Should You Shop Early for Cyber Monday?

How to Shop Early for Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is one of the biggest sales events of the year, and you’ll find deals on everything from gifts for your family to holiday decor to general tech. No matter what you’re looking for, it’s a good idea to plan out your shopping strategically. Here are some tips to help you shop early for Cyber Monday deals.

1. Take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday at the same time.

At this point, Black Friday sales take up half of November. It’s common to see them start as early as the middle of November, and the distinction between Black Friday and Cyber Monday has become smaller and smaller as companies offer some of their best Black Friday deals online as well. It’s no longer important to separate the two shopping days, since you can get special deals throughout the weekend.

2. Know what to wait for and what to spring for.

The traditional wisdom is that Cyber Monday, true to its name, is primarily for electronics and other tech purchases, such as computers and TVs. Black Friday has traditionally been for just about everything else, from fashion to travel. In recent years, however, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become more similar, the distinction has been less significant.

Most sales experts suggest using Black Friday to get great deals on big-ticket items you would buy once a year or less, such as specialty jewelry and home appliances. Cyber Monday is better for smaller purchases, such as pet toys and home decor. If you’re looking for deals on TVs, aim for Black Friday; if you’re looking for a shopping bonanza, consider Cyber Monday.

3. Grab doorbuster deals before they’re gone.

Doorbusters are the deals most likely to sell out during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, since they usually offer the deepest discounts. (You can find big-ticket items at huge discounts of 50% off or more.) They also have the most competition, since the whole purpose of doorbuster deals is to attract more potential customers to the store.

Whether you’re hoping to grab an Apple Watch or check a bunch of items off your holiday gift list, you definitely shouldn’t wait around on doorbuster deals. They’re almost always limited-time discounts, so grab them as soon as possible.

4. Check for shipping and handling information before you shop.

Online shopping is more convenient for many people than shopping in-store, but you still need to keep shipping costs in mind. Companies need to ship your online purchase from their warehouse, and it can come with additional costs you may not have been prepared for when you started shopping.

Many companies offer free shipping with a minimum purchase amount, and that minimum may be lower than usual during Cyber Monday. You may also be able to use a promo code to get free shipping at your favorite retailers. Also check to see if the company offers a ship-to-store option, since being able to pick up your order at a local brick-and-mortar store may reduce or completely eliminate the shipping costs.