Welcome to Australia’s busiest online shopping day. According to eBay today (Monday December 3) will be their biggest of the year with 2.6 million visitors buying something every quarter of a second.

If you, like me, went to a major shopping centre on the weekend you’ll know that “Christmas Panic” has set in, and perhaps with that nightmare behind us, many Aussies will hit the internet today to just simply get it done.

And forget the second hand auction site label eBay has had for many years, 91% of items sold on eBay today will be brand new.

Peak hour at eBay isn’t a drama because you’ve got parking in your own driveway – and that hour happens between 8pm and 9pm tonight, with 8.30 being the busiest moment of all.

Interestingly, it’s a touch later on Mobile – with the peak at 9pm for the 1.8 million mobile users.

If you wanna know what you’re neighbours are doing, here are the most active postcodes on eBay:

  • Victoria: Werribee
  • NSW: Sydney CBD
  • NSW: Liverpool
  • QLD: Mackay
  • QLD: Toowoomba

eBay’s Head of Retail Insights Gavin Dennis said, “Aussies are getting a head start on Christmas and this year, the Busiest Online Shopping Day is a full week earlier than the past few years. We’re seeing people taking advantage of great deals throughout November and early December to take some of the stress out of the Christmas period.”

“Electronics, health and beauty, toys and jewellery will be the most popular items; this year we’re also expecting to see even more buying Apple products, with a purchase every 48 seconds,” Dennis added.

“When you take into account the growth of our Click and Collect network, as well as free delivery and returns with an eBay Plus shopping membership, it’s no surprise that people in central Sydney will be taking some time during the workday to make a start on Christmas shopping,” Dennis said.

Gavin’s Product predictions:

  • A health and beauty item to sell every 2 seconds
  • A toy to sell every 3 seconds
  • A piece of jewellery to sell every 3 seconds
  • A pet care item to sell every 10 seconds
  • A bottle of alcohol every 42 seconds
  • An Apple product to sell every 48 seconds
  • An iPhone every 90 seconds