Holiday Deal-Seekers Gearing Up For Cyber Monday Sales
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Now that Black Friday is a distant memory, holiday bargain hunters are gearing up for Cyber Monday.
However, some shoppers were able to spot deals online one day early, reports CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.
At cyber cafes in Greenwich Village and across the city, New Yorkers relaxed and surfed the Internet for holiday sales on Sunday.
"It saves me lots of time, gives me the luxury of being in my own home, and with all the coupons available online, I think it's the way to go," Jersey City resident Aneta McGarry said.
Nine out of ten retailers are offering a promotion for Cyber Monday, beginning at midnight, but some online shoppers found bargains already – free shipping, two-for-one deals, and double coupons.
"I love Cyber Monday. I just don't understand why people actually go out on Black Friday, because I don't want to be battling with people," Michael Wertheim, of Greenwich Village, said.
By the time the Thanksgiving weekend rat race ends, 138 million shoppers – four million more than last year – were expected to have personally flood stores, for an expected record amount of green on Black Friday.
Internet shopping is forecast to outshine 2009 as well, already seeing a 16 percent spike in revenue. The average online order is hovering around $190, up from $170 last year.
"Staples had a deal today for $70, two terabyte hard drives, and they've already sold out of it," Limor Elkayam, CEO and founder of dealery.com, said. "The deal was supposed to be for Cyber Monday, and they put it up today, and it's already gone."
Elkayam said the biggest markdowns are on the most popular items – technology and electronics, appliances and jewelry.
Elkayam said to avoid scams by shopping at reputable sites.
Online experts say retailers must make sure shoppers heading to the Internet always find something to inspire them to click on a sale.
The key to Cyber Monday is versatility, and if you want variety, wake up early – and at least you can do it in your pajamas.
The National Retail Federation says consumers will do 37 percent of their holiday shopping online, up from 30 percent last year.
