The shopping feast that began on Thanksgiving is far from over.
After the Turkey Day discounts, Black Friday bargains and Small Business Saturday sales comes Cyber Monday, which has become the heaviest online shopping day in recent years with total sales more than doubling between 2006 and 2013.
Cyber Monday generated more than $1.7 billion in Internet sales last year and is poised to make history again this year as retail experts predict an increase in overall e-purchases.
The overwhelming number of online deals being offered can make your head spin if you don’t have a plan. Here are ways to shop with less stress.
• Be on the alert. Just because a product is heavily discounted doesn’t mean it’s the best price you’re going to find. Retailers fluctuate prices throughout Cyber Monday based on what the competition is offering, so comparing prices and tracking sales is essential to knowing the best time to buy.
To find the lowest price, install the InvisibleHand add-on, which alerts you when an item you’re looking to buy is cheaper on another site.
Downloading the free PoachIt tool will alert you if something you bought drops in price later in the day. You can then get the retailer to match the lower price by opening a live chat or calling customer service.
• Join and save. Subscribing to the e-newsletters of your favorite brands and stores will not only keep you on top of sales, you may even get a coupon code for being a new subscriber that can be used on top of the sale price.
You should also consider following those brands and e-retailers on Facebook and Twitter for instant updates on promotions throughout the day. Stores will be posting and tweeting new product deals and may even offer exclusive coupons via their social networks.
• Organize your codes. Keeping track of all the Cyber Monday deals out there is a daunting task, especially if you’re stuck at the office. Clicking on the “Cyber Monday” tab on such coupon and deals sites as CouponSherpa, DealNews, SlickDeals.net and RetailMeNot will help you find all the best deals and available coupon codes in one place.
• Happy returns. Shopping online is easy; returning purchases often is not. It’s wise to read up on the return policies of the e-retailers you plan to shop with.
Look for free return shipping, or return-to-store options, to avoid a return shipping fee. Be aware of any restocking fees when buying electronics and know if you can expect a refund or a merchandise credit.
• Wait it out. If you aren’t impressed by the Cyber Monday deals or don’t have time to shop because you’re working, don’t worry — there’s still plenty of time to find huge savings online. In fact, you can usually find better deals on goods like jewelry and winter apparel the week before Christmas.
You can also take advantage of Free Shipping Day sales on Dec. 18. Not only do retailers offer free shipping with delivery by Dec. 24, but many offer extra discounts.
Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert. For more tips, go to andreaworoch.com
Article source: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/barack-obama-ozone-113204.html
omgimages/Getty Images/iStockphoto Cyber Monday arrives on the heels of Turkey Day, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
The shopping feast that began on Thanksgiving is far from over.
After the Turkey Day discounts, Black Friday bargains and Small Business...
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