• by January 8, 2001

Overall, consumers were less generous in their spending for gifts this season, but the internet providers far outdid their brick-and-mortar counterparts, almost doubling their performance of the previous year. According to figures from Goldman Sachs and PC Data Online, consumers purchased $8.7 billion in merchandise between the first week in November and Dec. 17, up from $4.2 billion during the same period a year ago.

During the week leading up to Dec. 17, consumers spent $1.6 billion, up slightly from $1.5 billion the week before and almost twice the $878 million recorded during the comparable week in 1999.

At $236.6 million, computer hardware made up the highest dollar volume of sales, followed by apparel ($227.2 million), travel ($197.5 million), and the toys/children category ($142.5 million).

Consumers also said that their online shopping experiences compared favorably with last year. Forty percent said they were more satisfied with the process in 2000 than in 1999, while 54% said it was the same.

SURVEYS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO ONLINE SHOPPING PATTERNS

Net marketers should think twice before abandoning free shipping: According to online shopping pattern research, 56% of respondents choose shopping sites in response to this premium. But this isn't the only factor. The quest for the perfect holiday gift, regardless of cost, was cited by three out of every four respondents.

The research, sponsored by online marketer MyPoints during the holiday season, also revealed that nearly four in ten consumers shop online during the Friday after Thanksgiving, according to sales recorded that day.

It's a good thing that many companies give that day off, as six percent said they spend more than three hours a day surfing the Web for personal use.

The surveys, which have been issued weekly since just before Thanksgiving and will continue through January, also revealed that four out of five consumers like to be surprised by their holiday gifts, 20% of Americans sent e-greetings in 2000, and one in ten have received previously used items from their co-workers.

Each sample group consists of 4,000 respondents.

E-shoppers have spent $8.7 billion with online retailers since the first week of November, according to research released Tuesday from Goldman Sachs and PC Data. That's more than twice the $4.2 billion spent last year, the researchers said.

"We've had a much longer online holiday season this year than we did in 1999," said Cameron Meierhoefer, Internet analyst. "Last year, consumers bombarded online retailers in early December. This year volume surged in early November. Cautious consumers started shopping earlier to ensure that gifts were delivered on time, and more experienced retailers encouraged early shopping so they could better manage the load."

The researchers said the top categories for purchases were apparel ($227 million), computer hardware ($236 million), to