By now you know I enjoy getting great deals as much as the next guy (and probably more so). So Cyber Monday is probably one of my favorite days of the year. That’s because I know that I can get the stuff I have my eye on (especially electronics!) at a significant discount. The thing is, many people don’t realize that with all of the hype about Cyber Monday deals, it’s important to know your prices- and to know how to keep your information secure when shopping online. As it happens, I have extensive experience shopping online, and I’m happy to share my expertise with you, so that you can enjoy safe shopping whether you’re taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals or purchasing something throughout the rest of the year.
Most importantly, when taking advantage of Cyber Monday sales, I highly recommend buying from a reputable internet site. If you’re new to the site (ie, it’s not a well-known website like my favorites Target.com or Overstock.com), look for accreditation such as approval from the BBB (Better Business Bureau), a hacker-safe seal from a dependable company (like McAfee), or, at the very least, an https denotation on the checkout page, which will confirm that your information will be transmitted securely (this can be found at the beginning of the address bar in your web browser). Similarly, when pursuing Cyber Monday sales, it’s a good idea to know your prices first. If you have time, check the prices of the items that interest you the week before Cyber Monday so that you’ll know whether the Cyber Monday ad you’ve seen is really a good deal or just hype about a standard price. If not, do a quick comparison shop before making an impulse buy to make sure that you’re truly getting the best price. In addition to purchasing items with reduced prices, see if you can score free shipping (or lower-priced shipping)- oftentimes if an item costs a lot for shipping, it may be cheaper to just go to the store and buy it there to save a few bucks on the shipping.
Finally, to take advantage of the best Cyber Monday deals, make sure to shop early. Although shopping online is a bit less painful than waking up at the crack of dawn to hit the stores on Black Friday, it’s still important to set time aside (preferably before work), so that your favorite items don’t get sold out at the lowest possible prices.
So I hope that you’ve made the most of Cyber Monday 2009- and that now you’ll know what to look for when the Cyber Monday deals start rolling out next year.
Happy Cyber Surfing,
Billy
