This Sunday is set to be the busiest online shopping day in history, with more online purchases predicted from Australian websites this December than in any other month of trade, Ebay has said.

Approximately 2.3 million Australians are expected to visit eBay.com.au on this day alone – a 26% increase over last year’s busiest online shopping day (11 December 2011), according to the company.

The ecommerce site expects 300,000 items to be sold on eBay.com.au – 17% greater than last year’s busiest online shopping day.

Online payment company PayPal is also predicting the busiest week in history, while Australia Post expects to deliver half a million more parcels across the country in the week following.  Last year, Australia Post delivered an additional three million parcels in December alone.

Deborah Sharkey, VP, Ebay Australia said: “Consumers are not spending more, they are spending differently. They are sending us a clear message that they want to shop online and mobile, alongside physical stores. The challenge for the modern retailer is to be everywhere the consumer is.

“Retail has never been as simple for the consumer and more complex for the retailer. Leading service providers like eBay, PayPal and Australia Post are innovating at pace to provide elegant consumer solutions on behalf of the retail industry.”

Jeff Clementz, MD PayPal Australia said: “We are witnessing an increased growth in the number of Australian retailers who have opened their virtual store doors to receptive consumers.

“This year, consumers will be shopping across a mix of retail channels, from their tablets to their mobiles to in-store. Wherever they are shopping, consumers are looking for flexibility, convenience and security.”

To help address the spike in online shopping and shipping, Australia Post has today launched a new store adjacent to the Queen Victoria building in Sydney’s CBD which includes a 24/7 zone with self-service terminals, vending machines and parcel lockers so customers can pick up or send their Christmas parcels any time of the day.

The store also features an online shopping zone with Apple Macs and iPads so customers can shop for their Christmas gifts online, in-store.