What Is Cyber Monday?

If you’re the gift shopper in the house, then you probably already know. But if you believe that burden will fall on you soon, then you should definitely learn.

What is Cyber Monday? 

Is it like Black Friday and how do you get the best deals?

Let’s find out.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is a large online shopping event that takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The first Cyber Monday was in 2005, and this year, the sale extravaganza falls on November 28.

Cyber Monday has become extremely popular, especially because it’s ahead of the Christmas season when shoppers start early gift buying to avoid stock shortages and spread their budget accordingly. 

The idea of Cyber Monday emerged when researchers discovered that many online shoppers continued their shopping spree even after Black Friday. 

To encourage people to shop online and capitalise on the momentum, retailers offer heavy discounts to attract more customers. Some of them even get extra creative and provide perks like free shipping.

Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday

Cyber Monday takes place on the first Monday after Thanksgiving, right after Black Friday, which if you were wondering, falls on Friday. 

For example, in 2021, shoppers in the U.S. and worldwide got their fair share of solid deals on November 26 in celebration of Black Friday, and two days later, they also did some Christmas shopping for Cyber Monday. 

But, other than the date, is there any other difference between these two? 

Well, for one, Cyber Monday, as the name suggests, is predominantly an online shopping event. It’s worth noting that the UK eCommerce market is one of the biggest in the world. The pandemic levelled the playing field in 2020 and 2021, but avid-deal hunters on Black Friday prefer their shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.

Another major difference, according to Steve Koenig of the Consumer Technology Association, is that on Black Friday, shoppers tend to buy items they need for themselves. Cyber Monday, on the other hand, has more of a “Christmas gift buying” vibe.  

How To Find The Best Deals on Cyber Monday?

It may be tempting to get the first thing you see just because it seems like a good deal. But smart shopping is much more than numbers. Here are some tips you can use to avoid impulsive purchases and make sure you get the best deals possible.

Make a shopping list

Start with a list of what you need and what exactly you plan to buy for yourself and/or family and friends. If you’re not a fan of making lists, you can also bookmark the product pages or add them to a shopping cart so you can find them easily afterwards. Using your mobile for completing your shopping list is no doubt more favourable.

It’s always smart to have a backup plan for the items you want to buy. This will require a little extra research to figure out where else you can find the product if Plan A fails.

Do your own research

Doing research is the best way to ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible especially when shopping for big-ticket items like laptops. When you finish looking at product prices, check out the shipping and return policies of the website and try to find some discount codes online. 

You can also find a price comparison app or a web extension (if you’re browsing on a PC) that can help you figure out which stores are offering the best deals.

Check in early or stay up late?

If you’re concerned about missing out on certain products because they’re high in demand, you might think that waking up early or staying in late is the way to go. But that’s not necessary in most cases.

 A good number of stores host hourly Cyber Monday sales, and some even publish their hourly shopping lists ahead of time to allow shoppers to plan ahead.

Bottom Line

Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to get good deals on that phone you’d always wanted or finish your Christmas shopping early. If you do a little research beforehand and make sure you stay on top of your schedule, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t kill two birds with one stone.