The number of U.S. adults using credit cards to purchase goods and services
online more than doubled between 1998 and 1999, according to a new research
report.
The report from Cyber Dialogue said that by the third
quarter of 1999, 19.2 million adults used their credit cards to make online
transactions, compared to 9.3 million in 1998 and only 4.9 million in 1997.
Cyber Dialogue’s survey also found that Visa is the most common card used by
adults who complete purchase transactions online. Nearly 70 percent of
online purchasers who use credit cards online report using a Visa card, while
one-third use MasterCard and 15 percent use American Express.
Visa retained a more than 50 percent market share of online consumer
transactions, while just over one-quarter of transactions are completed with
MasterCard, 12 percent with American Express and six percent with Discover.
“The massive surge of credit card use online is an indication that consumers
are fast becoming completely comfortable with making purchases online,” said
Liz Melcher, executive vice president of Cyber Dialogue.
“The findings also
suggest that credit cards have established themselves as the new online
currency when it comes to buying goods and services of any value.”
The findings are from Cyber Dialogue’s American Internet User Survey,
consisting of interviews with 1,000 Internet users and 1,000 nonusers.
Database marketing company Cyber Dialogue provides tools, data and services
for senior marketing professionals.
