NYC Transit Strike Boosts Online Shopping

Associated Press via MyWay.com ^ | December 21, 2005 | Anne D'Innocenzio

[RayChuang88]

NEW YORK (AP) - There's one silver lining to the New York City transit strike that has shut down buses and subways, while crippling many businesses. Online retailing - which has enjoyed robust sales this holiday season - is getting a further boost in the season's final days, as New York area shoppers turn to the Internet for last-minute buying.

And there are at least a handful of merchants including jcrew.com and ice.com that are only too willing to help out by serving up free shipping aimed at New York area residents that guarantee arrival before Dec. 25.

For New York retailers, which are struggling with lighter crowds since the strike started Tuesday, "this is definitely a way to recoup lost sales that they feel from the transit strike," said Heather Dougherty, an analyst at Nielsen/NetRatings, an Internet research firm. "Any online retailers would be smart to go after the New York area."

Dougherty said it's hard to gauge the strike's positive effect on online sales, but she believes it's "meaningful."

[RayChuang88]

And you wonder why sites like Amazon.com and Buy.com are doing strong business during the Christmas season. Given that people are starting to tire of the hassle of shopping at the malls, small wonder why with the increasing availability of broadband Internet access people are turning to online retailers en masse. I think retailers that use eBay are probably doing strong business also.

[AbeKrieger]

Here's hoping walmart.com gets a boost too. No implied endorsement here.. but it would add a pleasant irony to the union action.

[Roccus]

This boost in inernet shopping will assuredly be followed by the ginning up of cries for sales taxes on said purchases.

[starfish923]

On-line shopping increases ground traffic .... of the delivery companies.
Huzzah for the on-shine shoppers. A zillion times easier than the crappy traffic, stores, parking and sore feet.

[AbeKrieger]

This boost in inernet shopping will assuredly be followed by the ginning up of cries for sales taxes on said purchases.

Ask and ye shall receive...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1545375/posts

[sarasota]

I do most of my shopping online simply because I can't get the goods around here. And I guarantee that it will increase every year as more people find how simple it is--and stress-free.

[Roccus]

Ya beat me to it!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1545375/posts