cyber monday deals
Welcome to TechRadar's Cyber Monday deals homepage! This year, St Andrew's Day isn't just an excuse for Scots to get sozzled: November 30, 2015 is Cyber Monday, which is America's busiest online shopping day of the year, and it's now just a month away!
This year it's going to be a big deal in the UK too, and on both sides of the Atlantic it could make those Black Friday deals, which go live two days before, look like a car boot sale.
Like many dates on the calendar, Cyber Monday is a marketing invention. It was coined in 2005 by Shop.org to encourage more people to shop online. It's safe to say it's done that: last year, US shoppers spent a record $2.68 billion, making Cyber Monday the biggest day in US online shopping history.
Retail consultancy Channel Advisor reports that Google Shopping was up 2.9% year on year, eBay 9.82% and Amazon 30.76%, and clicks on paid search ads jumped by a massive 60.56% compared to 2013.
Marketing experts Monetate, who work with some of the world's top brands, reported that traffic to US online retailers was up 11.8% year on year. In the UK the figure was 20.8%. Walmart reported that Cyber Monday 2014 was the biggest day for online orders in its entire history, and this year is expected to be bigger still.
Cyber Monday and Black Friday: what's the difference?
It's not just that they sit on either side of the appallingly named Sofa Sunday. Black Friday is dominated by technology, and by a handful of big-name retailers with deep pockets and big advertising budgets: Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Curry's, John Lewis and so on.
It's very hard for other retailers to stand out on Black Friday, so many of them don't bother. They offer their deals on Cyber Monday instead. When ecommerce provider EKMPowershop surveyed its small- and medium-sized business users about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it found that those retailers sold 29% more on the Monday than on the Friday.
It isn't just the size of the retailers that's different. It's what they do, too. While Black Friday is dominated by technology products, Cyber Monday is better for fashion, shoes and home electrical appliances.
For example in the last two Cyber Mondays, there were 45% more clothing deals than on Black Friday and 50% more deals on shoes. There are still plenty of tech deals around - firms such as Currys discounted HDTVs and gadgets for the entire long weekend until stocks ran out - but the freshest deals tend to be in other sectors.
According to figures collated by ecommerce marketing experts Fresh Relevance, beauty sales were up 400%, gifts 300%, holidays 150% and home and garden items 150% on Cyber Monday 2014 compared to a normal Friday.
So if you're looking for a laptop, Black Friday's the day to do it. If you're looking for something from a designer or some great Christmas presents, you should wait until after the weekend.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADgSTMla3EU
The changing face of Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday began as a day when people went back to work, thought "aaagh! It's nearly Christmas!" and immediately started misusing their employers' computers to do online shopping.
Employers have cracked down on that, but it hasn't dented Cyber Monday's popularity. We're just shopping on our smartphones instead.
Last year Adobe reported that 19% of total online sales were made from mobile devices; Monetate's figures suggest that since 2013, smartphone use for Cyber Monday shopping is up 57%.
Even YouTubers like Cyber Monday...
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NidQxwxHMqM
While this is all great news for us bargain hunters, though, it's not all good news for the retailers, because while the numbers are bigger, the average order value is going down - and it seems that rather than creating new demand, the Cyber Monday weekend is actually an exercise in foot-shooting for many online stores.
When marketing experts Verdict Retail analysed the effect of Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year they found that there was "no evidence that it stimulated demand"; by discounting their products, retailers sold stuff they would have sold anyway, but for less money.
That's led retailers such as UK shopping giant John Lewis to say "we've got to ask if it's right to concentrate trade so much in that one period." There will be bargains, but for many retailers they'll be carefully chosen ones - and retailers will use them as bait in the hope they can cross-sell and up-sell too.
There's also the issue of the Enormous Magical Sale That Goes On Forever, or EMSTGOF for short.
Amazon was the most obvious proponent of EMSTGOF, with a week of deals running up to Black Friday and another week - Cyber Week - beginning on Cyber Monday, but you can expect other EMSTGOF from other retailers too - not least because by spreading things out, they're not as prone to the traffic spikes that knocked so many retailers offline last Black Friday.
Walmart was one of several retailers that ran promotions before, during and after Black Friday and Cyber Monday (including a "Cyber Monday Evening Edition" for people coming home from work), and others are likely to follow suit.
How to get the best Cyber Monday bargains
Start early and start here. We'll be rounding up the very best Cyber Monday 2015 deals on this very page, and we'll point you to the ones that really do deliver bargains.
It's a good idea to do some homework, too; with some companies discounting almost everything - Brand View reports that Argos had discounted 93.3% of its tablets on Cyber Monday with average discounts of 21.5%, while Currys had 85.5% of its TV range on offer, with discounts averaging 19.8% - it's not a bad idea to study the shelves of your favourite online emporium to draw up a shortlist. There's a very good chance at least some of your shortlist will be offered at a lower price.
It's also worth installing the mobile apps for your chosen retailers. We don't think we'll see quite as many sites going offline due to excessive demand this year, but if you've recently tried to order an Apple Watch or iPhone 6S on launch day you'll already know that apps are often more reliable than the same firms' websites.
More than anything, it's important to set a budget and identify what you really want. There's no point bagging a bargain if the credit card interest is double the discount, or if it ends up gathering dust in a corner. Be careful out there.
Where to find the best Cyber Monday deals in 2015:
Here's TechRadar's rundown of where to find the best Cyber Monday deals on November 30th 2015:
TechRadar.com:
Last year, over a million people visited TechRadar's Cyber Monday deals page where we rounded up all of the best Cyber Monday deals from all of the most trusted retailers in the UK. This year, you'll be pleased to hear, we're doing it all over again just as we are for Black Friday! Tune in to our Black Friday page throughout November to discover what we think are the best deals, and then to our separate Cyber Monday page - that's this one you're reading now - to discover what could be some even better deals. Last year the best deals appeared on Cyber Monday.
Amazon.co.uk:
Obviously as the world's biggest online retailer, Amazon will be all over Cyber Monday like jam on toast. Expect some of the absolute best Cyber Monday deals to come from Amazon, and check out this page for a round up of them all so you don't miss out!
Quick link: Amazon Cyber Monday homepage
John Lewis:
You can expect John Lewis to offer similar deals to last year's Cyber Monday. The best Cyber Monday deals from John Lewis in 2014 included iPad mini deals for £150, good discounts on Apple Macbooks and a powerful price match scheme to outfox its competitors. The retailer has spoken out against these deals events in the past as they're far more attractive for us as consumers than it is for retailers (their margins are smaller or even non existent in some cases).
Quick link: John Lewis Cyber Monday homepage
Carphone Warehouse
Many of the very best and most popular deals during Cyber Monday last year came courtesy of Carphone Warehouse. The contract reseller was responsible for discounts of up to £200 on new iPhones throughout the weekend and will likely get in on the action again this year as it seeks to capitalise on the increased spending during the period. It won't just be iPhones either.
Quick link: Carphone Warehouse deals homepage
Mobile Phones Direct:
Of course, Carphone Warehouse might be the most familiar phone deal reseller in the UK but there are others and Mobile Phones Direct has become a big name in the last couple of years. The site was offering some compelling Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in 2014 and will be doing so again. Expect Cyber Monday 2015 deals on iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and plenty more.
Quick link: Mobile Phones Direct Cyber Monday deals
Mobiles.co.uk:
Like the sites above, Mobiles.co.uk is taking advantage of the growing trend to buy and upgrade phone contracts online rather than on the highstreet. The site will be featuring many attractive Cyber Monday deals as it attempts to compete with Carphone Warehouse and Mobile Phones Direct as well as the networks themselves. If you're due for a new phone come November time, be sure to check out these three sites before you choose a deal.
Quick link: Mobiles.co.uk Cyber Monday homepage
Currys.co.uk:
Expect Cyber Monday deals from Currys on all things - computing, gadgets and mobile. Last year there were deals on Beats by Dre headphones, Apple iPad Air 2's were going for £209 and there were good discounts on Nikon DSLRs and lost more - in 2015 we'd expect laptops, iPads and tablets, peripherals, kitchen goods and everything in between.
Quick link: Currys Cyber Monday homepage
Argos.co.uk:
If Cyber Monday 2015 is anything like last year, many of the best deals will be found at Argos. However, this is another retailer that warned against the sales frenzy of Black Friday in January - its excellent Black Friday deals in November ended up negatively impacting its sales over Christmas which might point to a more reserved offering in 2015. However, with a whole year to plan the word is that Argos will still be offering up a whole range of Black Friday deals in all its areas - last year we have amazing deals on TVs, great PS4 bundle deals and everything else from electric toothbrushes to Dyson vacuum cleaners at £149.99 and lots more.
Quick link: Argos Cyber Monday homepage
GAME.co.uk:
GAME is definitely a retailer to keep an eye on during Cyber Monday 2015. Last year's best deals included PS4 DualShock 4 controllers for under £30, PS4 bundles such as the console PLUS Grand Theft Auto V AND The Last of Us Remastered AND Destiny + Vanguard AND a 12 month subscription to PlayStation Plus... all for just £399.99. If you're after a console or some games for yourself or as Christmas presents, GAME will be your friend this year.
Quick link: GAME Cyber Monday deals homepage
Zavvi.co.uk
Specialising in movies, games and tech, Zavvi went aggressive on Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year and we have it on good authority that the site will be delivering some truly exciting deals again this year. Expect some best-ever PS4 and Xbox One deals as well as some sweet savings on DVD and Blu-ray boxsets, console games and assorted tech items like iPads and laptops. We'll be listing the site's best deals on this page, so you can either come to us for our selection of the best ones or go straight to Zavvi's page.
Quick link: Zavvi Cyber Monday deals page
ebuyer.com:
Ebuyer is a trusted retailer of computing goods such as laptops, hard drives, memory cards, components, software, TV and office supplies. The site has, in the last couple of years, offered up to 50% on products in all of its various categories. So if you're looking for a new USB hard drive, a computer monitor or a laptop, ebuyer.com will certainly be worth checking out!
Quick link: ebuyer.com daily deals homepage
Boots.co.uk:
This year, Boots is promising "more unmissable Boots Black Friday offers, both online and in store" so you can expect some more action on Cyber Monday as well. In 2014, the deals from Boots were quite varied but included items such as wearables, electric toothbrushes, hairdryers etc. Expect more of the same this year - if there's an item you've got your eye on at Boots, it's probably worth waiting for Black Friday just to see if it goes into the sale.
Quick link: Boots Cyber Monday homepage
ASDA.com:
ASDA stores will always have crazy-cheap flatscreen TVs to draw customers into the stores and onto its website which inevitably results in compelling TV news footage. Luckily, most if not all of the deals are also available online on Black Friday and Cyber Monday both, so there's little to be gained from fighting your way through the crowds at 6am on the day. Expect a raft of cheap tech deals on items like TVs, Blu-ray players, Android tablets as well as toys and gadgets.
Quick link: ASDA Black Friday and Cyber Monday homepage
Tesco Direct:
Tesco Direct is building itself a good reputation as a destination for good prices on tech items online, although last year it, like ASDA, hit the news for the wrong reasons. Many of the best PS4 deals on Black Friday last year were available from this site so it's almost a given that we'll see the same again this year. Expect also excellent deals on ipads and tablets, Xbox Ones, HD TVs, 4K TVs, Blu-ray players, Google Chromecasts and plenty more including videogames, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
Quick link: Tesco Direct Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals homepage
Apple.com:
Apple's form on Black Friday has been inconsistent so on Cyber Monday 2015 we have no real idea what deals might materialise. The Apple Store will likely offer some discounts on iPads and Macbooks, but as per last year you'll probably find better deals on offer elsewhere from sites like John Lewis, Currys and Amazon.
Quick link: Apple UK homepage
Sainsburys.co.uk:
Sainsbury's has, for the last few years, created a special section in its stores for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and has also started offering more bargains online. It has less form than ASDA and Tesco among its supermarket rivals but the Sainsbury's website is becoming more of a force in 2015 so it's certainly one to keep an eye on. Last year's in-store bargains included super cheap TVs, projectors, Dyson vacuum cleaners and Amazon Kindles.
Quick link: Sainsbury's Cyber Monday homepage
Marks & Spencer:
Last year was the first time M&S participated in the Black Friday deals frenzy and while it didn't go crazy like some of its competitors, it will have seen how much money was spent on Cyber Monday last year and want to get in on the action a bit more in 2015. M&S now has a growing electronics arm so be prepared for TVs, hi-fi, Blu-ray deals as well as iPads and the rest. Marks & Spencer won't be the place for the most Black Friday bargains, but it might surprise with one or two stand-out offers.
Quick link: Marks & Spencer homepage
Debenhams.co.uk
Debenhams has been in touch to let us know that it, too, will be banging the Cyber Monday drum on November 30th. It's not much of a tech retailer, though it does sell tablet, laptops, TVs and home cinema systems. Expect to see some excellent discounts across its vast range of items including clothes, shoes, kids toys, white goods and other electricals as well as home and kitchenware!
Quick link: Debenhams Cyber Monday homepage
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