Cyber Monday is coming: If you buy gifts online, that means it’s time to get savvy.
While bricks-and-mortar stores use Black Friday to kick off the holiday shopping season, online retailers ring in the season on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Retailers glommed on to the Cyber Monday concept in 2005 to promote their holiday bargains and appeal to consumers who may have struck out on Black Friday.
Try these tips to maximize your online effectiveness throughout the holiday season.
1Shop around: While it can be exhausting to effectively comparison shop at real stores, it’s much easier online. Shopping networks such as www.shopzilla.com, www.pricegrabber.com and www.shopping.com search multiple retailers for the lowest price on various items.
2 Find free shipping: If the site you’re on doesn’t have free shipping or you don’t like the restrictions required to get it, look for a better deal elsewhere. Four out of five online retailers will offer free shipping at some point during the 2009 holiday season, according to Shop.org, the National Retail Federation’s digital division.
3 Stay alert: Sign up for your favorite stores’ newsletters, e-mail alerts, Facebook updates or Twitter feeds. Amazon.com, for example, is offering Twitter alerts right now as part of its Black Friday Deals Week.
4 Collect coupons, codes: If you’re willing to spend time searching, you can find numerous online-only coupons, promotional codes, rewards, free shipping offers and rebate programs. See www.promotionalcodes.com, www.couponwinner.com, www.currentcodes.com, www.ebates.com, www.fatwallet.com, www.mypoints.com, www.dealio.com and www.retailmenot.com.
5 Stick to a budget: Don’t get sucked into online deals or coupons that require you to spend more than you planned. Though you may get cash back for larger purchases, it’s better to follow your plan than to go into debt for a measly $10 rebate.
6 Make a list: Prioritize and get organized with a list — you should do that anyway — to stay on budget and to meet a realistic holiday timeline.
7 Mail gifts direct: You can save time and money by shipping presents directly to recipients.
Simply select a gift-wrap option and enter a thoughtful message online. You can send a holiday card separately for a personal touch.
8 Go with gift cards: If you procrastinate or like to shop at the last minute, remember many stores offer gift certificates or gift cards that can be mailed directly or even instantly e-mailed to recipients.
9 Stay secure: Keep your computer current on security software, including the latest virus protection and software updates. When shopping online, create a separate e-mail account that is just for shopping, using a unique password, different from any other accounts you use. Read reviews or profiles of unfamiliar or new sites. Share your credit card information only with sites you trust.
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