|
|
| Aussie shoppers 'pound' the mouse |
   
Posted Date: 22/01/2012
By Inside Retail
Secure online payment provider, PayPal, has forecast a surge in the volume of sales being sent to UK over the next month, as Australians take advantage of the Aussie dollar hitting a 27 year high against the British pound.
"The global shopping mall has well and truly opened for the year with exchange rates remaining a key driver in opening up retail corridors from Australia and intensifying competition for domestic retailers," PayPal said in a statement.
"Whilst last year saw the weak American dollar drive Australians to US retail sites, PayPal expects traffic between Australia and the UK to spike over the next month as savvy Australian shoppers benefit from their newfound purchasing power against the pound."
Elena Wise, acting MD of PayPal Australia, says smart online shoppers are taking advantage of the "global shopping mall" and know where to shop for the best deals.
" We regularly see changes in the spending patterns of our 4 million active customers in response to fluctuating global currencies and the most popular corridors from Australia continue to be the US, the UK and China”
Over the last year, UK retailers have sharpened their focus on selling to Australian consumers, with many now offering reduced and free shipping, local pricing and simplified returns policies. UK sites leading the way include TopShop, eBay, ASOS, Oasis, Figleaves, and Book Depository. These investments, along with the strong Australian dollar could intensify the competition to Australian retailers from overseas throughout 2012.
Wise continues: “Australian retailers are being challenged to compete on a global stage and we are now seeing established Australian brands fighting back against international competition by offering a truly integrated approach to retail. This approach merges retailers on and offline presence, allowing them to use their established offline footprints as a competitive advantage to win back the consumer.
"Whilst there is a preference by consumers to shop from Australian brands, there are times in the year when fluctuating exchange rates lead to a higher proportion of online sales being sent overseas. PayPal's Wise says while taking advantage of the online deals from the UK over the coming weeks, consumers should follow its top tips when shopping overseas.
- Check Shipping Times – You don’t want to buy an outfit for that perfect occasion that fails to arrive on time.
- Check Sizing – Sizing can vary dramatically between countries. Conversion charts are easily accessed in the internet and most websites selling overseas have their own charts.
- Protect your digital footprint – Avoid sharing personal information online where possible. Using PayPal – you never have to share your financial information online, letting you shop safely and securely.
|
Monday, January 23, 2012 by Lynda Stone
PayPal is the BEST !
Approx. 2yrs ago, I purchased items from a USA site. They emailed me stating I needed a USA address!? I was directed to "Bongo International" who would then ship my items to me. This is where the fun started.
Bongo International wouldn't ship my items until I gave them the following scanned paperwork. . .
Drivers License
Passport
Photo
Signature
Full bank details
I was NOT prepared to give out ALL my personal information to ANYONE ! They already had my Australian address to ship the items to.
Anyway, I have NEVER received a refund OR the goods !
I'm explaining this to 'PROVE' that PayPal is the ONLY way I pay now and have had NO problems since.
If someone could explain WHY the USA does this, it would be appreciated, I see some items I would like to purchase but too afraid to deal with the USA again !
100% PayPal customer
Please note: all comments are subject to moderation for legal reasons and to prevent spam. We'll approve your comment as quickly as we can. If you don't see it appear you do not need to repost it.
|
|