There’s no doubt you’ve heard the term Cyber Monday floating around the last few days.
In fact, it’s been around for the last few years … if you trust Wikipedia: “The term ‘Cyber Monday’ is a neologism invented by Shop.org, part of the U.S. trade association National Retail Federation. It was first used within the e-commerce community during the 2005 holiday season. According to Scott Silverman, the head of Shop.org, the term was coined based on research showing that 77% of online retailers reported a significant increase in sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004. In late November 2005, the New York Times reported that ‘The name Cyber Monday grew out of the observation that millions of otherwise productive working Americans, fresh off a Thanksgiving weekend of window shopping, were returning to high-speed Internet connections at work Monday and buying what they liked.’”
And there you have it – an instant education on what Cyber Monday means. And if you believe the hype, or – better yet – fall prey to it, we bet you’re at your desk right now, reading this post between purchases.
We say go for it. It’s only one day a year, right?
To help you navigate the treacherous backroads of the Internet as you spend money you haven’t yet made, CNN’s Josh Levs has compiled several helpful tips to keep you safe as you browse and buy online – advice that’ll help you get the most out of Cyber Monday.
Watch the video after the jump. Happy shopping!
