Cyber Monday Shopping Tips From 918 Mom's Coupon Queen

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The holiday shopping season is in full swing and while some people are searching for the best deals in stores, others will be surfing the Internet.

Cyber Monday is when holiday online shopping hits its fever pitch.

"Cyber Monday is actually how you can cash in on the savings that you may have missed on Black Friday. If you were at work, weren't able to do it, or you got there way too late, a lot of times those same deals are online on Monday so you can still get them," said Sarah Roe, 918Moms' Coupon Queen.

The Monday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest online shopping days of the year, and this year online stores are rolling out more deals than ever to keep you shopping with your mouse instead of your feet.

"Sometimes what they'll do is hold back some of their items to throw them out there on Cyber Monday, so it's kind of the same deals in some way, it's just been refashioned," said Sarah Roe.

Last year, shoppers spent almost $850 million on Cyber Monday alone. And the online shopping trend is growing.

E-commerce has grown 21 percent in the last year, compared to just 5 percent for traditional sales.

Amazon.com estimates that its sales will be as much as 36 percent higher this year, and that's making all kinds of retailers want in on the trend -- even offering up free shipping to make shopping in the comfort of your home that much more appealing.

"It's the same concept as Black Friday. The quantities are limited, so if there is something you are just dying to get, I recommend you get there when the doors open online so you are still in your pajamas and your slippers, but you've got to be logged on and signed into the web site as soon as the deals start," said Sarah Roe.

And expect online bargain hunters to be just as ready as you are to log on.

"The quantities are limited. And so you have the sell out thing going on and also if all this traffic gets on these web sites, then the web sites crash and they won't honor the deals on Tuesday," said Sarah Roe.

No deals on Tuesday, but savvy shoppers can save even more cash simply by doing a little surfing beforehand.

"You can find coupon codes. Type those in and say you get 20 percent off of that Cyber Monday deal and that's a steal. That's better than a sale on Black Friday," said Sarah Roe.

Just don't forget to research your wish list before you click the "buy now" icon.

"Know the prices of the items you would buy on normal sales, that way you are not a victim of smart marketing," said Sarah Roe. "Know if it's really a deal or a sale."

The 918Moms' Coupon Queen says if you are going to buy a big ticket item, don't blindly order online and make sure there is a good return policy. 

918Moms.com is owned by our parent company, Griffin Communications.