Many consumers nowadays prefer to buy their computer products through the Internet and TV shopping channels, according to a survey released by the Chinese-language PC Shopper (電腦買物王) magazine.
Conducted from July 1 to July 31 with 1,657 valid samples, the poll revealed that nine percent of users now make their computer purchases through the Web or TV, instead of through conventional channels such as retailers.
"We saw an increase of sales on TV shopping channels this year, which serve as a platform to showcase our latest products," David Kao (
According to Kao, more consumers are buying laptops through TV shopping channels this year. TV sales are projected to account for 30 percent of the company's total sales, up from only 17 percent last year.
Conventional retail outlets remain the largest sales channel with 60 percent of purchases, with the rest going through Internet portals including PC Home Online or Yahoo! Kimo.
However, he said that the TV shopping channels have limitations for further growth as most potential buyers are from the central or southern part of the country, and prefer buying cheaper laptops priced below NT$40,000 (US$1,225).
The PC Shopper survey also showed that only 37 percent of today's respondents are keen to assemble their own personal computers. This figure is a dip from last year's 68 percent and around 90 percent in 2001, indicating that do-it-yourself computers are losing momentum as more choose brand-name PCs.
Meanwhile, 20 percent said that after-sales services are the top concern when they make laptop purchases, while 17 percent would opt for brands, according to the survey.
The top three laptop vendors in the local market are Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), Acer Inc and HP, which take a combined 71.5 percent domestic-market share, according to statistics provided by International Data Corp (IDC).
But for desktop PCs, price remains the top priority in purchases, followed by after-sales services and brands, according to PC Shopper.
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