Nearly 80 per cent of consumers admit to making online purchases at work and almost two thirds are planning to use office hours to search online for Christmas gift, according to a PayPal Australia survey.
Adrian Christie from PayPal Australia said Christmas 2011 is shaping up to be the biggest online shopping season we have seen in Australia.
“Our research shows consumers are increasingly taking advantage of the convenience that online shopping offer, particularly in the office. At PayPal, we see the highest volume of online transactions taking place on a Monday, and nearly 50 per cent of all transactions are completed within working hours, between 9am and 5pm,” he said.
According to the survey, although online Christmas shopping is high on the agenda for consumers this year, the majority of Australians prefer to treat themselves rather than buy gifts for others when making a purchase from their desk.
The research also revealed that some online purchases do require more discreet treatment, with three quarters of Australians stating that they would not buy personal items such as lingerie from their desk at work.
This trend will only continue, as consumer demand for online shopping grows and an ever-increasing number of retailers launch online stores, according to PayPal.