Russians shopping over the Internet may increase three times in the near future - experts

UFA, 18 November 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. Online purchases of Russians on the Internet may increase three times in the near future, experts predict. In their view, the emergence of multiple stores applications for smart phones, trade on social networking sites and aggregators of different brands contribute to it.

Among Russians, there is a strong stereotype that the products on the Internet are much cheaper, but, according to experts, it is not true. Online stores are preferred because of time saving and an opportunity to compare products and prices. The most popular among Russians are Chinese online stores.

According to the Association of Internet Commerce (ACIT), about 90% of purchases of Russians in foreign online stores are accounted for China. Every year the number of such purchases is doubled. This is not surprising. Foreign goods for individuals are not subject to duty if the purchase does not exceed the sum of one thousand euro. In addition, the goods are often not subject to VAT. That is the price difference between local and foreign online shop can reach 30%.

Russian online retailers advocate for reduction of the duty-free threshold up to 150 euro. But the idea is still far from realization. Russian sellers still hold more than half of the market (in 2014 - 71%), but every year their share is reduced by 4-5%.

In the near future it is expected an increase in number of online purchases and in average check sum. The most popular in social networks is trade by personalized sales. That is why VKontakte users are given opportunities for the organization of a product catalog, and commercials appeared on Instagram.

Another trend of online trading is emergence of aggregators, platforms, which contain offers from different manufacturers on similar products. Experts predict that they are the future, according to a study by the Institute of Public Opinion "Anketolog".