Buck Black Friday: Your Guide To Cyber Monday

Increase in online purchasing among blacks outpaces other groups

If you’re reading this right now, it’s probably Sunday and you are contemplating returning to work on Monday after a few relaxing days off – that is unless your have a job in retail. (If that’s the case, I say, “peace be with you.”) But as soon as Monday comes and you launch your personal email on your desktop computer at work, you’ll be inundated with spam about Cyber Monday deals. Don't send them to your trash too quick.

Cyber Monday, of course, has become known as the claustrophobic, irritable, and frugally efficient shopper’s alternative to the stampeding hoards camping out for a $2 toaster. In all seriousness, Cyber Monday shoppers save as much as the crazed ones who brave the frigid morning temperatures after downing Thanksgiving dinner, according to estimates by the National Federation of Retailers.

Retailers say online shopping has been an ever-expanding market helped by an exponential increase in smartphone users and the smartphone app market. The lesser known story is how increases in the online purchasing habits of African Americans outpace other groups, according to research by the consulting firm, R. Fenimore Fisher Group, LLC. Its research found that a large portion of middle-class blacks have embraced Internet retail, in large part because of negative experiences at in-person stores.

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In 2004, 13.5 percent of more affluent African Americans used the Internet to shop. By 2008, that share had skyrocketed to 95.5 percent, according to the group’s research. Additionally, the value of wealth transfer in the black community is expected to go from $1.1 trillion currently to $3.4 trillion by 2055.

Just something to chew on. Okay! Enough nerdy talk. Here are links to some of the major Cyber Monday deals at large web retailers:

Walmart Cyber Monday & Cyber Week Savings – Looks like they’ll have a few deals on tablets, power tools, and winter gear. Walmart says this year is “poised to be one of our most exciting Cyber Monday events ever, packed with terrific Cyber Monday deals on the gifts your loved ones are going to love.” No matter how you feel about big box stores, I can tell you they aren't lying about the savings.

Target’s Cyber Monday 2012 -- They are pretty tight lipped about their deals, but you can sign up for an email alert as soon as they announce their featured items.

Amazon’s Cyber Monday Deals Week --  This online retailer is suggesting you bookmark their deals page. They are promising “the best” offers on “electronics, low prices on DVDs, toy bargains, and fashionable deals on clothing, shoes, jewelry, and more.”

Best Buy Cyber Monday – In case you weren’t one of the crazy people in line at one of their retail stores for an insanely low priced TV, laptop or Blu-ray player, you’ll have a shot at those deals on Monday.

Overstock.com Cyber Monday Deals – Need a deal on home goods? You’ll want to check out Overstock’s deals. It’s all about the O, as they say.

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