Cyber Monday Shopping Tips

Cyber Monday specials have become more and more common in recent years. No longer is it necessary to brave the hoards of people shopping on Black Friday. Wait until the Monday after Thanksgiving and you can shop from the comfort of your home instead! If you want to get the best deals, however, it pays to be prepared.

1) Follow Retailers On Facebook, Twitter And Their Own Websites

The easiest way to find out about Cyber Monday specials is to sign up with retailers directly. Sign up to newsletters on their websites, or follow them on Twitter and Facebook to be the first to find out about a sale. Better still, do a few Twitter searches near the time to see people tweeting about any deals that may have leaked early. This helps get you prepared to click on as soon as the deal goes live!

2) Know When The Sale Starts

Even though you're shopping from the comfort of your own home, it's still a good idea to check out the major electronics websites in advance. They don't always give away all details of their Black Friday/ Cyber Monday offers, but they will usually at least tell you what time they start. To be safe, sign up to their newsletters (as mentioned above). Keep an eye on your email and make sure you're there as soon as the sale starts. Don't be late! The best deals can go within minutes, even online!

3) Sign Up In Advance

If you've never shopped with a particular online retailer before, but you know they're launching a deal you're interested in, then create an account with them before Thanksgiving. Make sure all your billing and shipping information is there so you can check out quickly when the time comes. Why is this so important? Because Cyber Monday specials are very limited. Often being the first to add to your cart isn't enough - you need to go through the whole checkout process before they expire.

4) Combine Deals With Extra Coupons

Just because you've already found a great deal doesn't mean that you can't save even more! If you shop online you should always, always go a quick Google search for a coupon code for that particular store. It usually takes about a minute, but you could save on shipping or get a percentage off your total order price. You might not find anything, but it's well worth checking! Do it in advance of the sale, so you don't waste precious time once it has started.

5) Start As Early As Thanksgiving (Or Sooner!)

Lastly, although Cyber Monday specials may be the most famous (those that go live on Monday after Thanksgiving), many online retailers do, in fact, start their sales as early as Thanksgiving itself! You might not want to interrupt your day with online shopping, but if you don't mind then it's well worth checking your favorite stores to see whether any online specials have gone live yet.

There are huge benefits of waiting until "Cyber Monday" to do your shopping, not least the fact that you can avoid the massive crowds. The Monday after Thanksgiving is when online retailers traditionally knock down their prices, and millions of people will shop on the internet even when they wouldn't normally. Although online shopping is very safe, this is a prime time for scammers to suck you in. Make sure you follow these four security tips to stay safe in the Cyber Monday sale.

1) Keep Your Computer Protected

If you're using the internet at all then you need to keep your computer safe with antivirus software. Download all available updates to keep on top of the latest threats. When you are online, shopping in any Cyber Monday sale, you can also make sure your credit card details are safe when paying if you see the "https://" in the address bar, often accompanied by a lock symbol (depending on your system).

2) Be Wary Of Individual Sellers

If you're buying direct from big name websites, such as Amazon or Best Buy, then you're probably safe. But when you start buying from lesser-known online stores, or third party sellers, you need to exercise caution. Cyber Monday is an easy time for them to lure shoppers in with seemingly good deals. If you've never heard of a company, look them up with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or check their feedback history if you're using a site such as eBay.

3) Red Flags To Look Out For

One important red flag to look out for is when you hear about a deal directly in an email. Does the Cyber Monday sale sound too good to be true? Has it been sent by someone you've never been into contact with before? Sometimes links can show one address, but send you to another when you click on them. Be very wary of such links, and don't click them if in doubt. You should also always avoid giving direct bank information or PayPal details unless you're logging in directly on the bank website - never send it via email.

4) Pay With Your Credit Card

If you're shopping with people or companies you've never used before then the best way to protect yourself in a Cyber Monday sale is by paying with a credit card. If you don't end up receiving the items then you can dispute the payment with your credit card provider. Many card providers also protect you from stolen card details. Just make sure to check your statements often so you know exactly what's going out of your account.

Black Friday can be a great time to buy your Christmas gifts, but sometimes the deals are so limited it's near impossible to grab them. And not all of us are organized enough to know what we want to buy as early as November! If you missed out on the Black Friday deals, don't panic! There are still ways to save money on your online gift shopping.

Buy As Early As Possible

You might not have been early enough to shop in the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday deals, but shopping as early as possible still has its perks. For one, the hottest gifts (especially toys) are more likely to be in stock. Secondly, you give yourself plenty of time to receive the gift in time. And lastly, you have more time to compare the best prices.

Buy Cheap Gift Cards

This is a growing trend on the internet: when people receive gift cards for stores they don't have a use for, they sell them online at a discount. If you know you're going to be shopping in certain stores, why not check to see if there are gift cards available at a discount? Sites like eBay are a good place to start. Of course this really isn't worth it if you buy at face value - you may as well spend cash!

Search For Discount Codes

Whenever you buy anything online, holidays or not, it always pays to do a quick search to see if there's a gift code available. Often this can mean free shipping, but you'll regularly find bigger deals too - especially around the holiday season when stores want to make sure you do your shopping with them! One way to get the codes is to follow your favorite websites on Twitter or Facebook.

Get Cash Back

One advantage of online gift shopping is that you can usually get cash back on your purchases if you're signed up to a cash back website such as Ebates. Some stores might not be available, but check the cash back website before you buy to see whether you could earn a small percentage of your spend back again.

Compare Prices

The internet makes it far easier to compare prices than if you were shopping in physical stores. Simply take advantage of one of the many price comparison websites to find out, in one click, where you can find the best prices online.

Take A Risk And Shop At The Last Minute

This tactic is risky, but it could result in some savings. December 21 is usually the last day you can order in time for Christmas shipping. Many online retailers will mark items down on this day, because they know it's the last chance they have to sell before Christmas. You could end up saving a lot of money if you wait to do your online gift shopping then, but it is a risk: items could be out of stock, express shipping can be costly, or the sales may be nonexistent!

CyberMondayNews.com Cyber Monday 2011 - One of the largest selections of Cyber Monday deals last year, we expect the same this year.

Dealworker.com Cyber Monday Page - Cyber Monday page with a full listing of Cyber Monday sale ads, coupon codes and deals. Some released early.

Flamingoworld Cyber Monday Page - Cyber Monday page with Cyber Monday coupons and promotions.

Dealtaker.com Cyber Monday Forum - Cyber Monday 2011 forum listing deals for Cyber Monday.