Cyber Monday is the day after Black Friday, but it doesn’t mean that the sales end. According to Business Insider, discounts are often extended past Cyber Monday through the remainder of the week.
You can still score great deals on a new mattress, furniture, or 4K TV from Wayfair this Cyber Monday. And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get free shipping on almost everything!
Historical Context and Evolution of Cyber Monday
During the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday is one of the most important days for retailers. It features some of the largest discounts available for popular items, and it helps to drive overall eCommerce sales.
The term “Cyber Monday” was first used in 2005 by the National Retail Federation to encourage online purchases. The NRF noticed that consumers were continuing to shop online after Black Friday, and they wanted to give them a day of recognition.
At the time, only a small percentage of consumers had fast Internet connections outside of their work places. Many people waited to buy online until they were back at the office so that they could use their faster connections and avoid the hassles of crowds and long lines.
Today, online shoppers can access a wide variety of deals from any device they choose, including mobile phones and tablets. Many people prefer to shop online for the convenience and flexibility that it offers. However, Black Friday and Cyber Monday still draw large crowds to brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, many people now find that the best way to get their holiday shopping done is to do it all online. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the future.
Cyber Monday vs. Cyber Week
As the name suggests, Cyber Monday is an e-commerce event that takes place the Monday following Black Friday. However, retailers often offer special promotions and discounts all week to take advantage of the increased number of shoppers.
For consumers, Cyber Monday is a great day to find deals on items that would make excellent gifts for friends and family. In addition to electronics, some popular Cyber Monday items include clothing, beauty products, toys, and kitchen gadgets.
If you’re planning to shop for Cyber Monday, it’s wise to do a little research ahead of time. Create a list of all the things you want to buy and then compare prices online. Be sure to consider shipping costs, tax rates, and other fees to get a complete picture of the final price. Also, check if the retailer offers a return policy in case the item isn’t quite what you expected.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that some items sell out quickly, so it’s wise to purchase them sooner rather than later. For example, if you see a gaming system that your son wants at a good price on Black Friday, you should probably go ahead and buy it. If possible, ask the store about a price-match guarantee to give you peace of mind.
Official End Time as Announced by Retailers
If you’re willing to do a bit of digging, it’s possible to find Cyber Monday deals well beyond the official end of the holiday. Many retailers start their sales earlier in the week, and some extend them for an entire month or more (also known as “Cyber Week”).
Cyber Monday was created to encourage customers to shop online instead of visiting brick-and-mortar stores. Oftentimes, shoppers who visit physical stores have to wait in long lines or battle through hordes of people to get their hands on the latest gadget. Online shopping is a much more comfortable experience for consumers. In fact, according to a report published by Wise Bread, purchase scams jumped 29% during #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday last year.
Generally speaking, shoppers can expect to see discounts of up to 60 percent off clothing and shoes during Cyber Monday. There are also often deals on electronics and home appliances, such as TVs and laptops. As we get closer to December, you can even find bargains on toys and games for kids — or items like furniture to liven up the look of your living room. It’s important to note that these items tend to sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to act fast if you see something you want.
Midnight Deadline and Time Zone Considerations
Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Black Friday and it is a great time for consumers to get discounts on electronic devices, toys, home decor and lingerie. However, shoppers should be aware that certain high-demand products may sell out quickly. This is especially true if they are offered on sale for only a short period of time.
To avoid the disappointment of missing out on a deal, shoppers should make a list of what they want to purchase and check back frequently. Additionally, they should know that many retailers will post their deals well in advance of the actual Cyber Monday event.
Since Cyber Monday is a day created to promote online shopping, many retailers will offer additional incentives to draw in customers. For example, they might add free shipping or a gift card with every purchase. This is a great way to boost online sales and attract new customers. Another way to boost Cyber Monday sales is to provide flexible financing options. This is particularly important for holiday purchases, when buyers might not have cash or credit on hand. For example, Synchrony Bank will be offering certificates of deposit with an enhanced interest rate for a limited time on Cyber Monday.
Potential Extensions and Post-Cyber Monday Offers
While Cyber Monday may be over, it’s not quite time to call off the holiday shopping season. Many online and brick-and-mortar retailers have extended their sales, and some will continue offering discounts through December. That’s good news for anyone who wants to buy tech, toys, home goods or fashion items for gifts or to stock up for the holidays.
For example, Amazon is continuing to offer savings on products such as the best-selling iRobot vacuum cleaners and Instant Pot pressure cookers. In addition, it’s offering the LifeStraw personal water filter for $16 (reg. $30) and a free month of HBO Max with your new subscription, plus the latest season of hit shows such as House of Cards, Succession and more.
Many online retailers are also extending their return policies and offering in-store pickup options, making it easy to shop from the comfort of your couch or office chair. And some retailers such as Nordstrom, Target and Walmart are offering same-day or next-day delivery through services such as Shipt and Instacart.
Some companies such as Ann Taylor and Shiseido are using Google Ads to promote their upcoming holiday sales events and current promotions. The latter is using display ads featuring a countdown and a link to its website for more details on its upcoming Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale event and its current deals and collections.
Consumer Behavior Near the End of Cyber Monday
The Cyber Monday shopping event offers unbeatable online discounts on a variety of products. While tech items tend to get the most attention, shoppers can also find deals on a wide range of other products.
The holiday shopping event originally emerged when employees returned to the office after Thanksgiving break and used their work computers, which typically had faster Internet speeds than their home networks, to shop from their offices. Since then, it has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year and even surpasses Black Friday in terms of ecommerce sales.
In [year], for example, US consumers spent $10.8 billion on online purchases, making it the largest single day of digital sales to date. The popularity of the event has led some retailers to extend it for up to a week, giving them more time to attract shoppers.
The event also creates a sense of urgency among consumers, who may be tempted to buy more than they intended. However, this type of behavior can backfire on shoppers if the prices are not actually better than they would be elsewhere, as suggested by a report from the consumer group Which? (opens in new tab). Consumers can check prices on Amazon or other websites to make sure they’re getting a good deal.
Conclusion: When Does Cyber Monday End?
If you are looking to buy the latest tech products like 4K TVs, games consoles and toothbrushes, Cyber Monday is your best bet. The day is also a great opportunity to score bargains on essential items like bedding, clothing and small kitchen appliances. But as with any online shopping, beware of purchase scams. Last year, phishing emails linked to fake offers spiked 29% around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Many retailers also run sales beyond the weekend and into Cyber Week. Amazon, for example, has a Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal every year on everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets and personal care items. And this year, the retailer is offering an exclusive deal on the newest version of its best-selling Alexa Echo speaker.
To help ensure you bag a real bargain, make a list of what you hope to buy and then research the prices at different stores. You can even use a tool such as Which?’s Amazon price checker (opens in new tab) to see if the item you want is really on sale or whether it could be cheaper at a different time of the year.
