Free Shipping Holds Value, Survey Finds

* 47 percent said their online purchases were for themselves, up considerably from four years ago (24 percent);

* 21 percent said they were buying gifts for both themselves and others, down from 40 percent in 2003;

* overall gift purchases decreased from 36 percent in 2003 to 32 percent in 2007; this means consumers are going to certain sites for themselves and different sites for others;