Shoppers flock to the net for Christmas bargains

Today, December 1st, is predicted to be the busiest internet shopping day of the year, as families come home to look for online bargains after a weekend at the shops, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

In recent years the second weekend of December has been the time when internet shoppers have been most willing to part with their cash, but consultancy firm Deloitte has predicted that today will be the busiest day for online shopping, following the 2.5% cut in VAT announced last week, which has prompted many shops to slash their prices by up to 20% is a bid for more customers. The company estimates that online sales will increase this year by 10 per cent to £4.7 billion.

Ian Geddes, a spokesman for Deloitte, said, “Customers are looking for deals earlier and earlier and they have become more promiscuous, looking around for the best deals. The internet has once again established itself as the home of low prices.”

The DVD of Mamma Mia!, the film version of the West End Abba musical, is predicted to become the bestselling present this Christmas, according to Amazon. Already the film has become the most sold DVD of all time, ahead of even the Star Wars Trilogy. Mobile phones and computer games such as the Nintendo Wii Fit are also expected to be fast sellers in the run-up to Christmas.

Internet prices are often cheaper than those in the shops due to fewer overheads, and the explosion in internet vouchers and discounts in recent months is bringing in consumers. The rapid increase in broadband uptake – up 6% from this time last year – is also a major reason for the boom in online shopping.

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