Holiday shopping season: Amazon leads on price/selection, eBay for best value

Investing.com — Bank of America’s 16th Annual Holiday Pricing Survey revealed that Amazon (NASDAQ:) and eBay (NASDAQ:) are leading the pack this holiday season, albeit for different reasons, according to the bank. 

BofA explained that Amazon shines in price and product selection among major retailers, while eBay offers the best value for budget-conscious shoppers.

The survey, conducted after Cyber Monday, reportedly analyzed prices, shipping speeds, and product availability across major online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart (NYSE:), Target (NYSE:), and eBay. 

“Amazon had the lowest average prices among big box retailers,” BofA reports, with promotions driving down costs. 

However, eBay outperformed overall with the lowest average prices, despite variability in delivery times and seller quality. 

For example, BofA 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 came to product availability, eBay is said to have topped the list with all 50 items in the survey available, followed by Amazon at 47. 

Meanwhile, Walmart and Target are said to have lagged behind at 42 and 29 items, respectively. 

“Amazon [is] well-positioned on pricing and selection this holiday,” BofA wrote, adding that Prime members benefit from competitive prices on a majority of items.

On shipping, Walmart narrowly edged out Amazon, with the bank saying it offered the fastest average delivery time of 3.8 days versus Amazon’s 4.1 days. 

However, Amazon leads in free same-day delivery, with 10% of selected items qualifying for this service compared to Walmart’s 4%. They added that while 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 critical features for online shoppers. 

BofA concludes that “Amazon offers a strong blend, ”and they continue to see the company “well positioned for holiday share gains.”