Online Retailers Gear Up For Cyber Monday Onslaught

Beginning in the wee hours of this morning, web servers around the world will be stretched to their limits. Today is Cyber Monday, the web’s version of Black Friday whereby online retailers offer some of their best deals of the season.

Cyber Monday is the first work day following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend when workers head back to their places of employment, log on to their computers, and shop. Needless to say it is a particularly unproductive day at some places of business as employees don’t get much done.

Before you run off to other websites to explore what deals are out there, consider the following tips first:

1. Shop Early – Though online retailers aren’t likely to run out of stock permanently, you’ll want to do your shopping as early in the day possible in order to avoid servers stretched to capacity.

At the height of the day is when most people will be online, which means that your retailer’s web site may crash if too many people try to shop at the same time.

2. Compare Offers – Amazon is one of the largest online retailers and is, as such, a price leader. However, their prices can be beat if you know how and where to shop. PriceGrabber.com, BizRate.com, MySimon.com, and Shopzilla.com are among the top sites for comparing prices.

3. Phone Apps – Sophisticated shoppers armed with phone applications (apps) such as Yowza can find bargains locally. Sometimes waiting for a product to arrive after an online purchase can stretch your patience, therefore Yowza might be a better way to go.

Downloaded to your iPhone, Yowza uses GPS technology to find store coupons in your area. Coupon Sherpa, Valpak, and mobiQpons are other services worth exploring.

4. Shop Secured – If you’re an avid web user than you already know to only shop at a secured site. A site is secured if the web page includes an extra “s” in the address such as “https” and if you can locate a closed padlock in the corner, top, or bottom of your browser screen.

Hover over that icon and it will tell you that it has been “Authenticated by GoDaddy, Inc.” or some other service.

5. Shop At Home – Lastly, the one tip many people don’t want to hear is this one: shop on your own time and on your own computer. Your employer is paying you to work which means that you should shop on your own time, not on company time.

If your work computer is faster than your home computer and your employer doesn’t mind you using it, then do your shopping while on break, at lunch or before or after work. Don’t give your employer cause to discipline or terminate you; no online deal is worth pursuing if risks are involved.

Happy Shopping!

Online retailers are battling brick and mortar merchants for customers now more than ever. For savvy shoppers, this can mean that you’ll find some of the best deals if you shop around.

Adv. — Shop NBuy Plaza for online bargains from more than 5000 retailers.  Find best buys on the Holiday Shopping page or peruse our Bargain Basement for some of the best deals out there. Visit our Party Planning page for Christmas and New Year’s party ideas!

Tags: Black Friday, Christmas shopping, Cyber Monday, phone applications, secured websites, Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, an important national holiday for Americans. Though technically a secular celebration, the day was set aside to give thanks to God for all of His abundant blessings over the course of the year.

Thanksgiving is celebrated by every tribe, tongue, and creed of people who have taken up residence in the United States of America, a true melting party event celebrated in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, plus territories.

Though not officially a legal holiday until 1941, various proclamations made by U.S. presidents for generations preceding the Second World War were the forerunners to today’s celebration. For posterity’s sake, I gave you the first Thanksgiving proclamation ever made in the United States of America, the 1777 Continental Congress blessing:

FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tags: Almighty God, Continental Congress, national holiday, thanks, Thanksgiving, United States of America

On the day after Thanksgiving most Americans have two choices facing them: sleep in or head out for Black Friday savings. Yes, many workers are able to enjoy a four-day weekend which means that Friday is a day off. That also means if you choose to rise ‘n shine early and head out to the mall, you could enjoy some unusual savings if you shop carefully.

To be sure, there isn’t anything black about the Friday following Thanksgiving. It used to be the day when retailers saw their first profits of the year, as balance sheets moved from red (losses) to black (profits) on that day. Though still an important retailing event, merchants no longer expect Thanksgiving weekend alone to bring in the profits as seasonal sales help them reach that goal.

Christmas Shopping

In any case, Black Friday is still a day of significance for consumers as it is a good opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. In a bid to lure you in, merchants offer some of the best deals of the season, savings that can be had if you’re willing to get in when stores open which can be as early as 5 a.m.

But as you head out to the mall on Friday there are some things you should know: not everything is tagged at the absolutely lowest price nor are there always generous quantities of goods available. Thus, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:

Limited Quantities – A special item, such as a popular CD or video game may be available in limited quantities such as 200 per store. Moreover, the retailer could limit the number of purchases to two each, which means that you’ll need to think of other gift ideas for people on your list. Lastly, if you get to the store several hours later, inventory may be depleted.

Limited Time – Doorbuster sales are typically offered on Black Friday. What this means is that prices on select items are reduced for only a few hours before the sale ends. If your favorite store opens at 6 a.m., then the sale could be over by noon. The item you want may still be available, but perhaps at a much higher price.

Online Deals – A recent trend noted by some is where retailers say that certain in store deals are also available online through their website. But there may be a catch: not every doorbuster deal is featured online and you may have to wait until the retailer’s brick and mortar store is open before you can log on and find out. If it isn’t featured online, then you may have to scramble to throw on your clothes and head to the mall, but by then it could be too late.

Rain Checks – If the store’s sale policy is a favorable one, then they may offer a rain check to you on whatever items have sold out. This means that you may be able to get that item later at the Black Friday low price when it ships again. Be careful: some products take weeks to ship or your retailer may not be able to get the item back again. Too late for Christmas and you’ll be forced to find something else.

New Car

Not every Black Friday deal is a dud, but you need to read the fine print to see what restrictions apply and plan accordingly. Of course, if you’re the type of person who hates shopping at the mall on Thanksgiving weekend, take heart: the best day of the year to buy a new car is on Black Friday.

Photo Credit: Jay Lopez

Adv. — Whether you head out to the mall for Black Friday savings or shop online from the comfort (and warmth) of your home, a shopping list can help you keep everything organized. Download your free copy today from NBuy Plaza, home of more than 5,000 online merchants!

Tags: Black Friday, Christmas shopping, doorbuster, new car, rain checks, Thanksgiving

I’ve been taking a look at various presidential thanksgiving proclamations lately and have concluded that we, as a nation, tend to forget just how bountiful our blessings really are. The Thanksgiving holiday is a truly secular holiday, but it was created to allow Americans of every race, creed, ethnic group or other background to give thanks to God for his protection and provision, particularly for the past year.

George Washington issued the first presidential thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, which was the last Thursday of November. Much later, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the Thanksgiving holiday became law, established on the fourth Thursday of November. Today, in between food, football games, and family times, why not read the following proclamation to your family as a reminder of what the day is truly about?

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and yours!

Tags: George Washington, presidential proclamation, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day