E-Readers not a Christmas must-have

There is a lot of debate at the moment about how the print media industry will evolve to meet the challenges of fast, free online content. Newspaper circulation is on the wane, and many people get most of their news and commentary from free online sites like BBC News.

One of the suggested solutions is the E-reader – which would combine the usability and convenience of a newspaper with the constant updates of online news. Books, magazines, and newspapers could all be read on a single device (There is a great demo of how this will look for Sports Illustrated here.)

However, the idea does not appear to have captured the public’s imagination. A YouGov poll for The Bookseller found that only 11% of respondents would consider purchasing an e-reader for a friend or family member as a Christmas present. E-readers­ fell behind all other listed gifts including a digital camera, digital photo frame and games console. Even when asked what they would like to receive as a Christmas present just 14% of respondents said they would prefer an e-reader.

The main reason for such a lack of enthusiasm appears simple: they cost too much. Of those surveyed, 56% were only prepared to pay less than £150 for an e-reader, with just 9% prepared to spend more than £200. The mean expected cost was £110.50. ­However, consumers could be left disappointed with Sony e-readers priced between £139 and £249 and the Amazon Kindle around £156.

Online Puchasing over the Festive Period: Security Fears?

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by VeriSign, online identity theft and lack of trust in web security will contribute to shoppers spending than a third of their total holiday shopping budget online.

Consumer spending over the festive season is often cited as a measure of the overall level of confidence in the economy, but caution over taking on excessive debt (an idea supported by the government) may deter some consumers from spending beyond their means.

22% of Britons say they are being held back from shopping online this Christmas due to reservations over online ID theft and fraud, while 14%  stated that they will not shop online because they do not trust ecommerce sites.

It also found that 32% of consumers are deterred from shopping online due to not being able to try before they buy, with 27% concerned that goods bought online will not arrive in time for Christmas. The postal strikes can only have exacerbated this concern.

Attitudes to online shopping are also aligned with age: respondents over the age of 55 are the most fearful of online identity theft and fraud, with 32% saying this will hold them back from shopping over the internet. However the 35-44 year old age range is the most brazen, with 47%  saying that nothing will hold them back from buying online this Christmas.
US vs UK Differences

There are some fundamental differences between the US and the UK, as noted here. The US has approximately five times the population of the UK, yet both eBay US and eBay UK expect to see about one million sales each on their two biggest shopping days.