Online retailers traditionally have waited until “Cyber Monday,” the Monday after Thanksgiving, to launch their biggest deals.
But this year, more of them took up the battle early, going head-to-head with brick-and-mortar retailers.
, for example, offered half off more than 10 select books and 20 compact discs on Friday, competing with “door buster” prices offered to early-morning retail store shoppers.
“We’re searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere — including deals other stores have planned — so we can meet or beat their prices and bring them to you even earlier,” told its customers.
Greenwood Village-based eBags marketed customers via e-mail, urged manufacturers of the 550 brands it sells to lower prices, and retooled its website to focus more on bargains, said co-founder and senior vice president Peter Cobb.
Those moves contributed to a 60 percent-plus surge in sales on Friday compared with last year. By 5 p.m., the online store had sold more than it did all of Black Friday last year.
“Black Friday has not been a super-strong day for us,” he said. “It is much stronger this year.”
Besides discounting earlier, retailers also have boosted the bargains offered on Cyber Monday.
“By getting out in front of shoppers early, retailers have a better chance of winning them over,” said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.
Cyber Monday got its name when retailers noticed a surge in online traffic around the lunch hour on the Monday following Thanksgiving.
Convenience remains the No. 1 reason that consumers cite for shopping online, along with the ability to quickly compare product features and prices.
Westminster resident Jennifer O’Bryan said she already has finished her holiday shopping, primarily through the online auction site eBay.
“It’s warmer,” she said of shopping online.
Bill and Clare Butler of Buena Vista also do much of their shopping online, in part because they are so far removed from any retail meccas.
“The shipping is free and there is no sales tax,” Clare said.
More online shoppers this year are searching for more practical and nontraditional gifts like car tires and appliances, according to , a price-comparison website.
“People aren’t buying new cars, so they are holding onto their cars longer,” said Graham Jones, vice president of merchant accounts with the Los Angeles firm.
In terms of popularity, last year’s big-ticket items — high-definition televisions — have been replaced by smaller electronic items like the Wii game console, iPod touch and GPS systems, which have fallen in price.
Online shoppers can find cyber- deals from more than 650 retailers at .
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com
