Two studies of the just completed holiday shopping season released yesterday indicated that many online shoppers ordered well in advance and stuck with large, proven e-commerce sites. Internet research firm PC Data Online, Reston, VA, said that online shoppers spent $1.2 billion from Dec. 6-12, but only spent $495 million during the week of Christmas. PC Data Online said such Internet sales mirrored the holiday patterns of brick-and-mortar businesses.
Online research firm Media Metrix Inc., New York, rated Amazon.com, Seattle, as the most visited e-commerce site for the period with more than 5.6 million unique visitors. Ebay.com, Etoys.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Toyrus.com rounded out the top five, according to Media Metrix.
