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Subscribe to RSS"Get your smart phones and your computers ready," said Paypal shopping specialist Claudia Lombana, who recommends savvy shoppers track products with apps. Consumers can expect deep discounts on apparel, electronics and jewelry. NBC's Thomas Roberts reports, and TODAY's Carl Quintanilla interviews Claudia Lombana.
The biggest online shopping day of the year is now in sight, and retailers plan to pull out all the stops to get your business.
We're talking Cyber Monday.
“Most are going to offer special deals literally every hour on something unique, something distinctive, or something that is a huge bargain,” said Miro Copic, a professor of marketing at San Diego State University.
According to a survey done for the National Retail Federation, a record 85 percent of online retailers will offer special promotions on Cyber Monday. About four out of 10 will offer free shipping on all purchases that day. That’s up from just 13 percent last year. Another 30 percent will offer free shipping when a certain dollar amount is reached.
“There’s no question that one of shoppers’ favorite deals is free shipping – in fact, many expect it – and retailers are responding,” said Pam Goodfellow of BIGinsight which conducted the survey.
This seventh Cyber Monday should easily set a new e-commerce record with sales expected to hit $1.5 billion. That would be a 25 percent jump from last year’s $1.2 billion.
That’s still small when compared to the revenue generated at brick-and-mortar stores on Black Friday – $52 billion last year – but a big deal in the world of digital commerce.
“It’s the only billion dollar online shopping day of the year,” Prof. Copic noted. “There are a few days that approach that mark, but Cyber Monday is still the king of all online sales days throughout the year.”
What do shoppers plan to buy on Monday?
A survey done by the online coupon site FatWallet.com shows that people are looking for deals on clothing (70 percent), computers and tablets (64 percent), toys (50 percent) and appliances (34 percent). They also hope to find discounts on HD televisions and smartphones.
How good are the Cyber Monday deals?
“In many cases, they’re as good as or better than Black Friday discounts,” said Dan de Grandpre, CEO of dealnews.com.
It isn’t hard to find well-known brands and popular products marked down by 50 percent or more – and you don’t have to stand in line or fight the crowds to get them. A few examples:
- Wal-Mart has a Samsung 55-inch LED Smart 3-D HDTV for just $1,498, a $1,000 savings.
- Sears is selling a Maytag washer and dryer set for $800, a savings of $430 on the pair.
- Kmart is slashing the price of diamond earrings by 75 percent.
- Target promises savings of up to 70 percent on housewares, electronics, clothing and toys.
Dealnews says expect big discounts on electronics from Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Newegg.com.
Don’t wait until Monday
Now that Black Friday begins on Thursday, it should come as no surprise that Cyber Monday starts over the weekend.
The Sears and Kmart websites post their Cyber Monday deals on Sunday at 12 a.m.
Other big-name retailers, like Target.com and Amazon.com, kick off what they call their “Cyber Week” sales on Sunday. Walmart.com launches its Cyber Week savings on Saturday.
And get this: For the first time, customers at Walmart.com will have the option to pay with cash. After the order is placed, you have 48 hours to pay at any Wal-Mart store. The order will ship to your home or the store – it’s your choice.
Some people may plan to shop from work on Cyber Monday, but a poll by pricegrabber.com, the online price comparison site, suggests that most (83 percent) will shop from home.
“People are going to shop from home before they go to work and then use their mobile devices throughout the day,” said PriceGrabber’s James Brown.
Thirty percent said they plan to shop between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Another third indicated they would be online between 9 a.m. and noon. Brown says retailers know this, so they will post some of their “juiciest products and best deals” early in the day.
Get ready now
You should prepare for Cyber Monday now. Go to the websites of your favorite stores and brands. Follow them on Twitter, “like” them on Facebook and download their apps. By doing this, you’ll get a jump on finding out about the sales and may be offered special promotions.
You can also sign up for price alerts from sites such as pricegrabber.com, fatwallet.com and dealnews.com.
By setting up a system now, you won’t have to watch and worry all day Monday to make sure you know when the items you want go on sale. Your boss will appreciate that!
The National Retail Federation’s CyberMonday.com website is a great place to look for bargains. The first Cyber Monday deals will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 25, around mid-afternoon Eastern Time.
Be safe when shopping online
You need to be careful anytime you shop online. It’s important to make sure a scammer doesn’t ruin your holidays. The Better Business Bureau has prepared a list of tips for navigating Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Herb Weisbaum is The ConsumerMan. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit The ConsumerMan website.
Leave a Comment:
Cyber Monday is almost as dumb-a$$ as Black Friday.
It's pretty sad when the shopping days after the holidays are met with just as much excitement as the holiday itself. It's almost like Thanksgiving Thursday is something to do while you kill time waiting for Black Friday.
Cyber Monday makes a lot of sense if you have a big ticket item to buy. You don't have to brave the Black Friday rush, can research and order from your own home, then pick it up when it's convenient. Who wouldn't want to save money on appliances or TVs if you're in the market for them anyway?
Wife and I don't ever shop on Black Friday in our area. There aren't really many savings and it takes on a literal meaning. No thanks!
Hello folks, how pathetic is it that people justify their greed for materialism under the guise they are just getting a better deal this time of year.
The dangers of materialism, the love of “things,” greed, avarice, the obsession of wanting more and more. How happy does materialism make you?
We spend more but we have less.
We buy more but we enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families.
We have more conveniences but less time.
We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values.
We have learned how to make a living but not a life.
We have added years to life but not life to years.
We have done larger things but not better things.
We have higher income but lower morals.
These are the times of steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are days of fancier houses but of broken homes.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room.
These are times of great inner emptiness and bankruptcy.
Yes we have free will to shop til we drop but what does that say about our priorities. We don't have to be spiritually and economically bankrupt but yet again it is our right to do just that if we choose. I'm not judging anyone but sheesh, look where it's gotten us!
I am getting all my stuff on line today.. this year we are making spice mixes for all of our gifts and giving them with a copy of our favorite unpc cookbook.. i can't tell you the name of it because some of you will freak, but if you google "whipped and beaten culinary works" you can find it.. but don't go if you cant take a good joke. the spice mix recipes are even on the site..
i dont really pay as much attention to all the big sales as alot of people do with the black friday and cyber monday and all but im looking to buy a tablet and have found quite a few good deals online, i have a 4th generation ipod but the 4inch screen is just to small so im looking to upgrade to a 7 or 8 inch tablet but have found a 10.1 inch android for $126! thats a savings of close to $150 off msrp. good deal. i understand the comments about people being to materalistic but the people that put those comments on here did so with a home computer right? haha hate to use the word biggot but......
I never buy sales items..if I want something I just go and get it.
Most sales items are 98% junk products and don't last long.
How did you come up with that 98% number? Are you sure it's not 96%?
Tell you the truth..its really 100% junk, why I wrote 98% beats me.
Its my opinion..same as you have your opinion.
This is what people do when a piece of junk goes on sale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O6IMYSSs7c
I expect to find many great deals during this Cyber Monday. Retailers will be slashing prices as much as 70% off and expect all retailers to have free shipping. For more Cyber Monday offers and deals,check out
I expect to score big this Cyber Monday as you can find many great deals and offers from retailers. You can find savings of up to 70% off. Kmart is offering 75% off diamond jewelry and Kohls is offer a $15 gift card( Kohl Cash) with every $50 purchase. Check out for the latest offer and deals.
Usually you will see the word "advertisement" in a small font above an article like this.
I'm not seeing it this time. This IS and advertisement, right?
Great online deals can be found at
"Black Friday","Cyber Monday" ---Are ARTIFICIALLY Fabricated by the "Big Box" Corporate stores to summon the mindless piggy's that the troughs are full of slop--"Come and get it" NOT !!!
Wait until the after holiday letdown hits and people realize that money squandered on crap could have been used to keep their family in food or a roof as their jobs are more and more in jeopardy. Off-shoring is excelling if anything due to corporate incentives and our society is getting poorer and poorer. Any smart person will be hanging on to their wallet as it is going to get ugly for most.
If you need to buy electronics, do it on cyber Monday if you can. Better deals than on Black Friday with most online retailers and even more stuff on sale overall. Got about 75% off a Bravia 42" HDTV last year; retail cost is 1,500, got it for 375. The site was trying to unload them because newer models were coming and the did not want any back stock of the older ones.
Cyber Monday and Black Friday are turning into one and the same. Tried getting the new Wii U console in stores but got bulled over by the crowds. Ended up finding and purchasing on line at I've decided to finish all my shopping on line for the first year ever.
Tried shopping on black Friday but got swallwed up by the crowds. Came home and started "Cyber Monday" early. Located the Wii U console immediately at When does Cyber Monday actually start in the era of online shopping?
found it at instockhere.
Amazon has the best cyber Monday deals - here is a link to their special of week long specials!
Since I did ZERO shopping this weekend I'm going to have to get some good deals cyber Monday!!! Can't believe I've bought NO Christmas gifts yet!!I've noticed about some great deal on Amazon @
This country better hope and pray, that Christmas never goes away! $$$$$$$
I don't get caught up in these Media hyped sales days...
It doesn't make much difference, when you only have enough money to pay your bills..food, fuel, utilities and rent come before shopping..lol
What happen to the true meaning of Christmas? Peace on earth!