Cyber Monday is expected to be more popular this year than last. Some consumer watch groups estimate online retailers will ring up $821 million Monday.
At Thunderbird Coffeehouse in North Austin, the coffee is hot and computers are fired up.
Some experts say buy now when it comes to toys and DVDs because manufacturers simply aren't making as many of those items. But they say you can wait for the big ticket items, like electronics. Stores such as Target or Best Buy have price guarantees. The later you buy, the longer you have for the price to fall. A website called priceprotectr.com can help. It finds out if your product is marked down after you buy it.
Online comparison can be tricky. On Cyber Monday, the Texas Attorney General announced charges against Intercept, L.L.C. which operates several price-comparison sites including: shopcartusa.com, diduprice.com, flyingprices.com, digitalsaver.com and pricingdepot.com. Attorney General Greg Abbott says the websites unlawfully promised unbiased rankings, while secretly accepting payments to inflate sellers' online ratings.
"I'd rather never go to a mall. I'd much rather get online and buy shoes than go to Nordstrom or something," said Nate Navarro
He's not alone. Some 96 million people were expected to shop online Monday. The deals shoppers will find online Cyber Monday are sometimes better than Black Friday.
"Even in my e-mail box I've seen just ads for different department stores that I was hoping to go to anyways," said Kristin Vasquez.
Experts recommend signing up on Facebook or Twitter with your favorite retailers so you'll be one of the first to know about their latest deals. They also recommend comparing online prices from store to store. Websites like Extrabux.com offer cash back on purchases.
Terry Sherrell is a fan of online comparison shopping.
"It saves me so much time from having to go from store to store to find a product. I can find the one I want, and then if I can order it online it saves me the time from having to get in my car and go get it. And deal with all the crowds," she said.
Cyber Monday is also traditionally the start of free shipping. Some sites will require a minimum purchase but others don't have restrictions. Typically, the last day for free shipping during the holiday season is December 17.
"A lot of the free shipping that happens today. It ends up being worth it in the end, to have it delivered to folks. It's easier, especially because a lot of our friends and family live out of state," said Vasquez.
That means you can relax and enjoy your coffee while your gifts are sent on their way.
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