NAOMI LYNCH
Special to The Leader
In a week, we will be all be home, stuffing our faces with turkey (or tofurkey, depending on your preference) and Aunt Bertha’s mystery casserole. While you figure out how to approach her food, don’t forget that one of the biggest shopping days is around the corner: Black Friday!
But do you really want to brave this nasty Western New York weather? OF COURSE NOT!
Wouldn’t you rather stay inside and enjoy, say, a steaming hot cup of cider while doing all your shopping from your smartphone?
So stay inside, and stay warm, because Cyber Monday is the solution to all your problems!
According to Investopedia, Cyber Monday is “the Monday following the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, generally thought of as the start of the online holiday season.”
In case you weren’t aware, there are many benefits to shopping online: avoiding the near-fatal mobs of people, ease in comparing prices, and most importantly, free shipping!
Before you grab your leftovers and connect to your neighbor’s unlocked wifi, here are a few dos and don’ts:
1. DO research prices before you buy! Cyber Monday is all about maximum savings — the more dollars you keep in your wallet, the better! Pricewatch.com is an excellent website to compare prices on your laptop or your computer. Don’t forget to also visit CyberMonday.com to see some great year-round deals.
2. DON’T buy outdated phones, says LaptopMag.com. Sure, that practically free Samsung Galaxy S3 might look tempting, but that phone and operating system are two years old, and will look archaic compared to your friend’s iPhone 6. Save yourself the envy trip and only invest in the newer models.
3. DO know the return/exchange policies for each website you buy from. NBCWashington.com says to look carefully at the fine print so you can send the item back, if need be.
4. DON’T get distracted — buy only what you planned on getting. Impulse purchases will be your worst enemy. Fight the power. You don’t need those $10 boots. They’ll fall apart in a few weeks anyway.
5. DO set a limit. Consider purchasing a prepaid card and loading all your holiday shopping money onto it so you won’t feel tempted to overspend.
6. DON’T click “purchase” if the website isn’t a secure one. Look for a lock symbol in your toolbar to make sure that your website is protected. If you don’t see that, exit! Stealing identities is all the rage these days — don’t become the next target.
7. DO stay organized. Keep track of all your purchases on a sheet so you don’t buy double or triple of any item unless you intended it to be that way.
8. DON’T you DARE pay for shipping. Point. Blank. Period. If shipping isn’t free, try to find the same item at a retailer that offers free shipping.
9. DO be wary of counterfeits! If a Gucci bag is $50, it’s probably Fucci.
10. DON’T buy a cheap netbook! According to LaptopMag.com, the cheaper the netbook, the worse the quality is. Those doorbusters look like great deals, but would you put your money in a shredder? Heavens, no! Reports say the best netbook out is Acer’s C270 Chromebook, available for $199.
11. DO read product reviews. These are your most invaluable resource when it comes to purchasing technology items. If a lot of people are against one item, you’re better off not buying it.
12. DON’T use random Wi-Fi networks, says UpsteamCommerce.com. This is common sense. That deal that your best friend texted you that you have to buy right freakin’ now isn’t worth compromising your identity to a random Wi-Fi network. I know you’ve used a random network before. So have I. Just don’t do it again.
13. DO look at bundle deals — those are literally the best bang for your buck!
14. DON’T consider buying that budget craplet! Craplet is short for “crappy tablet,” and woe is you if you purchase one. If you don’t know the brand name, avoid it by all costs. Even brand name tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, are a rip off, says LaptopMag.com. The specs on that tablet were excellent … two years ago. Again, don’t put your money in a shredder, people.
15. DO follow all of your favorite retailers on social media, says Coupons.com. Places like Forever 21 and Target love to post deals only for their followers and you don’t want to miss out on those.
Finally:
16. DON’T lose sight of the real meaning of the holidays — spending time with loved ones. Material items are just a bonus. Don’t be a grinch, okay?
I know that was a lot of information to digest, but remember this: if you can survive Aunt Bertha’s casserole, then you can survive Cyber Monday!