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Black Friday Vs. Cyber Monday

Deals Comparable, Terms Blending

POSTED: 7:52 pm MST November 25, 2009
UPDATED: 10:56 am MST November 27, 2009

More Monday deals.

More Monday shoppers.

More shopping at work.

The draw of staying away from long lines and sunrise hours is apparently having an impact on American shoppers.

According to usnews.com, a Shop.org survey found nearly nine out of 10 retailers will have specific Monday, online deals this year.

But the scammers are working for your holiday dollar too.

"As you know, you can really create a Web site in a matter of seconds," said Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau President Dale Mingilton, searching for the best Cyber Monday offers. "A lot of these (sites), I've not heard of them."

Mingilton says going with online sites you've used before and trust is a way to safeguard yourself from bogus buys.

Comparison shopping is fastest online, Mingilton says.

And even the local shopkeeper knows that they have to be part of the search-driven frenzy.

"They really would rather see you. But they know, to compete, especially with those folks 18-30 - as we know, that's the growing market that may not want to talk to a person but they'll buy everything online - they know they've got to compete that way, " Mingilton said.

Overall, the retail news is a bit grim.

The National Retail Federation predicts a 1 percent drop in holiday sales this year, a dramatic drop from the 10-year average of 3.3-percent sales growth.

2008 saw a 3.4-percent drop, the first since the spending trends were first tracked in 1992.

But surveys also show not everyone waits until Monday.

The Denver Post reports a Web Collage survey found online product research was higher on Black Friday than Cyber Monday itself.

"Maybe go out on Friday & try it. And if you still don't see it, then try it back on Monday," Mingilton suggests.

And beware: the boss may be watching. A CareerBuilder survey found 20 percent of employers had fired an employee for using the Internet for non-work activities.

And 5 percent had fired someone for holiday shopping on the job.
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