Top 5 Categories Expected to Have Early Cyber Monday Offers

Top 5 Categories Expected to Have Early Cyber Monday Offers

As Cyber Monday 2023 approaches, the excitement for incredible deals and discounts is on the rise. Many brands and retailers are known to offer early bird specials in various categories to attract eager buyers. These deals are often time-sensitive and offer substantial savings, making them highly sought-after. Below are five shopping categories expected to have great early bird deals this Cyber Monday. At the end, we have also listed tips to bag early deals.

Laptops
Going by last year’s trends, Cyber Monday is expected to unleash impressive discounts of up to 50% on laptops. These discounts could apply to both budget-friendly and high-performing gaming laptops from brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer. For example, last year, Dell extended discounts of up to $700 on its XPS laptops, while HP facilitated savings of up to $300. Meanwhile, Newegg featured substantial price reductions of up to $750 on various models. Walmart stood out by offering Chromebooks starting at an exceptional $79!

Smartphones
Well-known smartphone companies may also offer excellent early bargains during the shopping season. Samsung has a swarm of deals on its best-selling models every Cyber Monday. While Apple usually doesn’t give direct discounts, it offers attractive trade-ins and gift cards or vouchers via different retailers.

Televisions
Anticipating the arrival of Cyber Monday in 2023, consumers can look forward to an array of enticing TV deals. Last year, the starting price for smart TVs, after discounts, plummeted to an astonishing $79.99 at Amazon. Best Buy joined the fray by featuring big-screen TVs for as little as $199.99, while Samsung slashed up to $3,000 off 8K and 4K TVs. Shoppers can expect a repeat of steep markdowns this year and get premium entertainment tech for affordable rates.

Smartwatches
Cutting-edge wearable technology is more accessible and affordable on Cyber Monday. The previous year saw a pattern where many prominent smartwatch brands, such as Apple, Google Pixel, and Fitbit, implemented price reductions ranging from $20 to $130 on their products. So, in 2023, one can anticipate equally exciting smartwatch deals, with renowned retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Currys, Ebuyer, John Lewis, Newegg, and Scan vying to present attractive offers.

Kitchen appliances
Cyber Monday is the perfect time to invest in appliances that make daily tasks more efficient. Past trends indicate steep discounts from brands like Instant Pot, KitchenAid, Ninja, and Dyson. Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Lowe’s are some retailers to keep an eye out for early bird discounts. Walmart is expected to discount small appliances like pressure cookers and air fryers.

Besides these, Amazon may also have record low prices on its personal range of electronics, including Echo devices, Kindles, Fire TV Sticks, and Fire tablets.

Ways to get early bird Cyber Monday deals

Sign up for retailer newsletters
Many online retailers send out newsletters to their subscribers in the run-up to Cyber Monday, which often contain exclusive information about upcoming sales and deals. So, subscribers who sign up with their favored retailers are usually the first to know about early bird offers. One may even get additional discounts for just signing up.

Follow retailers on social media
Social media helps brands engage with customers and promote deals. Retailers frequently use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to post information about upcoming early bird Cyber Monday sales. By following one’s preferred retailers on these platforms, one can stay informed about early promotions.

Use price tracking tools
Price tracking and deal aggregator websites like Flipp, Camelcamelcamel, ShopSavvy, and BuyVia notify customers when the price of a specific item drops to a level one is comfortable with. By utilizing these platforms, one can track products and strike when the price is right, even before the official start of Cyber Monday.

Visit retailer websites early
Sometimes, retailers launch Cyber Monday deals a day or two before the official date. So, one should bookmark their favorite retailers’ websites and visit them regularly leading up to Cyber Monday. Customers might stumble upon early bird promotions that give them a head start on shopping.

Join online forums and communities
Online forums and communities dedicated to deal hunting and online shopping are treasure troves of information. Members often share insights into upcoming sales, early access codes, and hidden deals. Reddit, Slickdeals, and DealNews are popular platforms to connect with fellow bargain hunters.

Download retailer apps
Many retailers have dedicated mobile apps that offer exclusive deals and notifications. Downloading them can grant one access to early bird offers only available to app users. This strategy can be particularly effective for time-sensitive flash sales.

Engage with customer service
One can contact a brand’s customer service representatives through live chat, email, or social media to inquire about early bird promotions. They may provide valuable information about upcoming deals or special offers available exclusively to engaged and loyal customers.

Plan ahead and create a wish list
Before Cyber Monday arrives, shoppers should create a wish list of the items they want to purchase. This strategy can help navigate sales efficiently and prevent impulse purchases that might not offer the best value.

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A handy guide to buying the right laptop

Laptops are powerful portable tech that is versatile, compact, and fast, making them the preferred choice. However, the best laptop for you is the one that complies with your needs. Now, there is a plethora of laptops in the market. This makes choosing the right device a daunting task. To help you, here is a guide to help you buy a laptop as per your needs and the best ones available in the market. Plan your budget Thanks to tough competition between laptop brands, you can buy a laptop for as low as $200. But if you can increase your budget, you can buy a quality laptop with better performance and features. Laptops like HP Stream and Dell Inspiron 11 3000 are the least expensive, costing about $150-$200. Laptops costing $900 and above have faster processors, cutting-edge graphics, and powerful resolutions. Moreover, they are lighter, making them efficiently portable. Pick your operating system Do you want a Windows or a macOS? There is no wrong answer, as the choice of the operating system solely depends on your preference. If you are confused, here’s a brief summary of each. Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest operating system, is the most flexible. Moreover, laptops with Windows OS are generally inexpensive and offer features like touch screens and dual graphic chips. On the other hand, macOS Big Sur is Apple’s latest desktop operating system and is expensive. If you are a tech wizard and know your way around an OS, you can also choose operating systems like Chrome OS and Linux. Specifications As per your needs and budget, opt for the most powerful processor, as processors influence the performance and speed of the laptop. Most laptops have an Intel® processor, although some laptops even come with an AMD processor. Inexpensive laptops offer Intel® Atom®, Intel® Celeron®, and Intel® Pentium® CPUs that are good for light document editing and browsing. However, if multitasking and speed are important to you, then opt for an Intel® Core™ i3, or better yet, an i5 or i7. Next, you should check the RAM size. Most offer only 4GB RAM space. However, experts recommend that you opt for a minimum of 8GB RAM. Furthermore, get a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) since these are three times faster than a hard drive. Consider buying a laptop with a minimum of 9-plus hours battery life with a 12.5- to 14-inch screen size. Top 5 laptops of 2021 To further help you, here are the five best laptops of 2021: Equipped with an 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and 16 GB RAM, the Google Pixelbook Go is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a fast and efficient laptop. Along with a great processor and impeccable response rate, this laptop boasts of a touchscreen display that can play 4K videos. If you’re looking to upgrade your laptop, checkout Google’s laptops on sale and save big this shopping season. The Dell XPS 13 offers excellent performance, 3.5K OLED touchscreen, i3-i7 processor, option to choose an 8GB or 16GB RAM, SSD storage, powerful display, and a sleek design. The Apple MacBook Air with the latest M1 chip provides an outstanding 14-plus hours of battery life and lightning-fast processing speed. Next is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 that is powered by the Intel® Core™ i5/i7. It comes with features like touchscreen, top-notch graphics, and up to 1TB SSD storage. Finally, don’t forget to check out the latest IdeaPad Slim 7 by electronic giant Lenovo. The recently-released laptop comes with a 15.6” display, 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, 512 GB SSD storage, Dolby Atmos® Speaker System, and a whole lot more. If you find this laptop a bit pricey, don’t worry. There are several fantastic deals on Lenovo laptops right now, and you can grab this one at a lower price from the company’s website.

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6 Shopping Mistakes to Avoid This Black Friday

Black Friday is the biggest shopping festival of the year. People flock to stores during this time and get their favorite products at unbelievable prices. While the sale may be far away, one should start planning. Some brands offer early deals, and customers may miss out if under-prepared. Furthermore, buyers can make mistakes in haste and spend much more than they should. Here are a few such Black Friday mistakes to avoid in 2023. Not researching enough Shoppers should start researching instead of sitting back and waiting for Black Friday to arrive. One can read about the deals brands had last year and what's expected this time around. Customers can also see whether new product launches are anticipated around the holiday season and if any outlet has announced early bird deals. Researching can be tedious as many brands and retail stores sell the same product and offer different prices. Nevertheless, it is a crucial step to identify the best offers and save money during Black Friday. Not having a shopping plan Whether one buys online or in-store, having a plan is necessary for Black Friday. Some shoppers list the products they are eyeing and shop in order of priority. This ensures they get their hands on the most essential items before stocks run out. Those shopping offline should keep in mind that stores have definite operating hours. It is best to visit as soon as they open to avoid standing in serpentine lines. A shopping plan can save time and avoid unnecessary hassle. One may also consider developing a backup plan in case the first one does not work out well. Assuming all Black Friday deals are good Customers may come across deals on various products and services during Black Friday. In many cases, stores offer a percentage discount. For example, a pair of shoes may sell 50% off or higher in one place and 40% in another. However, percentage discounts can be deceptive. The discount could be calculated off the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) when the product usually sells for less than the MSRP, even on regular days. Therefore, customers must steer clear of impulse buying. Just because a product is advertised as "on sale" does not mean its price has significantly reduced. Falling for scams As Black Friday draws many people to online shopping websites, scammers use the opportunity to target innocent customers. The scams can appear as fake coupons, duplicate products, and brand impersonation. The shopping season also sees an uptick in illegitimate retail websites. These websites offer irresistible deals and appear harmless at first glance. However, purchasing items on them can provide scammers access to a person's credit card numbers, phone numbers, and account information. Online shoppers are suggested to avoid unfamiliar websites and stick to reputable retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Lowe's, and Target. It will ensure one makes the best of the Black Friday deals without worrying about scams. Ignoring store credits, rebates, and gift cards Good offers do not only come in the form of reduced prices. Some stores provide store credits, rebates, and points to potential buyers. These may not appear as impressive as a "90% off" deal. However, store credits and points can accumulate over time and be applied to future purchases. Retailers like Lowe's also give out gift cards amounting to $200 or higher! Forgetting to check return policies People sometimes come across issues with a few products bought on Black Friday. They head to the store to return them, only to learn that the items are not returnable or refundable. So, shoppers should check a store's return policies before purchasing, especially for expensive products and electronics. Not all stores have the same return policy; some can be stricter than others. A few retailers may have a Black Friday special return policy, allowing customers to return products bought on the day of the sale. Besides these, one must avoid several other mistakes on Black Friday 2023, such as buying outdated technology, looking only at the lowest prices, not comparing prices, and not asking for help when needed. While the holiday season can unleash irresistible offers and deals, one should be cautious, plan, and think twice before purchasing to avoid disappointment.

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