Your Ultimate Guide to Totally Dominating on Cyber Monday

Thanksgiving — AKA Black Friday Eve — is almost here. That means Cyber Monday is just around the corner. If you’re looking to get a killer deal (in the comfort of your pajamas) we have the guide for you. We spoke to Kendal Perez, Savings Expert for CouponSherpa.com, and Nick Chachula, the founder of iCustomLabel.com, for the ultimate tips that will have you dominating on Cyber Monday.

Shop from Home

Perez says shopping from home — and not a coffee shop or the office — is a safe move because your WiFi connection will be more secure (after all, you’ll be sharing credit card information). And who really wants to get out of their pajamas in the wee hours of the morning (which is when the deals start and there’s more inventory).

Do Your Research

Chachula suggests starting off by doing a Google search for “your favorite store” + cyber monday”. This should help in showing which of your favorite shops are participating and what deals they are offering. Be sure to check out the competitors to be sure there isn’t someone else offering a better deal on the same item, especially with electronics. When buying any kind of tv, appliance, or electronic be sure to research the product and read the reviews. You don’t want to be stuck with a low quality product that was offered at a steal but ended up a dud,” he says.

It’s important to take the time to research prices on the products you want to ensure you’re actually getting a good deal, Perez adds. “Stores are known for inflating original prices in order to offer a deeper discount, so it’s a good idea to take note of the current prices of items so you can compare them on Cyber Monday. You should also read up on return policies in case what you purchase doesn’t work out. Stores like Target offer free return shipping, while other stores offer free in-store returns.” Some sites will also apply promo codes automatically but some will require you to do it. Check out CouponSherpa’s info on sales and coupon codes here starting next week.

Know What To Shop For

Perez says on Cyber Monday you are gong to get the best deals on apparel, shoes, beauty, toys and travel. You’ll also see discounts on electronics, though the best pricing on HDTVs, laptops, tablets and gaming systems tend to happen on Thanksgiving/Black Friday. Here are some specifics on what you should be looking for.

Apparel/Shoes

Perez says you can expect a good amount of free shipping offers and additional discounts, especially from apparel retailers. She tends to see great deals from Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor, American Eagle, Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy (which does 50% off for the entire store!) and others. But you will also see some places that rarely do deals like Athleta and Crocs. Steve Madden also offers scratch cards on Black Friday with a chance to win up to 50% off. At Lulu’s you can also get up to 90 percent off sitewide from Thursday, Nov. 26, through Monday, Nov. 30. You’ll also receive a gift with purchase on Black Friday, up to 50 percent off the entire store between Nov. 25 and Nov. 27 and 30% off on Cyber Monday.

Beauty

Perez suggests hitting up The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works this Cyber Monday — in previous years The Body Shop has offered 50% off everything, while Bath & Body Works offers 25% off your order (on top of other specials). Origins has also been known to waive shipping costs and offer discounts of up to $10 off $25. Again, these do not represent this year’s offers, but are indicative of what shoppers can expect.

Toys

Though toys get a lot of attention for Black Friday Perez says Cyber Monday and the first two weeks of December are better to find the best deals on toys. Toy deals featured during Cyber Monday last year included: Free shipping plus 30% off from Mattel; Free shipping plus a free Holiday Set with $99 orders from LEGO Shop at Home; and buy one toy, get one from the same brand for 50% off from Target (plus free shipping).

Travel

Cyber Monday can really be a great time to plan a trip with major discounts on hotels and transportation. Perez says discount airline Frontier often provides coupon codes. To get notifications about savings for airlines and hotels start following your preferred carriers/hotels on social media this week through until Cyber Monday. Also sign up for newsletters as loyal subscribers will get deals ahead of the public.

Some travel agencies and properties have already released their travel deals for this year’s Cyber Monday, including:

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide: Starting Nov. 23, over 1,000 properties will offer savings of 25% to 50%, with Starwood Preferred Guest members receiving an additional 5% off.

Morgans Hotel Group: Starting Nov. 30, rooms at select hotels in New York, London, California, Miami and Istanbul will be offered for up to 41% off. To receive detailed information, sign up to receive an email here.

Red Roof Inn: Similar to last year’s Cyber Monday offer, select locations of Red Roof Inn will offer savings of up to 30% off for stays through Mar. 31, 2016.

Happy shopping!