You can read the precise stats in our post about site speed case studies, tips and tools for improving your conversion rate, but essentially if you run a slow website you'll start to lose both traffic and sales.
To draw attention to this issue, we've previously evaluated the top UK retailers using Google's site speed tool, as well as several UK newspapers.
So it only seemed fair that we also look at what Google thinks of the top 10 US retailers. And this time I also tested each of the sites using WebPageTest's load speed tool.
Caveats
As we pointed out in previous posts, we know this isn't a scientific test and the two tools I've used here are a guide. Site speed will very much depend on location, equipment used, and so on.
Furthermore, a bad score on Google's page speed tool doesn't necessarily mean a site is slow, but it does provide some useful pointers on the kinds of issues slowing down sites.
Amazon
Homepage
Amazon's homepage scored an excellent 93 out of 100 from Google, while its load time was 2.75 seconds.
Google had no high priority recommendations, which is what you would expect from a company with Amazon's development budget.
Product page
Amazon's Kindle Fire product page achieved an equally impressive 92 from Google, with just one high priority recommendation to combine images into CSS sprites.
But according to WebPageTest it took 14.04 seconds to load, which isn't quite as spectacular.
Staples
Homepage
Google gave Staples 76 out of 100, with several high priority recommendations including minimizing redirects. Loading time according to WebPageTest was a fairly average 6.64 seconds.
Product page
The product page scored 80 on Google's tool, which is slightly better then the homepage. However the page speed was 9.10 seconds, three seconds slower than the homepage.
Apple
Homepage
Google gave Apple a rather meagre 62 out of 100, however its load speed was a not-so-slow 4.79 seconds.
Product page
The iPad Mini product page outperformed the homepage with a score of 76 and a load time of 4.40 seconds.
Google's high priority recommendations were to leverage browser caching and combine images into CSS sprites.
Walmart
Homepage
Walmart scored a rather average 79 with the usual recommendations to leverage browser caching and optimize images. WebPageTest recorded the load time as 5.49 seconds.
Product page
Google gave it 85, meaning Walmart is yet another retailer with a better score for a product page than the homepage.
The load time was clocked at 6.82 seconds, which is actually quite quick compared to other brands on this list.
Dell
Homepage
Dell's homepage performed well in both tests, achieving a score of 86 and a load time of 3.09 seconds.
Product page
The Inspiron 15R product page clocked a load time of 8.32 seconds and a Google score of 76.
Office Depot
Homepage
Office Depot's homepage also achieved decent scores in both tests. Google gave it 89 with no high priority recommendations and its load time came in at 5.36 seconds.
Product page
Though the laptop product page scored 89 from Google, its load time was clocked at a relatively slow 8.05 seconds.
Sears
Homepage
Sears' homepage achieved a score of 90 with zero high priority recommendations and a load speed of 5.58 seconds.
Product page
Though Google gave Sears' product page a score of 90, it's WebPageTest speed was 10.24 seconds.
Office Max
Homepage
Office Max's homepage scored a relatively poor 73 out of 100, with high priority recommendations to leverage browser caching, combine images into CSS sprites and minimize redirects.
The page load speed was measured at 6.90 seconds, which seems slow but isn't too bad compared to others on this list.
Product page
Results for the product page were almost identical to the homepage, with Google scoring it 72 out of 100 and the page load speed being clocked at 6.25 seconds.
Newegg
Homepage
Computer retailer Newegg scored reasonable well in both tests. Google gave it 86 and the load speed was 6.48.
Product page
Newegg's product page scores were fairly consistent with the homepage. It scored 88 from Google and the load speed came in at 7.00 seconds.
Macy's
Homepage
Macy's easily achieved the lowest score out of all the retailers with just 36 out of 100. The page load speed was slightly less dire at 8.58 seconds.
Product page
Macy's product page scored a mediocre 66 out of 100 and a load speed of 6.26.
Conclusion
Overall the standard was consistently high, as you would expect form top online retailers. Only Apple and Macy's scored less than 70 from Google, with Macy's scoring just 36 for its homepage and 66 for a product page, while Apple's homepage scored 62.
As with the UK test, Amazon was the top performer with 93 for its homepage and 92 for a product page.
Amazon also clocked the fastest load time for its homepage with 2.75 seconds, followed by Dell (3.09 seconds) and Apple (4.79 seconds). Macy's homepage had the slowest load time with 8.58 seconds.
Looking at the product pages however, Amazon achieved the slowest load time with 14.04 seconds while Apple's was the quickest at 4.4 seconds.
So what does this test prove? Well the two tools actually appear to contradict each other, as Amazon's product page achieved the top score from Google but clocked the slowest load time.
Similarly, Apple's homepage achieved the second lowest score from Google but the third fastest load time.
So really it highlights the fact that while these free tools are a useful benchmark, they shouldn't be taken as gospel and businesses shouldn't rely on one measurement metric when analysing their site speed.
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