Investing.com – Bank of America's 16th Annual Holiday Price Survey reveals that Amazon (NASDAQ:) and eBay (NASDAQ:) are leading this holiday season, albeit for different reasons, according to the bank.
BofA explained that Amazon shines in pricing and product selection among major retailers, while eBay offers the best value for budget-conscious shoppers.
The survey, which was conducted after Cyber Monday, reportedly analyzed prices, shipping speeds and product availability across major online retailers, including Amazon and Walmart (NYSE:) goal (NYSE:), and eBay.
“Amazon had the lowest average prices among large retailers,” as promotions cut costs, Bank of America says.
However, eBay generally outperformed with the lowest average prices, despite variation in delivery times and seller quality.
For example, Bank of America explained that the total basket price for 27 items available across all major retailers was $4,324 on Amazon, compared to $4,104 on eBay.
When it comes to product availability, eBay is said to have topped the list with all 50 items available in the survey, followed by Amazon at 47.
Meanwhile, Walmart and Target are said to have fallen behind at 42 and 29 items, respectively.
“Amazon is well positioned with pricing and selection this holiday,” Bank of America wrote, adding that Prime members benefit from competitive pricing on the majority of items.
In terms of shipping, Walmart narrowly beats Amazon, with the bank saying it offers the fastest average delivery time of 3.8 days versus Amazon's 4.1 days.
However, Amazon tops the list for free same-day delivery, with 10% of selected items eligible for this service compared to Walmart's 4%. They added that although Amazon's average delivery speed was affected by delays in toys and gaming categories, it performed best in electronics.
The survey highlights that pricing and selection remain the most important features for online shoppers.
Bank of America concludes that “Amazon offers a strong mix,” and they continue to see the company “well-positioned for holiday stock gains.”
