Cyber Monday Deals: How To Find The Best Online Sales And Save Some Major Green...
23/11/2012
By Beth Pinsker Gladstone
NEW YORK, 23 Nov - In a one-day blitz of shopping, consumers are expected to empty their wallets of more than $1 billion, on Cyber Monday, the online shopping spree on 26 Nov., according to spending projections from research firm, ComScore.
The day follows closely on the heels of Black Friday on 23 Nov., which kicks off the holiday shopping season at stores, and is often the busiest shopping day, for retailers.
Come Monday, not every web-browsing window shopper will hit the "buy" button, and 65 percent of shopping carts are typically abandoned by online shoppers, says the Baynard Institute, in Copenhagen.
These consumers may be motivated by a belief, often correct, that there's a better deal out there.
Cyber Monday 2012 may offer the best deals on technology products this year, says Brian Hoyt, senior writer for RetailMeNot.com, a coupon code site.
That's because merchants have held back their best deals for the Black Friday-Cyber Monday shopping bonanza to whittle down their inventory, and are likely to sell out without needing to discount further, he says.
Strategies to help you navigate Cyber Monday, and enjoy the best possible prices this year.
MAKE A LIST
Successful Cyber Monday shopping is not about aimlessly browsing, or getting everything in one place, says Hoyt.
It's about honing your list down to specific items, and searching for the lowest prices for each of them.
One way is to browse at stores over the holiday weekend, scan bar codes of desired products into a price-checking application, like Red Laser, and check reviews or browse ads, at home.
"If I were a consumer trying to be as thrifty as possible, I would invest my time at the aggregated websites compiling the Cyber Monday deals," says Andrew Baker, assistant professor of marketing in the College of Business Administration, at San Diego State University.
When stores are shut, check for deals online.
"That's what retailers want you to do," says Dan Olds, who runs Gabriel Consulting Group, a retail trend-watching firm.
MAXIMIZE SAVINGS
Once you've narrowed down your wish list, it should take minutes to find the lowest price, says RetailMeNot's, Hoyt.
Plug the item into a search engine, like Nextag, Google Shopping, or Pricegrabber, and evaluate.
Enter details on the stores with the best prices into a coupon code site, to see if there are codes to come up.
When you do the math, you may find the merchant in the No. 2 spot may be offering a 10 percent discount deal, or free shipping, offering better overall value than the store in the top spot.
Try to avoid shipping costs, altogether.
To broaden your chances of finding deals, "Like" and follow your favorite stores on Twitter and Facebook; some retailers will post deals just for their online fans.
If you are an active online shopper, you may receive personalized deal offers as the holiday season progresses for procrastinators who want a day of their own.
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