Why Australians Are Ditching Big Retail for Online Deals
💡 Smart Shopping
Why Australians Are Ditching Big Retail and Shopping for Deals Online Instead
By Snagg It · April 2026 · 8 min read
Something shifted in how Australians shop — and the data is unambiguous
Australians spent $69 billion online in 2024 — a 12% jump from the year before. Three-quarters of Australians changed their shopping habits in the past year. And affordability is now the number one priority for 84% of shoppers. This isn't a trend. It's a permanent shift in how Australians buy.
$69B
Online 2024
74%
Changed habits
84%
Value first
The cost of living crisis didn't just make Australians spend less — it made them spend smarter. And shopping smarter, it turns out, increasingly means skipping the high-overhead retail chains and going straight to online deals stores instead.
The data from Australia Post's 2024 eCommerce Report tells a clear story: 9.8 million Australian households shopped online last year — the highest ever. CommBank's Senior Economist Belinda Allen noted that consumers were "seeking the cheapest price and shopping around a lot more than they were a few years ago." This isn't pandemic behaviour lingering — it's a fundamental, permanent change in Australian consumer psychology.
The Numbers Behind Australia's Online Shopping Revolution
$69B
Spent online in Australia in 2024 — up 12% from 2023 and nearly double 2019's $28.5 billion
9.8M
Australian households shopped online in 2024 — the highest number ever recorded
74%
of Australians changed their shopping behaviour in the past 12 months, according to Resonate CX research
84%
say affordability is now their top priority when shopping — up significantly from pre-2022 levels
+20%
Growth in spending at online marketplaces — the fastest-growing category in Australian retail
16
Different retailers the average Australian shopped across in 2024 — actively comparing prices before buying
7 Reasons Australians Are Choosing Online Deals Over Big Retail
1
Price transparency kills the big retail markup
In a physical store, there's no easy way to compare the price you're paying against five other options in under 10 seconds. Online, that comparison takes exactly that long. Australian consumers are now highly sophisticated price-comparers — and big retailers with high overheads, expensive locations, and large staff costs simply can't compete on price with leaner online stores. The markup that once hid behind convenience is now fully visible.
2
Cost of living pressure has permanently reset expectations
93% of Australians were concerned about the rising cost of living in 2024, according to Australia Post's eCommerce Report. That kind of financial pressure doesn't reverse when rates ease — it changes habits permanently. The shopper who discovered they could buy the same product online for 30–40% less doesn't go back to the physical store just because they feel slightly more comfortable. The new expectation of value is locked in.
3
Reviews have replaced brand loyalty
Twenty years ago, you bought the brand you knew because you had no reliable way to assess an unfamiliar alternative. Today, 4,000+ verified customer reviews on a product you've never heard of gives you more confidence than a 30-year brand name. Australian consumers increasingly trust the crowd over the brand — and online platforms surface that crowd wisdom instantly. This is devastating for premium-positioned retail brands that can't justify their price premium in a review-transparent world.
4
The variety gap has flipped
Fifteen years ago, big retail stores had something online couldn't offer: physical range, displayed and touchable in one location. That advantage has completely reversed. A large physical store might stock 2,000 products. A quality online store stocks 4,000+ across dozens of categories — with every product available 24/7 from anywhere in Australia. Regional Australians in particular have driven disproportionate online growth because online offers them access that local retail never could.
5
Australia Post and logistics have caught up
The historical objection to online shopping — "but I need it now" — has largely been addressed. Same-day delivery is available in major metro areas. 2–3 day delivery to most Australian postcodes is now routine. The gap between "I can walk to the shops" and "I can have it delivered" has narrowed to the point where for most non-urgent purchases, delivery is simply more convenient than the trip.
6
Big retail insolvencies have eroded trust
Retail insolvencies in Australia increased 14.2% year-on-year in the six months to December 2024, according to ASIC. Brands like Godfreys, Harris Scarfe, and others have closed or contracted. When a shopper drives to a physical store and finds it closed, or walks in to find dramatically reduced stock and disengaged staff, the online alternative suddenly looks far more reliable. The consistency of a well-run online store has become a genuine competitive advantage.
7
Shopping has moved to after-hours
60% of Australian mobile shopping occurs during evening hours, according to 2025 data. Australians are doing their shopping at 9pm on the couch — a time when every physical store is closed. The shift to evening-first shopping behaviour is structural and demographic, driven by working households that simply don't have time to shop during retail hours. Online doesn't just compete with retail — it serves a moment that retail can never access.
Online Deals Store vs Big Retail — The Honest Comparison
| Factor | Online Deals Store | Big Physical Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Price on everyday items | ✓ Typically 20–40% lower | Higher — overhead costs passed on |
| Product range / variety | ✓ Thousands of SKUs across all categories | Limited by floorspace and buying decisions |
| Availability (hours) | ✓ 24/7 — shop at 9pm on the couch | Store hours only |
| Price comparison | ✓ Instant — multiple tabs in seconds | Requires driving between stores |
| Customer reviews | ✓ Hundreds to thousands of verified reviews | Staff opinion or none |
| Touch & feel before buying | ✗ Not available | ✓ Physical inspection |
| Immediate pickup | 2–5 day delivery (typically) | ✓ Take it home today |
| Access for regional Australians | ✓ Same experience as metro | Often limited or no access |
| Sales events & clearance | ✓ Ongoing — not just 2x per year | End of season or occasional |
| Best for planned, non-urgent purchases | ✓ Online wins overwhelmingly | |
How to Get the Most From Online Deal Shopping in Australia
📋
Make a list before you browse
Intentional shopping beats impulse shopping every time. A list of what you actually need keeps you focused on value and prevents spending on things you didn't plan for — the trap that online convenience can encourage.
⭐
Read reviews for unfamiliar brands
Product quality in online deals stores is often excellent — but it varies. A quick scan of verified reviews across 3–4 star ratings (not just 5-star) gives you the most honest picture of what to expect in real-world use.
🏷️
Check clearance sections regularly
Online stores turn over clearance stock faster than physical retail. Checking the clearance section of a trusted online store every few weeks often reveals significant discounts on products you already intended to buy.
📦
Consolidate orders for free shipping
Free shipping thresholds (often $50–$99) reward consolidated orders. Planning multiple small purchases into one order typically beats placing small individual orders that attract shipping fees on each.
🔔
Save wishlists and wait for sales
Adding non-urgent items to a wishlist rather than buying immediately means you capture the sale price when it drops. Australia's major online sale events — EOFY, Click Frenzy, Black Friday — regularly deliver 20–50% discounts on wishlisted items.
🔒
Shop from Australian stores for returns
Buying from Australian-based online retailers — rather than international sites — means consumer protection under Australian Consumer Law applies. Returns, warranties, and dispute resolution are significantly easier than dealing with overseas sellers.
ℹ️ About Snagg It: Snagg It is an Australian-owned online store stocking 4,000+ products across fashion, health, tools, home, pets, automotive, beauty and more — with Australia-wide shipping. Everything on the site is priced to offer genuine value compared to traditional retail, with a clearance section that's updated regularly. We ship from within Australia.
💡 The bottom line: The shift away from big retail isn't about abandoning quality — it's about refusing to pay for someone else's rent, staff and advertising budget when you don't have to. The smartest Australian shoppers have worked out where the value is. Online deals stores aren't a compromise. For most everyday products, they're simply the better choice.
See Why Australians Are Choosing Snagg It
4,000+ products across every category. Competitive prices. Australia-wide delivery.
