The rise and rise of internet shopping has been well documented, but it’s not just a few books or small pieces of furniture that we’re buying anymore – Aussie consumers are willing to buy big ticket purchases online.
A new survey from Autogenie has found that almost fifty per cent of people would consider buying a car online.
Shiju Thomas, general manager of Autogenie, said Australians are increasingly growing to trust online retail.
“The vast majority of Australians are now using the internet to educate themselves about their purchases…but what’s truly remarkable is the amount of Aussies who are now willing to take that next step and use the internet to actually purchase a car,” Thomas said.
Unsurprisingly, 97 per cent of respondents said they researched cars on the internet to get important information and find the best deal, but almost 65 per cent of people aged 34 years and under said they would also buy a car online.
This number decreased with age, dropping to 49 per cent for respondents aged between 35 and 54 and 37 per cent to those aged over 55.
The main reason why Aussies are willing to head online is a dislike of dealerships. For 34 per cent of respondents, having to visit dealerships is the worst part about buying a car.
“People are realising that by jumping online, they can avoid many of the hassles of new car shopping, including visiting multiple dealerships on the weekend, and having to negotiate prices with salespeople,” Thomas said.
Thomas said consumers like the idea of staying anonymous while real time offers come to them, instead of having to run around to various dealerships to haggle over price in person.
“The internet has changed the game for a lot of traditional retail industries, and handed power back to consumers,” he said.
