Cyber Monday: Just a click over Black Friday ALYSSA PASSEGGIO, Senior Staff Writer Posted:12/06/08
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The days of lining up outside of favorite stores Thanksgiving evening, or early the next morning, are in the past for many shoppers.
Why leaf through circulars, snip coupons and wait in lines just to find out that the much-desired product is sold out?
More people seem to be asking themselves that question as they skipped Black Friday promotions and sales grew on Cyber Monday, which is the Monday following Thanksgiving.
“We saw a 10-percent growth on Black Friday and are expecting [Cyber Monday] to be a positive day for online shopping,” Yahoo! Shopping spokesperson Jason Corey said.
Aside from just pure comfort at home, online shopping has several other advantages.
“The value of web is getting in and out with just what you went to get. Most importantly, you avoid going into a brick and mortar store where the retailer is betting on impulse buys,” explained Dr. Robbie Blinkoff, a consumer anthropologist.
Comparing retailers’ deals to save every penny is also much easier at a computer, he added.
“Now that people are tightening their belts and trying to maximize a tank of gas, running to the mall may not be the best way to holiday shop anymore,” said Kalyn Johnson, a fashion stylist and personal shopper in New York City.
Another major benefit: avoiding risks.
Helen Fang, the marketing director for Vendio Services, noted that a crashed Web site carries far less risks than in-store injuries or death, which has already been reported this season.
The ceremonial kickoff of the online shopping season has grown since the National Retail Federation recognized it during 2005.
“The ‘holiday’ was created by NRF only a few years ago and big retailers like Kmart and Sears are already participating, [so] other retailers will have to do the same in order to effectively compete,” explained Fang.
Many retailers attempted a bit of pregaming and started the online shopping sales as early as the Monday before Thanksgiving. The extension of the event was an attempt to drive early traffic, according to GSI Commerce, Pa., officials, who deal with e-commerce operations.
Missed the big day, or week for that matter? Well, some experts said you might be better off.
“I believe we’ll also see great deals repeatedly up until the last minute because retailers are more competitive than ever before,” said Joel Comm, the CEO of InfoMedia, which runs bargain-hunting www.dealofday.com. “The Web will dominate as the rising force to be reckoned with.”
Blinkoff noted that waiting for deals is a large part of the online-shopping experience.
“You don’t know when to buy because you are certain there’s a better deal just around the corner,” Blinkoff said. “The good thing about cyber shopping is there are a lot of corners to look around and you can do it really easily and efficiently.”
Consumers now have the option to put away those scissors, recycle the circulars and log on to an entirely different holiday shopping experience.
Browsers beware
“You are infected with spyware! Click here!”
Such a message is not uncommon to Internet surfers, especially those without proper firewalls in place.
However, it can be frightening for newcomers shopping on the Web.
Luke Walling, the founder and president of online-security company Walling Data, N.C., cautions even well-seasoned Internet users during the holiday-shopping season.
Walling cautioned that computers are not like other appliances, such as a microwave, that behaves predictably.
“Bottom line: It you use your computer on the Internet, it and you are exploitable,” Walling said.
Specifically, Walling said that things are not always as they seem. However, there are simple measures for protection.
Walling suggested updating computer programs often to “patch” the software, as well as maintaining up-to-date security protection.
Watch out for pop-up windows disguised as security alerts, which goes along with not reacting too quickly.
“Naturally, lots of people think this pop-up is coming from their computer or antivirus software, so they click on the button,” Walling said. “The result is an expensive security cleanup or theft of your personal information.”
Guarding personal information is as simple as not typing it anywhere that seems out of place, Walling said. Credible Web sites are not guaranteed to be safe, he added.
Dr. Paul Judge, the CTO of the security-service company Purewire, Atlanta, warned laptop users not to trust all Wi-Fi access points. A hacker can host a false network and view the traffic through it.
Walling concluded that online shopping is safe as long as surfers get back to the basics.
“You don’t have to be a computer geek, like me, to protect yourself. You have to take action to protect yourself and your data,” Walling said. “Don’t expect that it won’t ever happen to you.” Give while you shop
Holiday shoppers no long have to feel guilty staring at those requests from charities as they purchase luxuries for families and friends.
Launched earlier this year, www.we-care.com provides consumers a way to buy gifts while ensuring their specified charity sees some benefit.
The percentage of the sale donated varies by merchant, as it comes from them and is free for both the shopper and the organization.
“Money you’re already spending can be directed to the cause of your choice — at no extra cost to you,” explained Bill Snyder, the general manager of the site.
Alyssa Passeggio can be reached at apasseggio@gmail.com
