The laptop and netbook Cyber Monday deals are set to be impressive. Image: Flickr / zieak / CC-BY

Though Black Friday shopping is the athletic shopping event of the season, Cyber Monday deals come in close second. Online comparison website Pricegrabber has found that over 1/3 of shoppers expect to find the best deals online on Cyber Monday. This year’s Cyber Monday deals include laptops, netbooks, and free shipping deals.

The origin of Cyber Monday deals

Cyber Monday deals are a phenomenon that stated in November of 2005. In 2009, Cyber Monday deals accounted for over $887 million worth of holiday-shopping sales. Cyber Monday shopping originally started as a day that many workers did their holiday shopping from work. Only about thirteen percent of workers say that they are planning on shopping from work, though that number may go up on that day.

Cyber Monday laptop deals

The Cyber Monday deals that are this year’s focus are both laptop deals and netbook details. The best deals on laptops will likely get down as far as $349 or less for a 15.6 inch dual core laptop. Dell and HP are also going to be offering discounts on customized computers. Laptop deals on Cyber Monday will also likely include free shipping and discount coupons. Services such as Pricegrabber and CyberMonday.com are going to be the best place to keep track of the best Cyber Monday deals.

Keeping yourself safe for Cyber Monday deals

Cyber Monday deals are a great way to save money. However, Cyber Monday can also be a dangerous day. Identity theft can be a huge concern when shopping online. By using only websites that you trust, and ensuring that your shopping site uses https in the URL, you can be keeping your identity safe. Some credit cards offer “secure shopping” options, which you should take advantage of. Cyber Monday deals are also only “deals” if you aren’t paying the cost of identity theft – so don’t let unrealistic deals tempt you into spending money on a website that looks sketchy.

Shop online on Black Friday 2010

Many retailers are turning things up a notch for Black Friday 2010, offering customers the convenient option to shop online for many items on sale. Many stores are breaking this long, holiday shopping tradition even further by offering these deals before Black Friday. Retailers such as Best Buy, Macy’s and Radio Shack are offering their Black Friday deals online, available to shoppers starting Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. Amazon.com is already releasing some of its hottest deals — and you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving or Black Friday 2010 to shop online and save money, not to mention escape hassles and stress.

Online statistics

According to the New York Times, shoppers spent $318 million online on Thanksgiving last year. That’s an increase of more than 10 percent compared to the year before. The next day, $595 million was spent on Black Friday, an increase of 11 percent. Many experts believe that these online figures will be even greater this year and only continue to grow in coming years.

Shop online and stay toasty

Considering all the Thanksgiving dinner preparation and clean-up, the last thing you want is to stay up all night just to make sure you are among the first in line at your local departments stores. For those who live in cities with harsh cold-weather conditions, the Black Friday shopping experience is even worse. So, instead of waiting in the blistering cold and jostling among rude shoppers, you may want to consider the option to shop online for Black Friday 2010.

Sources

Yahoo! Finance / The New York Times

Is it safe to shop online with credit cards? Much safer than running into a credit card ninja at night! (Photo: marines.mil)

Credit cards lead to the many success stories when traveling around the Web, uncovering the answer to an often taboo question: Is the Web really making money? 2009 offline and online retailers expect to see a 1.8 percent increase in 2009 sales, according to the Retail Compass Survey of 100 chief marketing officers at leading retailers.

Is the Internet Making Money During the Recession?

Most major retailers offer online shopping, particularly because they accept credit cards. Cheryl Schmidt, owner of Taste of Toledo Gift Baskets and Gifts, is a business owner getting steady interest from the help of the Web. “About half my sales come from my Web site,” Schmidt says. It’s not that all her sales come from online, but many people use her online store as a catalog to call in orders or go to the store if they live in or near the Toledo area. Taste of Toledo offers Christmas-themed gifts this time of year. The Toledo and Ohio Gift Basket remains most popular during the holidays and even year-around.

Online Shopping Can Be Dangerous; Keep Yourself Safe

While shopping online is more convenient and safer, in most cases, than shopping in a store, never let your guard down. The BBB (Better Business Bureau) offers tips for online shopping, some include:

Trust In Your Instincts

If a gut feeling makes you uncomfortable about bidding on or buying an item online, or if you feel more pressure than an ant under an elephant to place an order quickly, you should probably avoid buying from the Web site.

Gain Knowledge of Web-based Auctions

The worst thing to do is jump directly into a Web-based auction without checking out the important details. Take the time to get familiarized with not only the rules and policies of the auction site, but with all the legal terms involving warrants, refund policies, etc. of the seller’s item which you would like to bid on.

Do a Double-Take with Prices

If you stumble upon a wonderful Web site offering the best looking laptop computer for $50, red flags should wave. Be careful, keeping in mind to watch out for prices that seem too good to be true. It doesn’t matter if the product is being sold as new or used, the price should coincide with the item you’re planning to purchase. If you aren’t sure, do some online research. This could also confirm your decisions to use discretion when shopping online with credit cards.

Find the Privacy Policy and Read It!

It’s very important that you read the privacy policy to find out what information the seller is going to try and collect from you, how the information will be used and how you can stop the process. If you search for the privacy policy link somewhere on the seller’s home page or included with the legal terms (where it should be located) and find nothing, don’t do business with them.

Be Alert and Check the Connection

After you’ve drooled over the things you wish to buy, you might want to pull out your credit cards and click on the “buy now” button. But before you give your payment information, there are various icons and software programs that indicate security software is in place on the Web site. You want to see what level of encryption the retailer uses, as well as whether their credit card security is associated with a company like VeriSign. If all is in place, you can relax and buy with ease.

Inspect Your Purchase When It Arrives

Once the item arrives in the mail, examine it carefully. If you happen to notice any problems, contact the seller in writing immediately. Tell the seller what’s wrong with the product, being as detailed as you can. Also, ask for repairs or a refund, and keep a copy of your correspondence.

Pay the Safe Way

The safest way to pay for anything on the Internet is by using the Visa, MasterCard or Discover logos; or, simply put, credit cards. In the event of fraud, card issuers have security methods in place that consumers can use.

Japanese Blossom Woven Dress, $15.84

I just checked out the sale going on at the Forever 21 web site, and the prices are crazy! The first sale item is a really cute spaghetti strap tank top for $3.84! The other crazy part about it is that the original price for that item is $4.80.
I had no idea I could get clothing for less than $5 nowadays. I never go shopping and never buy new clothes, but now I wish I had known how inexpensive Forever 21 is. I would have definitely gotten some new items already. Now that I know about Forever 21’s prices and the awesome sale going on now, I might just have to do some online shopping on my lunch break.

Forever 21 fits everyone’s budget

I figured if I ever needed to buy new clothes I’d have to take out a payday cash loan, but if the $3 tank top wasn’t enough to convince you that you can afford Forever 21 clothes, check out these other deals:

• Relaxed knit cami, $4.72
• Vintage Hollywood tank, $10.24
• Retro Malibu tee, $11.04
• Color stripe halter top, $11.84
• Satin trim knit top, $15.84
• Japanese Blossom woven dress, $15.84
• Distressed print dress, $18.24
• Marsha mesh dot dress, $18.24
• Tina denim shorts, $19.84

Forever 21 sales every day

I don’t wear dresses, except for special occasions, but if I did, I would definitely get them from forever 21. Great looking dresses for less than $20? I feel like I’ve found a time machine and gone back to when prices were reasonable.
Turns out, this sale is no special occasion. The Forever 21 web site offers 21 items for 20 percent off every day. The regular prices on Forever 21 stuff are already amazing – I didn’t see a single item for more than $25 – so with a sale going on every day, you can’t lose.

Online shopping saves time

Of course, some people have the money to go shopping, just not the time. The Forever 21 web site is a can’t-lose situation. Regardless of whether you’re looking for inexpensive or convenient, you will get both. Shipping prices are normal, but if you spend $75, shipping is free.
You can build a wish list at Forever 21, so if I were you I’d go check out the merchandise, save the stuff you like, and wait until your total reaches $75 so you can save the shipping money. Of course, summer is quickly coming to an end, so if you want to take advantage of the Forever 21 sale prices on cute shorts and summer dresses don’t wait. I’m sure this stuff is going to sell out.

More great shopping

The same company that owns Forever 21 also owns Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe, and all of these stores have great looking clothes at great prices, and you can shop online at all of them.

The prices at Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe are similar, though not as dirt cheap as Forever 21. Still, you can get jeans in the $20 range from Wet Seal and dresses in the $30 range from Charlotte Russe. Crazy.

Links to Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe:

http://www.charlotterusse.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3456440

http://www.wetseal.com/catalog/thumbnail.jsp?categoryId=103&subCategoryId=862