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Late Surge in Web Buying Blindsides UPS, Retailers

A surge in online shopping this holiday season left stores breaking promises to deliver packages by Christmas, suggesting that retailers and shipping companies still haven’t fully figured out consumers’ buying patterns in the Internet era.

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For Google, Shopping Searches Are Looking Up

Fighting a battle with Amazon.com Inc. to be the preferred entry point for Internet shopping, Google Inc. last year retooled its lucrative search page. Its strategy is showing signs of progress.

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“Cyber Monday” Sales Up 21 Percent, IBM Reports

Online sales on “Cyber Monday” rose 21 percent, driven by strong growth in mobile sales, International Business Machines Corp. said, though the day’s growth rate continued to slow as retailers unveiled discounts earlier into the shopping season.

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At Sears, CEO’s Tech Focus Hasn’t Led to a Turnaround

Since taking over as chief executive of Sears Holdings Corp., billionaire hedge fund manager Edward Lampert has spoken eagerly of overhauling the retailer to accommodate “hyper-connected” shoppers with tablets and mobile phones.

What You Can Learn About Online Shoppers by Watching Them

Some of the weirder and more salient findings from two companies that apply science to try to decrease online shopping fraud and increase sales.

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Three 2012 Holiday Online Shopping Trends to Follow in 2013

Typical peak shopping days such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas Eve morphed into a week-long phenomenon.

Online Holiday Spending Stumbles Over Fiscal Cliff

Here’s something else you can blame on Congress — online spending was up 14 percent this holiday season, falling short of expectations.

Instant Gratification

People have become accustomed to this idea of instant gratification, where you just type something on your phone and the next thing you know, you have what you need.

— TaskRabbit spokesperson Johnny Brackett, talking to the New York Times about retailers’ attempts to offer same-day shipping.

Online Holiday Spending Up 16 Percent, According to ComScore

Cyber Monday still rules.

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Early Sales Pay Off, for Now

Retailers reported a big jump in consumer spending over the Thanksgiving weekend as shoppers flocked to stores, snapped up online discounts and, according to some merchants, paid repeat visits to the mall.

How IBM Is Watching How You Shop Online