Ninety per cent of French net users don't fit the bill for e-tail

Less than 10 per cent of France's 12 million internet users are seen as suitable online shoppers, according to a study by French research house Taylor Nelson Sofres.

The study claims that only a tiny fraction of France's online community are an asset to ecommerce sites such as grocers Houra or Ooshop. The favoured one million users are likely to have two incomes, a child, live in Paris or the suburbs and shop at upmarket stores. While nearly six million have a lower monthly income and can be found at Auchan - the French equivalent of Tesco's. The study claimed this group of citizens is more likely to buy online as they are confident that paying online is secure. The remaining percentage of French surfers are mistrustful of online payment methods, claim the cost of delivery is too high and the choice of products is limited. The report also claimed French internet users do not buy high value goods. During the last six months, 28 per cent of the products bought were books or CDs, perfume accounted for five per cent of sales and only three per cent was food and wine.