Cyber Monday 2021: What to buy and what to avoid, according to shopping experts

Historically, shopping experts warn that there are certain purchase categories you should avoid completely on Cyber Monday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Cyber Monday is the Black Friday for online shopping — giving holiday deal hunters a more convenient, stay-at-home day for grabbing the best deals of the season on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

So, just what are the best things to buy on Cyber Monday and what’s best to avoid?

Historically, shopping experts warn that there are certain purchase categories you should avoid completely on Cyber Monday. These products rarely are offered for significant discounts and take you time and energy away from finding the very best Cyber Monday deals.

Here’s a look at what to buy and what to avoid on Cyber Monday, according to the shopping experts at Blackfriday.com.

What to buy

1. Clothes. Clothes. Clothes: Now is the time to check out offers of 30% to 50% off from major retailers like The Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta. Departments stores, like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales are offering their best pre-holiday prices on shoes, coats and other clothing.

2. Last season’s gaming systems: You’ll find plenty of Cyber Monday deals if you’re willing to drop back a generation. Online retailers like Amazon.com and Walmart.com will be putting up sweet promotions of

Electronics, even Apple products, can be found discounted by major retailers like Amazon.com on Cyber Monday, experts say. (Courtesy of Apple)

3. Electronics: While Black Friday still offers you the best chance to score the lowest-priced TV, plenty will still be marked way down on Cyber Monday. So, too, will be laptops, phones, tablets, speakers, etc. In fact, many retailers will likely repeat — or even slightly improve — their Black Friday deals. Other hot items include external storage, memory cards, headphones, monitors and keyboards. Check out retailers like Amazon and eBay.

4. Smart home devices: Products like Echo Show, Ring doorbells and Honeywell smart thermostats will be offered at discounts of at least 25% on Cyber Monday on Amazon.com, so Monday is the day to hunt them down.

What not to buy

1. The season’s hottest toys and gaming systems: Forget about finding deep discounts on the in-demand toys. You might not even find them in stock. You’ll find some deals on last season’s hottest toys, but you can expect them to go down even further as the holidays approach. And if you’ve waited this long for a deep discount on the newest gaming system, you’ve already waited too long.

2. Home goods: Though you’ll surely see furniture and appliances offered at appealing prices, there are plenty of other times during the year to scope out deals on these: Think President’s Day and Memorial Day.

3. Holiday décor: Don’t fall for the advertised sales promoted by big-box stores, craft stores and home improvement stores. These products will be cheapest on Dec. 26, so try to steer clear of the hype unless you are desperate for an artificial tree or wreath. A 50%-off Cyber Monday deal will pale in comparison to an 80% discount offer on the day after Christmas.

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