Australian Online Stores Sold $143 Billion Worth Of Stuff In A Year

19 responses to “Australian Online Stores Sold $143 Billion Worth Of Stuff In A Year”

1. 

   joseph

   June 23, 2011

   let us say 1% of all aussies buy online ie approx 200,000 individuals.

   143 million i accept but not 143 billion. this would equate to $715,000 per online purchaser (where as $715 i accept). these figures must be tainted with mining company purchases. we better introduce a carbon tax quick smart!

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   1. 

      Angus Kidman

      June 23, 2011

      But what possible basis do you have for suggesting that only 1% of the population shops online? On any available measure (e.g. number of people with eBay accounts), that’s a ridiculous underestimate.

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      1. 

         joseph

         June 23, 2011

         ok then show me the figures. foregoing big business, tell me what % of average australians shope online. Even a generous 20% (4 M) equates to 35K each. i for one did not spend that much online last year

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         1. 

            Angus Kidman

            June 23, 2011

            The figures include all sales — to businesses and individuals — so “forgeoing big business” isn’t a reasonable basis for questioning them.

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         2. 

            mbryant

            June 23, 2011

            In 2009, 65.8% of Australians made an online purchase at least once per month.

            Source: http://cci.edu.au/publications/digital-futures-2010

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            1. 

               HP

               June 24, 2011

               TL;DR but are sales limited to Australans only! I’m sure overseas people buy our goods just as much as we buy theirs.

            2. 

               Jimbo

               June 24, 2011

               I doubt many sales go to overseas people. Australian people buy from aussie online stores because the shipping is lower, they buy overseas because the prices are often ludicrously lower. Overseas people would have to pay high shipping plus ludicrously high prices if they wanted to shop Australian.

2. 

   steve

   June 23, 2011

   Satellite is technically broadband – I think Telstra sells the slowest plan at 256/64, and every other one around is at least double the speed.

   I’m guessing the remaining 3.3% are dialup or isdn, for companies too remote for cable/dsl and where either the cost or latency of satellite makes it unsuitable.

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3. 

   Dave Jones

   June 23, 2011

   $143 billion still seems high.

   Doesn’t that equate to just over $6,200 for every single man, woman and child in the Australian population?

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   1. 

      Khalil

      June 23, 2011

      Guys

      If you read the details on the ABS website you will find that this figure represents all trade done by Australians, businesses + individuals, where the commitment to purchase is made via the Internet. Internet orders include purchase orders that are sent via email.

      So I think your ascertain that our purchases as individuals over the web constitute a major portion of this figure is a mistake. This figure would be impacted mainly by all the business to business activity that is done via electronic means.

      That said the sub set of this figure that represents retail sales via the internet would most probably still give Jerry, who’s Harvey Norman stores generate 6billion in annual sales, a good reason to pop an aspirin.

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4. 

   Khalil

   June 23, 2011

   The actual title of the ABS article is “Australian businesses take $143 billion worth of internet orders”. The title of this article makes the assertion that it’s “Australian Online Stores ” which I feel is misleading and the source of the misunderstanding…. Anyway enjoy the debate 🙂

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5. 

   Darek

   June 23, 2011

   wholesale trade and manufacturing making up 40%, retail coming in 5th.
   It is $143bn worth of internet orders, not goods – it may include services as well.

   It seems large, but probably isn’t as ‘amazing’ as some people might think it is.

   Now if it was just online consumer retail….hmm..maybe I should get in the game.

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6. 

   moey

   June 23, 2011

   at that amount?

   better hook Gerry harvey to a few IV’s of morphine…

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7. 

   Jason

   June 24, 2011

   What helps online businesses no end is the fact that Australian retail stores have some of the worst service around (“You right there buddy?”being a standard greeting). Ask any fellow Aussie who’s shopped retail overseas and they’ll confirm it.

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   1. 

      Tegzilla

      June 24, 2011

      How would you prefer retail slaves greet you?
      I’m just curious as in my experience customers in Australia prefer more informal modes of greeting.
      In fact I’ve been screamed at for being ‘too formal’ a few times. No customer ever complained about informality in over 10 years.

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      1. 

         Jason

         June 24, 2011

         Nobody’s ever screamed at you or anyone else for being too formal. And nine times out of ten the retail person being formal has turned out to be the manager – maybe that’s why they didn’t remain retail slaves like the others who try to act like they’re at the pub. /rant

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         1. 

            Tegzilla

            June 28, 2011

            You’re wrong because I say so! 😛

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8. 

   Dhruin

   June 24, 2011

   Talk about a misleading heading.

   Anyway, I bet online sales are growing just as fast in all those countries with (apparently) superior service, indicating service has nothing to do with it. It’s about convenience and, to some degree, price.

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9. 

   John

   August 26, 2011

   I think a full point is needed between the $14 and the 3. The figure should be $14.3 billion I think. A simple enough mistake.

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