As figures predict a bumper Christmas for online stores, e-retailers are being urged to ensure their websites are able to cope with demand.
Research by web firm SciVisum shows 95% of internet shoppers abandon websites if performance is not up to scratch. Even more worrying for e-retailers is the fact that 55% do not give slow loading sites a second chance but instead turn to competitors.
The biggest annoyance for customers was complicated website registration processes, while three quarters said they would not wait more than a minute for pages to load before abandoning an e-store.
According to the Interactive Media in Retail Group, 24 million British shoppers will spend an average £208 each online this Christmas and government figures show internet shopping grew 40% in the year to October compared to just 0.3 for the high street.
As a result, SciVisum urged e-retailers to ensure sufficient infrastructure is in place to cope with demand during the festive season or risk missing out on sales.
"Bargain hunters will be flocking to the web in droves this Christmas but our study shows UK consumers are not willing to tolerate poor performance, or give sites a second chance," said Deri Jones, SciVisum chief executive.
"E-retailers can expect a season of bad will from consumers if they don't take action now to prepare their websites for the Christmas rush in the coming month."
