Cyber Monday is expected to be the heaviest online spending day in history this year, in part thanks to Thanksgiving approaching so late in November.
Cyber Monday, the online, relaxed sister of Black Friday, is expected to approach $2 billion in spending, with a 20 percent year-over-year growth rate, according to a study done by Adam Lella at comScore. In other words, the delay in the holiday shopping season (with Black Friday, and therefore Cyber Monday occurring so late) will mean that people are hurrying to buy on these huge sales days as the rest of the holidays quickly approach.
Likewise, Cyber Monday mobile commerce is expected to bring the highest ever percentage this year, approaching $10 billion dollars in the fourth quarter, according to the same study.
Both brick and mortar and online retailers have expected the resulting decline, or at least delay, in sales this year because of the holiday shopping season being “shortened” as it were due to Thanksgiving coming so late in November.
According to comScore, the heaviest spending for holiday shopping always occurs after Thanksgiving.
As for the best places to score, Amazon.com’s Cyber Monday specials will refresh every 10 minutes, more than earning the name “lightning deals.” The deals start at midnight Dec. 1 and will continue throughout the week.
A few of the deals currently leaked include 40 percent off Panasonic 1080p 240Hz Smart 3D LED HDTVs— either 47-inch or 55-inch and include four pairs of 3D glasses. They’ll also be offering 10 percent off Bose and Beats headphones, as well as significant deals on books, movies, and music. Select DVDs have as much as a 58 percent discount, with select books having 50 percent off.
Walmart’s deals began on Saturday and include discounts on console bundles for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4— not to mention their free shipping on purchases of $35 or higher. The PS4 bundle includes the console, a DualShock 4 controller and a game for only $517. The Xbox One bundle, offering only slightly less, will include the shopper’s choice of either a game or an accessory for $559. Due to the increased price of the Xbox One, these deals are fairly equivalent to each other.
For those looking for a TV with their console, Walmart will be offering a LG 55-inch 3D LED HDTV bundle at only $799. There will also be a bundle available for a 32 GB iPad, with $150 off.
Ulta.com aims to excite with their free beauty bag, offered only to those who spend $40 in online purchases. The shopper gets their choice of three different bags, each of them with 18 free samples from Calvin Klein to Matrix. The bags come in three colors: Lavender Frost, Silver Ice and Bronze dust and are valued at over $100.
Target’s week-long Cyber Monday deals start today, but on Dec. 2, Target will run a Buy One, Get One 60 percent off deal for apparel, accessories, and shoes. This deal includes free shipping and applies to the men’s, women’s, and children’s sections. Target also has camera deals in store, offering a Canon DSLR EOS 6oD bundle for only $899.99 and a Polaroid Action Cam priced at $89.99.
To take advantage of more deals, be sure to check online retailers. Electronics retailers like Newegg (www.newegg.com), Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com), TigerDirect (www.tigerdirect.com), and Fry’s Home Electronics (www.frys.com) will be offering deals, along with Steam (www.store.steampowered.com), ThinkGeek (www.thinkgeek.com), Toys R Us (www.toysrus.com), and more.
