The paper presents and applies the Extended Web Assessment Method (EWAM) an evaluation tool which has been specifically created for the assessment of e-commerce applications. EWAM builds on the Web Assessment Method developed at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland [Schubert/Selz 1999] and integrates findings from the Technology Acceptance Model [Davis 1985] and several alternative approaches. It defines an evaluation grid including a set of criteria to appraise the quality and success of existing e-commerce applications. The focus lies on consumer perspectives and the specific features of the Internet as medium. Using the EWAM tool, an analysis of eight commercial Web sites in two different business sectors - consumer goods and e-banking - was performed. The findings show that most of the Web sites assessed do still not fully meet user expectations. Consumer goods are a local business. Despite of this possible disadvantage they showed a good performance in satisfying their customers. E-banking applications do not present differentiated features, one can seemingly be replaced by the other with no problem.