase every 48 seconds,” Dennis said.

According to eBay, a toy will be sold every three seconds, while a bottle of alcohol will get snatched up every 42 seconds, followed by an iPhone every 90 seconds.

In 2017, eBay said that spending would be at its greatest in outer metropolitan and regional areas, and the same rings true in 2018. The online marketplace expects Werribee in Victoria, Liverpool in NSW and Mackay and Toowoomba in Queensland to be the most active postcodes across the day. However, eBay is confident that Sydney’s CBD will buck this trend, predicting NSW’s central business district will be the second most active postcode behind Werribee.

“When you take into account the growth of our Click and Collect network, as well as free delivery and returns with an eBay Plus shopping membership, it’s no surprise that people in central Sydney will be taking some time during the workday to make a start on Christmas shopping,” Dennis said.

In anticipation of the busy day ahead, eBay is offering a number of discounts, including 10 percent off at ebay.com.au, as well as 20 percent off Carlton United Breweries alcohol. The company also says that its Best Price Guarantee program, and its free delivery and free returns on eligible items through its eBay Plus membership, will also continue to attract more customers to the online marketplace.

Online shopping has started peaking earlier in the festive season of late, with more consumers jumping online to grab a bargain during Click Frenzy’s annual November event, while Black Friday continues to grow in popularity in Australia. Cyber Monday has also seen bigger uptake by Aussie retailers and shoppers alike, as local businesses look to try and replicate the success of their American counterparts.

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