The Inquisitr » cyber monday

Stuck with relatives on Black Friday? Cyber Monday’s got deals, too

Kim LaCapria — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:42:33 +0000

If you’re like me, no discount in the world is worth braving the crazed throngs of Black Friday bargain hunters that only seems to grow more frantic every year.

However, an aversion to crowds, people or those pushy nail care system shillers at the mall doesn’t mean you’ll miss all the good buys on retail’s most riot-tastic day of the year. Deals for Cyber Monday, the online-shopping equivalent of Black Friday, have begun to circulate and many of them are just as enticing as their bricks and mortar equivalents without the hair-pulling and crotch punching.

Personal favorite coupon code clearinghouse Retail Me Not has a live, updating list of Cyber Monday deals- some of which span the whole weekend if you have a grinchy boss who like, expects you to do work and stuff. (Even if you’re buying gifts for Christmas on your own schedule, it’s worth checking the site before you do because if there’s a code, it’s likely to be there. Free money, people!) Another good rundown of deals, albeit centered on Black Friday, is DealTalker. A list of Black Friday weekend discounts can be found there, and a lot of the incentives run through Monday. Lastly, savings.com has a “Cyber Monday” tag, with a current list of crowd-sourced deals for the day.

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Apple Stores Will Match Competitor Prices, Report Says

JR — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:55:41 +0000

Here’s a little tech shopping tip for your holiday planning: Apple has quietly authorized its retail store managers to match competitors’ prices, according to a report published at Apple retail store blog ifoAppleStore.com.

As we reported earlier this week, independent online retailers are already revealing some significant discounts for MacBooks and iMacs. Now, ifoAppleStore says Apple’s own locations will dip just as low — if you ask. And, if the reports are correct, the move won’t just be limited to Black Friday, either.

In order to qualify, ifoAppleStore says, you’ll have to supply proof of the competitor’s pricing. Of course, one would hope the Apple retail store would be willing to beat the price, not just match it — otherwise, why bother?

MORE COVERAGE:
• MacBooks and iMacs Get the Black Friday Treatment
• Easy Ways to Find Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Online
• What’s the Deal with Apple and Misleading Ads?

Search Data Suggests Black Friday Hesitation

JR — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:22:36 +0000

While retailers are holding their breath for a strong Black Friday this week, some new online data suggests people may not be as excited about the event as in years past.

Online research firm Hitwise found searches related to Black Friday deals are lower right now than they were this time last year. While the searches had been growing year-to-year for some time, they’ve now dropped back almost to 2006 levels on a week-to-week comparison.

As you can see in Hitwise’s graph, the searches are still climbing, so the verdict isn’t in just yet and it’s still possible that people are just delaying their deal hunting.

Another noteworthy shift: Hitwise analysts found Black Friday-related search terms are becoming more specific and complex this season. More people are looking for certain retailers rather than generalized deals, with retailer-specific searches up 11 percent so far from 2007.

It may not all be the economy, though. A report published at The Wall Street Journal this morning predicts Cyber Monday sales will increase this year, with more and more retailers focusing on the post-Black Friday Internet rush. A survey by Shop.org found 83.7 percent of stores are planning promotions for next Monday, compared to 72.2 percent last year.

If you’re looking for the best places to find Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, we’ve made it simple for you. Check out our list of “10 Easy Ways to Find Black Friday Deals Online” for some strong starting places.

10 Easy Ways to Find Black Friday Deals Online

JR — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:00:15 +0000

The countdown to Black Friday is on — and this year, the savings will count more than ever. You don’t have to wait till November 28 to get started, though. We’ve dug up the Internet’s best resources to help you track down the hottest deals right now. Read on and avoid wasting a single minute standing in the wrong line.

1. CyberMonday.com

CyberMonday.com hunts down hot deals for online orders every day, letting you search by category or merchant. Its front page gives you an at-a-glance look at the latest bargains breaking or about to break on retailers’ Web sites — anything from specific discounts to coupon codes for scoring free shipping and other goodies.

2. BlackFridayAds.com

BlackFridayAds.com, as its name suggests, collects and compiles Black Friday sales listings from retailers across America and publishes them as they come in. Some are official releases, while others are leaks that may have a limited lifetime — so it’s best to check frequently if you want to avoid missing anything.

3. BlackFriday.info

BlackFriday.info follows a similar model, scanning and cataloguing dozens of Black Friday sales cheat sheets every day. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts whenever new ads are posted.

4. BFAds.net

BFAds.net is another strong source for breaking Black Friday deals. It lists new activity by store, so you can easily see where new offers have popped up. BFAds.net also offers a community section in which shoppers can exchange tips about hot deals on the way.

5. 2008BlackFridayAds.com

More sale listings await you at 2008BlackFridayAds.com. In addition to specific Black Friday sales, this site offers complimentary e-mail updates, searchable store hours, and advice about developing strategies to make the most of the big day.

6. Black Friday @ GottaDeal.com

GottaDeal.com’s Black Friday section looks for daily online sales leading up to November 28. You can find some standout shots at saving by hopping on one of these early bird specials. The site also lists regular Black Friday ads and advance notices.

7. iBlackFriday.com

iBlackFriday.com has an easy-to-use, icon-based navigation system that lets you look through stores to find the deals you need. It also has a secondary “Coming Soon” section, so you can see what listings are on the way and bookmark their specific pages for the future.

8. SlickDeals.net

SlickDeals.net is a URL worth hanging on to. This one goes deal-by-deal, listing out just items and prices in its daily postings. It also has some handy printable coupons to let you slash a little more off your final ticket when you head into the stores, as well as numerous coupon codes for savings on online orders. You can opt to get info sent to your mobile phone as well.

9. DealNews.com

DealNews.com is a year-round site that has particular value for Black Friday deal hunters. In a nutshell, the service seeks out the lowest price listed anywhere for all sorts of products, so you don’t have to do the searching. It also has a convenient “Rumor Roundup” section that debunks misleading deals and phony savings claims floating around cyberspace.

10. FreeShipping.org and FreeShippingOn.com

FreeShipping.org and FreeShippingOn.com both compile free shipping offers from all sorts of online retailers. They’re worth checking out before you place an holiday shopping order to see if there’s somewhere you could get it without having to pay the postage.

Extra Tips for Tech-Related Black Friday Savings:

• If you’ve thought about going Blu-ray, now may be the time. Blu-ray players are expected to dip to $100 to $150 during Black Friday sales.

• Retailers say digital photo frames will also go fast this season, with costs dropping down to $30 to $50.

• HDTVs are expected to go as low as $600 for 42-inch units. The smaller brand names will provide the best deals.

• Some netbook models will be offered for as little as $200.

• Portable MP3 players should sell for as low as $10 for small 1GB models during the Black Friday sales. Don’t expect much savings on iPods, though — you’ll have to go for another brand to see the price difference. Apple in general isn’t expected to drop its prices more than 10 percent in any area.

Got any other hot leads or must-know tips for Black Friday shopping? Share the wealth and leave your suggestion in a comment below.