World size in dollars and (if possible)number of transactions of the
e-commerce market, i.e, how many times do people research their
intended purchases, and how many buy them over the internet.  Froogle
is one example, as is BizRate and a number of other purchasing search
engines.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 21 May 2004 08:19 PDT

Hello there, tholzel-ga,

Can you clarify for us what's in and what's out, as far as e-commerce is concerned?

Are you looking for information ONLY about services like Froogle, that
facilitate e-commerce, but is not itself a buying/seeling site?  Or do
you want to include mainstream e-commerce sites like amazon.com, ebay,
etc.

And there are also sites like cars.com, where people identify their
product via the internet, but usually wind up visiting the dealership
to make the final transaction.

Let us know what's most important to you, and also, how much
flexibility you have in terms of an answer.  There are certainly
estimates of the size and growth trends in e-commerce to be had, but
they may not meet your particular definitions of what to include or
exclude.

Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by tholzel-ga on 21 May 2004 10:57 PDT

<<Are you looking for information ONLY about services like Froogle, that
facilitate e-commerce, but is not itself a buying/seeling site?  Or do
you want to include mainstream e-commerce sites like amazon.com, ebay,
etc.>>

We need both (if you can get it) because about 1/3 of purchases are
made on-line, directly via the shopping engine, while 2/3rds of
purchases are made off-line after the item has been researched on a
search enegine.  I am interested only in the commerce of shopping
(i.e. researching consumer products in order to buy, and,  actually
buying them over the internet. Not the value of internet advertising,
searche engine optimization, etc.

<<And there are also sites like cars.com, where people identify their
product via the internet, but usually wind up visiting the dealership
to make the final transaction.>>

Yes, this is typical in the auto industry.  I'd like those, too.  The
purpose is to show the world-wide strength historically and forecast
of internet shopping (actual purchases) and researching products to
buy.

thanks & good luck.
Tom Holzel