German Retailers Not Threatened By Internet Commerce

BERLIN: Internet commerce poses no immediate threat to traditional retailing in Germany, reports the Assn. of German Retailers (HDE) in a current outlook report. The E-Commerce Center in Cologne in a recent survey of retailers, including car dealers and drug stores, indicated most respondents were not worried that e-commerce would cut into their business, the HDE reports: "Those surveyed replied they expected a peaceful coexistence between established companies and Internet trade." Although the volume of e-commerce is not officially tallied, HDE said it was unlikely volume last year totaled more than 3 billion Deutsche marks.