eToys (fka eTys)

[ljoeo]

Robertson Stephens Holiday Online Shopping Study Shows Strong Start to Holiday Season

Friday December 1 10:20am
Source: Dow Jones


First Round of Survey Results Reflect High Consumer Satisfaction Levels

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Robertson Stephens, the leading full-service investment bank focused exclusively on growth companies, today provided the first round of results from its second annual Holiday Online Shopping Study, powered by BizRate.com. The survey data, gathered from more than 1,100 respondents, reflects high consumer satisfaction levels during the first few weeks of the holiday shopping season.

"Commerce sites appear to have successfully made it through the season's first big test -- the post-Thanksgiving spending period," said Senior Internet Analyst Lauren Cooks Levitan. "However, the most challenging tests for web merchants are yet to come as we near the peak holiday shopping weeks in early December, coupled with last minute shopping efforts late in the month."

Key points of the survey results include:

* 89% of respondents indicated that they were "highly" or "quite a bit"

satisfied with their online shopping experiences, versus 82% last year.

Consumer satisfaction levels of overall shopping experiences averaged

8.39 on a scale of 1-10, similar to last year's 8.45.

* 96% of respondents say they are buying more online this year than last

year.

* 44% of shoppers reported being "highly" or "quite a bit" influenced by

an offline presence when making an online purchase.

* 6 of the top 10 most frequently rated sites are incumbent retailers,

versus 3 out of 10 last year.

* First time online buyers (10% of respondents to date) are substantially

less affluent than repeat online buyers.

* Product price and shipping charges/options scored the lowest among all

aspects of customer satisfaction, while 47% have abandoned a shopping

cart due to shipping costs.

* Amazon.com received the most customer feedback while eToys achieved the

highest ratings for both overall satisfaction and likelihood to buy

again.

The Robertson Stephens Holiday Online Shopping Study is a comprehensive analysis of consumer online shopping behavior during the holiday season. The survey gauges the level of satisfaction with various aspects of the online shopping experience including: ease of ordering, advertising, product selection, customer support, shipping and delivery. Each week, Lauren Cooks Levitan will issue reports based on the survey data. To participate in the Holiday Online Shopping Study, please visit http://www.robertsonstephens.com

Robertson Stephens maintains a market in the shares of Amazon and eToys and has been a managing or comanaging underwriter for or has privately placed securities of eToys within the past three years.

Robertson Stephens, Inc. and its international affiliates ("Robertson Stephens") is the leading full-service investment bank focused exclusively on growth companies. The firm provides a comprehensive set of investment banking products and services, including equity underwriting, sales & trading, research, M&A advisory, convertible securities, private capital, equity derivatives, and corporate and executive services. Robertson Stephens completed 146 deals in the United States and Europe in the first half of 2000 valued at $48.1 billion in aggregate market value including 70 IPOs, 56 follow-ons and 20 convertible transactions. The firm also completed 47 private capital deals and advised on 43 M&A deals in the first half of this year. The firm's more than 40 senior equity research analysts cover more than 750 companies. Robertson Stephens, Inc. is a member of the NASD and all major exchanges. Robertson Stephens has more than 1,500 employees worldwide with offices in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Palo Alto, Chicago, Atlanta, London, Munich and Tel Aviv.

Robertson Stephens, Inc. ("Robertson Stephens") is a NASD member and a member of all major exchanges and SIPC.

The information contained herein is not a complete analysis of every material fact respecting any company, industry or security. Although opinions and estimates expressed herein reflect the current judgment of Robertson Stephens, the information upon which such opinions and estimates are based is not necessarily updated on a regular basis; when it is, the date of the change in estimate will be noted. In addition, opinions and estimates are subject to change without notice. This Report contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from the results described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in "Investment Risks." Robertson Stephens from time to time performs corporate finance or other services for some companies described herein and may occasionally possess material, nonpublic information regarding such companies. This information is not used in the preparation of the opinions and estimates herein. While the information contained in this Report and the opinions contained herein are based on sources believed to be reliable, Robertson Stephens has not independently verified the facts, assumptions and estimates contained in this Report. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information and opinions contained in this Report. Robertson Stephens, its managing directors, its affiliates, its employee investment funds, and/or its employees, including the research analysts authoring this report, may have an interest in the securities of the issuer(s) described and may make purchases or sales while this Report is accessible.. Robertson Stephens International, Ltd. is regulated by the Securities and Futures Authority in the United Kingdom. This publication is not meant for private customers. Fleet Specialist, Inc. (Member NYSE), an affiliate of Robertson Stephens, Inc., is the specialist that makes a market in AutoNation, Inc., Cabletron Systems, Inc., Cash America International, Inc., Computer Associates International, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., FelCor Lodging Trust Inc., Foundation Health Systems, Inc., Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Hilton Hotels Corporation, The Home Depot, Inc., International Game Technology, Jones Apparel Group, Inc., MGM Grand, Inc., National Semiconductor Corporation, Park Place Entertainment Corporation, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Seagate Technology, Inc., Shurgard Storage Centers, Inc., Station Casinos Inc., The Talbots, Inc., and Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, and at any given time, Fleet Specialist may have an inventory position, either "long" or "short", in this security. As a result of Fleet Specialist's function as a market maker, such specialist may be on the opposite side of orders executed on the floor of the Exchange in this security.

Copyright * 2000 Robertson Stephens.

/CONTACT: Courtney Weber, 415-693-3389, or Elizabeth Denton, 212-407-0470, both of Robertson Stephens, Inc./ 13:15 EST