Cyber Monday Explained: Are the Deals Really Worth Your Time?

Cyber Monday and Black Friday are two of the most significant shopping events of the holiday season. In recent years, Cyber Monday managed to become more successful than Black Friday in terms of online sales. Every year, many well-known brands and retailers slash the prices of many products in different categories. As a result, millions of shoppers go online to buy their favorite products at affordable prices.

In this article, we’ll learn about Cyber Monday, its history and relation to Black Friday, and the most popular brands that participate in Cyber Monday.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is a shopping event that takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The date usually falls in late November or early December. This year, Cyber Monday is on December 2nd, 2024. Cyber Monday is mainly an online event where people can access enticing discounts on various products through online shops. Cyber Monday is actually the Monday after Black Friday. So many people who haven’t been able to buy their favorite products on Black Friday have another chance to find great deals online without the need to visit and stay in lines in front of physical stores.

On this day, various well-known retailers and brands in many countries around the world offer exciting deals However, all the deals are not exclusive to the day of Cyber Monday. Many retailers start advertising and offering the deals immediately after Black Friday and over the weekend before Cyber Monday. In addition, Cyber Monday has expanded into Cyber Week for many brands and retailers in recent years. So, consumers have the chance to enjoy the steep discounts throughout the week.

History of Cyber Monday

The term “Cyber Monday” was first used during the 2005 holiday season. The year before, research showed that the Monday after Thanksgiving was one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. So the National Retail Federation introduced the day as a way to extend the shopping season after Thanksgiving.

The retailers and brands started targeting people who had missed Black Friday Deals and were able to shop online. At that time, people had slow internet connections at home, so many people were excited to get back to work on Monday and shop online. Cyber Monday started small, but since 2005, it has grown to be one of the biggest online shopping events in many countries.

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and the last Friday of November. It’s a huge shopping event a few days before Cyber Monday. Traditionally, Black Friday focused on in-store deals and was known for the long lines in front of stores, but in recent years, it expanded to online shopping. On the other hand, Cyber Monday is mostly focused only on online shopping. In recent years, the distinction between these two events has blurred, and many retailers extend their Black Friday deals to Cyber Monday and provide more opportunities for shopper to get their hands on the items.

With that said, it’s still an important choice for shoppers to buy their favorite items on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Overall, Cyber Monday has been bigger than Black Friday in terms of online sales in recent years. So, if you’re an online shopper, Cyber Monday is not an event to miss. However, Black Friday is a much more recognizable name by people around the world and shoppers can choose between online or in-person shopping. Moreover, if you want to buy a popular item with limited stock, such as specific TVs and Consoles, there is a chance that the item will be out of stock by the time Black Friday is done and Cyber Monday deals are in full swing.

Cyber Monday Statistics

Cyber Monday has grown a lot since 2005, and the statistics show that on 2023’s Cyber Monday only in the United States, more than 200 million people shopped which was 3.3 million more than the previous year. So we can expect to see even better results on this year’s Cyber Monday. Here are more statistics about Cyber Monday that you might find interesting:

• Shoppers spent $12.4+ billion online during Cyber Monday 2023, 9.6% more than the previous year.
• About 70% of consumers used mobile smartphones to browse and shop during Cyber Monday 2023.
• The average shopper spent around $146 on Cyber Monday 2023.
• Last year, toys were the most discounted goods, with more than 33% off on average, and electronics were in the second spot, with an average of more than 23% off.
• Every year, the top spending categories include electronics, toys, and apparel.
• Besides the US, Cyber Monday is widely popular in Canada, Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, New Zealand, Romania, Sweden, and more.
• 10 PM to 11 PM is the most crowded time on Cyber Monday for online shoppers.

Most Popular Brands that Participate in Cyber Monday

Almost all popular brands take part in Cyber Monday and some of them offer unmissable and exclusive discounts that consumers can’t find on any other occasions. Here are some of the best brands that always are a huge part of Cyber Monday each year:

• Amazon: Cyber Monday Amazon deals are always among the most popular ones and the diversity of product categories on Amazon can satisfy many consumers who are looking for a wide range of goods.
• Best Buy: If you are looking for electronics such as TVs, laptops, and gaming consoles, Best Buy during Cyber Monday provides many great discounts.
• Target: Another large and popular retailer that offers discounts on many product categories such as electronics and clothing.
• Walmart: As a gigantic multi-channel retailer, Walmart is always a part of Cyber Monday. Customers can find exclusive online deals on many categories during Cyber Monday that were not available on Black Friday.
• Apple: Apple products are greatly in demand during Cyber Week and the company offers some discounts. However, consumers tend to first check out third-party retailers to find better deals on Apple products.
• Nike: Among other clothing brands, Nike is a usual companion of Cyber Monday and offers steep discounts on sports gear, footwear, and apparel.
• Home Depot: Shoppers are always on the lookout for home improvement tools, appliances, and home décor that Home Depot provides.

FAQs

Is Cyber Monday better than Black Friday?

It depends on personal preferences. If you are an online shopper, Cyber Monday is mainly an online shopping event in comparison to Black Friday which is both in-person and online and you can miss some of the best deals if you don’t stay in long lines. On the other hand, shopping on Cyber Monday usually comes with shipping costs and delays that are part of online shopping.

How long does Cyber Monday last?

In the early years, Cyber Monday was just a one-day event. However, in recent years, many retailers expanded the event to the weekend before Cyber Monday and after Black Friday, so people have more time to be a part of it. Also, some retailers call it Cyber Week and you can access great deals even after the Monday.

Does Apple do Cyber Monday?

Yes, usually Apple is part of Cyber Monday, and many of their products get discounted. However, keep in mind that the sales on their website are usually not that attractive, and you can get better discounts on Apple products from third-party retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.