KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Holiday shoppers are expected to turn to the internet Monday for holiday shopping deals. Every Cyber Monday, retailers offer deals not normally available.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) says deals, free shipping and smartphone apps drive online shopping. Online retailers like Amazon are expecting near record-setting amount of sales.
Nearly 70 million Americans will make an online purchase Monday, according to NRF. But that doesn't mean those shoppers have abandoned in-store shopping.
"Consumers are not replacing in-store shopping with online. They are shopping across channels, in multiple ways, in whichever way is convenient for them. And I think that's a big theme this holiday season, convenience. Whether it's shopping online, going online to pick up in-store, or going to the store itself, consumers want what's convenient for them," explained Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights at NRF, in a podcast.
There are a few items that can make shopping online a little safer.
Consider using a virtual credit card. It adds a layer of protection between your credit account and the website where you're making a purchase. The drawback is making a return can be more difficult if you used a virtual credit card.
Look for "https" in the url of the website, which means the site is secure. Use a variety of strong passwords, don't share passwords or credit card information with anyone, including family.
