6 Tips to Get the Best Cyber Monday Deals

With its ridiculous discounts and ability to mobilize consumers, Black Friday is the undisputed major shopping day of the year. But if you don’t want to stand in line for hours on end, hoping that the item on your list is still in stock, then Cyber Monday may be for you.

Cyber Monday saves you time and money.

While Cyber Monday’s deals don’t necessarily save you as much as Black Friday’s, it does save you a lot of time. No camping outside the stores, no standing in lines, no rushing through the aisles, no crying babies or sweaty people. The discounts are still some of the best you can get all year, and will usually come with free shipping or store delivery. You can also browse any store’s website in mere seconds, all from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Online retailers get into the fray.

Online retailers like Amazon, eBay, and Overstock all get into the mix for Cyber Monday. These virtual stores have their best savings of the year, and will try to keep you glued to your computer screens with things like “lightning deals” that are only available for a limited time, whether it be for an hour or a day. Many online retailers even hold an entire “week of savings” to ensure that you know your options going into Black Friday’s shopping spree. They will usually do a special Cyber Monday discount, as that is their peak traffic day.

To get the best deals, you need to prepare.

Though Cyber Monday doesn’t necessarily make you stand in line, it still does have some racing aspects and some queues. If you’re not fast enough, the item you are trying to buy may be out of stock by the time you get there. Here are some tips to boost your chances of getting what you’re looking for on Cyber Monday.

1. Research your gift list. Bookmark multiple online stores for that particular gift.
    
2. Sign up for quick-pay features like the Amazon’s “one-click” purchasing. This lets you easily and quickly buy the item while minimizing the chance to get interrupted by a server crash or queue.
    
3. Charge or plug in your devices. The last thing you want is for your tablet to die just as you are confirming a purchase.
    
4. Log in to the websites on Sunday night, just before midnight. It may help you to get in up to an hour early, in case the website experiences heavy traffic and you get queued.
    
5. Be fast. Do as much shopping as you can as quickly as you can before the items on your list are out of stock.
    
6. Have a backup plan. If the website shows the item you want is out of stock, try a different website. It’s a good idea to have a couple backups for those popular gifts.
    
7. Diversify. Since most websites are giving away free shipping, don’t feel like you have to buy everything at the same website. The wider you cast your net, the more fish you’ll bring in.

A prepared shopper is a happy shopper. I hope you’ll use this post wisely as you ready your bookmarks, charge your devices, and research your lists. Good luck, and happy shopping.