Web Week

Eye for a bargain

Are we a nation of cheapskates or shopkeepers? Nielsen//NetRatings' latest research doesn't shed a lot of light on that question, but it does independently confirm the runaway success of New Zealand's biggest auction site, TradeMe.

The above chart shows which sites, of those tracked by the researcher, that last week attracted the most visits by New Zealanders who have made an online credit card purchase in the past two months.

TradeMe's popularity is well known to any user of the site: its homepage shows how many people are on the site at any time and the number is typically in the 20,000 to 40,000 range.

Flash the plastic

With Nielsen//NetRatings reporting almost a quarter of New Zealand internet users have paid for something online with a credit card, it's no surprise to see plenty of them showing up on the Xtramsn website, home of the country's biggest ISP.

What's there to tempt online shoppers? Plenty - best to avoid it if your card is still numb from Christmas.

Now pay the bill

Shopping sites, surprisingly, don't loom large in the table of popular destinations for online credit card users.

However, a couple of banks do. It's a fair bet that those who feel happy enough to upload credit card details during an online transaction will also feel secure about online banking.

One of the great features of internet banking is the ability to pay bills online - including, of course, keeping your credit card fed.

Come fly away - for less

If you're going to book an Air New Zealand flight via the internet, a credit card is one of only two payment options - the other is airpoint dollars.

Taking advantage of online-only fare specials will for some people be reason enough to have a credit card. Yesterday, travellers from Wellington and Christchurch could snap up a one-way ticket to Brisbane for $129 - not including extras ... such as taxes, and interest on your credit card.