Changes to GST won’t stop Australians shopping overseas: MasterCard

New research by global payments and technology company, MasterCard, has revealed that increasing tax on online purchases is unlikely to have an adverse effect on Australian shopping habits.

The study, which polled 1250 Australian online shoppers aged 18-64 years, found that while 79 per cent of Australians oppose reductions to GST exemption levels, 62 per cent said the measure would not stop them from shopping at overseas online retailers.

Specifically, 38 per cent said a change would have no impact on their behaviour, while a further 24 per cent said the move would only cause them to buy online less often.

MasterCard Australia strategy and corporate affairs vice-president, David Masters, said the study showed price isn’t the only motivating factor driving people to shop with overseas online retailers.

“Australians are right at the forefront of the modern retail experience where online shopping has become the norm. For many, the comparative benefits are too good to pass up,” he said.

According to Masters, the challenge for Australian retailers is to deliver where overseas retailers cannot – in service and delivering a personal approach.

Other key statistics from the MasterCard research into online shopping include:

• 12.6 million Australian adults have shopped online in the last twelve months
• Two in three respondents shop online at least once a month
• 60 per cent of regular online books and DVD shoppers claim GST changes won’t deter them from shopping overseas online

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