5 Tips for Shopping on Cyber Monday

Fairfax County Government wants residents to get the most bang for their buck on Cyber Monday, the annual online shopping holiday that kicks off Dec. 1 this year.

Plan Ahead: If you intend to make multiple purchases through several websites, having a set list of gifts you intend to buy could help minimize confusion. Shop.org encourages consumers to start their online holiday shopping at cybermonday.com, which offers current promotions throughout the holiday season from more than 500 online retailers.

Make a file folder for purchases: Print and/or save confirmations of all your online purchases in case you need to return or exchange items. Writing down each purchase can help keep track of how much you’ve spent and keep shoppers on a budget on the right track. Just in case returns are in order, know ahead of time whether or not you’ll have to ship back returns or exchanges or if you can simply return them to a physical store in your area.

Track Deals & Coupon Codes: Use CyberMonday.com and dealio.com to stay on top of all of the Cyber Monday deals across the Web, including information about free shipping offers and coupons. Use sites like currentcodes.com, retailmenot.com or one of the many other sites dedicated to finding and posting coupon codes to find deals like free shipping, a percentage off your order or even free merchandise. Don’t forget to use price comparison websites like pricegrabber.com to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Order through a Rewards Site: Access a store’s website through a rewards site to earn points or even cash for your efforts. Some rewards sites worth checking out include Upromise, MyPoints, Fat Wallet and Ebates.

Check Shipping Deadlines: Estimated shipping times can vary drastically when demand surges on Cyber Monday, so be sure to check stores’ shipping deadlines, which often list the last day customers can place orders for arrival by Christmas or Hanukkah. Most online retailers allow gift shoppers to ship directly to the recipient (a different location than your billing address). If you plan to travel, take advantage of this option by sending gifts ahead of your arrival. Or to save shipping time (and sometimes costs), many retailers offer a “buy online, pickup in store” option. Skip the crowds and head straight to the customers service counter to pick up your online order.

For more tips, head over to the Fairfax County Government website.

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