"The Second Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America" report; recently released by American Express Publishing and The Harrison Group found that 70% of US consumers with over $100,000 in discretionary household income surveyed prefer online buying to the in-store experience.
The same number (70%) also go online to research products, comparison shop and make purchases.
This fondness for online shopping could very well be a case of time equaling money. A February 2008 study by Pew Internet & American Life Project discovered similar attitudes.
Respondents with household incomes over $100,000 agreed with the sentiment that shopping online is convenient (36%) and saves time (31%).
A preference for seeing merchandise before buying was also tied to earnings. Of households making less than $25,000 annually, 39% wanted to see merchandise before committing to purchase, while only 22% of the wealthiest respondents were as interested in being hands-on.