Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
These Cyber Monday shopping tips and being safe while online shopping go hand-in-hand. If you don't want to miss out on the best offers, you have to know where to go. And how to be safe getting there!
Even though Cyber Monday is largely discussed and anticipated by retailers and consumers alike, knowing what is actually going to be on sale has generally been a mystery. Retailers historically don’t leak ads for Cyber Monday; although this year, Walmart has released their plans early this year – and I expect others to follow suit and be a bit more forthcoming.
This early release joins a trend of hot deals being offered throughout the calendar – and not just on Friday or Monday. You've likely already seen Amazon.com and other online retailers starting ‘Black Friday' themed deals. Each of these tips start with knowing where to go to get the best deals followed up with how to know it's safe.
Get in the know with emails:
Be alerted by email to deals right after Black Friday and all day on Cyber Monday. Sign up with your favorite big-name retailers, or from a trusted deal curator like Retailmenot.com.
Don’t forget to sign up for the email list of any smaller or local retailers, restaurants, and services as well. You never know what might pop up that day. Along with Small Business Saturday, many use this day as one of the only throughout the year when they offer discounts and special deals.
A word of warning: anticipate a very full email inbox this week and on through the following week.
Be safe with emails:
Beware of any unsolicited emails. Never click through an email you weren’t expecting. Over the holiday season, unsolicited emails and phishing scams increase exponentially. An unsolicited email may be posing as a genuine company but actually directs the victim to a fraudulent site.
According to FBI.gov, “Scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims including… phishing emails advertising brand name merchandise for bargain prices or e-mails promoting the sale of merchandise that ends up being a counterfeit product.”
If you are interested in an advertised deal, but are unfamiliar with the company, do a search online to verify their legitimacy. Never simply click through any provided links in the email.
Get in the know with Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest:
Follow your favorite retailers and local shops on social media. This is one of the fastest ways to hear about hot deals. Follow @Retailmenot, too, as they will post, pin and tweet deals frequently.
Be safe with Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest:
Just like in emails, bogus deals float all around social media. Often people will share them, not even realizing themselves that it is a scam. Unless you are on a trusted business’s page, be wary of any clickable links, and treat like you would email. Go directly to the business’s website instead to verify the deal.
Get in the know with the app:
This was Walmart’s Black Friday technique this year – releasing their Black Friday ad through their app first. I don’t know how successful this was for them, especially since they were already behind the curve on releasing their ad. However, they are likely to do this again with Cyber Monday, and it is probable other retailers with apps will release deals this way as well.
Some businesses with apps you can grab in the App Store or on Google Play: Best Buy, Amazon.com, Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Old Navy, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Sam’s Club, Kmart, Macy’s, Sears, H&M, Overstock.com, QVC, Aeropostale, Walgreens, Sears, Meijer, Children’s Place, American Eagle Outfitters, and Footlocker.
Stay safe with the app:
Staying safe with store apps is pretty simple. Prior to downloading and installing any app, read and evaluate the reviews others have posted. Any flaws or potential danger will be mentioned there. The other safety recommendation is to only download using a trusted source like the App Store or Google play, never a third party.
