Cyber Monday Expected to be Biggest Ever [POLL/AUDIO/VIDEO]
From free shipping to free gifts with purchase, online retailers are pulling out all the stops on this, Cyber Monday, one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.
"Last year 122 million people planned to shop online for Cyber Monday and this year, numbers are expected to be even greater," said Kathy Grannis, spokesperson with the National Retail Federation.
According to Shop.org's eHoliday survey conducted by BIGinsight, a record 85 percent will offer special promotions today, up from 78.4 percent last year. "Consumers are increasingly shopping and buying both online and in-store this holiday season," said Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell. "Savvy retailers are getting the word out to customers about in-store offers and events using online vehicles such as Facebook, email, Twitter and mobile alerts. Now more than ever retailers are integrating their digital and in-store promotions, working to create that seamless shopping experience that they know consumers demand and expect."
Retailers also plan to spoil customers with gifts of coupons/percentage off their purchases, limited time promotions and other onliine specific promotions today. But, the biggest treat will be free shipping without conditions. "44 percent say they'll specifically offer free shipping deals, which is up from 12 percent last year," said Grannis. Another 29.4 percent will offer free standard shipping with conditions.
"Cyber Monday is not only about the free shipping," said Grannis. "It's also about the convenience. At the end of the day, Americans are very busy and shopping has become something that they really can do anywhere anytime they want. It's a lot easier for people to log on at home, at night or even in the morning before they go to work."
This year, many even plan to shop from work. 56.8 percent or 72 million people will shop for a holiday gift from the office this year.