Affiliation:
1. Himalayan School of Management Studies, Dehradun, India
Abstract
This article describes how abstract buying on the Internet is one of the most rapidly growing modes of shopping demonstrating a double-digit annual increase in sales in recent years. Reasons for such growth seem to arise from its advantages such as convenience, the ability to be seen as a leisure activity, savings of time and effort, and its 24 hours a day and 7 days a week access. Although Internet buying has shown rapid growth, it also has been hampered by the real or perceived perceptions of consumers that it lacks privacy and security while also suffering from issues in product delivery and returns and tactility. The primary purpose of the article is to explore the profile of Internet buyers and compare them to the non-buyers in terms of demographic characteristics, technology experiences, and his or her attitudes towards consumer and marketing issues. Such information will help e-tailers as they work to develop more effective and efficient online retail outlets.