Cyber Monday is turning into Cyber Month.
Retailers rolled out discounts and free shipping deals on Cyber Monday with millions of Americans expected to log on and shop on their work computers laptops and tablets after the busy holiday shopping weekend.
But with retailers extending their online deals into Cyber Week and even Cyber Month early reports indicated shopping was less robust online on Monday compared with prior years. As of 3 p.m. ET online sales rose just 8.7 percent compared with last year according to IBM Digital Analytics. The figures don't take into account the many shoppers who plan to head online after work or in the evening. But a year ago Cyber Monday sales jumped 20.6 percent according to IBM.
It is still expected to be the biggest online shopping day again as it has been each year since 2010. That is good news for retailers after a Thanksgiving weekend that saw fewer shoppers and lower spending than last year according to some estimates. Mobile traffic which includes smartphones and tablets has accounted for nearly 39 percent of all online traffic compared with 30 percent a year ago. Average order value was $133.07 flat with 2013.
Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru said retailers could be playing it safe on deal offers since shoppers have been conditioned to head online to look for sales on Monday.
Cyber Monday offers aren't super compelling but don't need to be she said. It's been the biggest shopping day of the year for the last few years so they know that people are going to come.
Courtney Lane Greenley 25 from Alexandria Virginia was feeling regret Monday that she didn't buy a knife block and cutlery earlier in the week when she saw better deals online. Amazon was running a limited time lightning offer for some Rachael Ray cookware on Friday under $100 but on Monday the same products cost more than $100.
I should have pulled the trigger earlier she said. Greenley didn't think she would make the purchases on Monday.
Jack Kananian of Brunswick Ohio 31 was more satisfied with his purchase. He waited months to buy a computer because he wanted to wait for Cyber Monday deals. He found one on HP's mobile site and bought it via his smartphone on Monday a computer with a touch screen for $550 marked down from $800.
I've been taking a look at different prices but I bought it once I saw the deal it was the best price I saw by far he said.
On Monday Gap and Banana Republic offered 40 percent off all purchases. Amazon offered up to 45 percent off some Samsung TVs and a deal later in the day for its Amazon Fire TV video streaming box marked down to $69 from $99.
Wal Mart said it has doubled its Cyber Week deals to 500 compared with last year including up to half off some TVs tablets and toys with free shipping offers. Wal Mart is also rolling out new deals later in the day in its so called Evening Edition round of deals including a Straight Talk Moto E Android Phone for $9.99 90 percent off its regular price.
The name Cyber Monday was coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation's online arm Shop.org to encourage people to shop online. After retailers revved up deals it became the busiest online shopping day in 2010. The name was also a nod to online shopping being done at work where faster connections made it easier to browse less of a factor now.
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