1. Cyber Monday 2011: Deals from Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy and more
(MoneyWatch) Why fight the mall crowds when you can online shop from the convenience of your home (or work, as it is)? Throw in free shipping and it's kind of a no-brainer. In fact, a growing number of shoppers plan to purchase their holiday gifts online this year, with many starting on Monday, November 28, aka "Cyber Monday," the online equivalent of Black Friday. A new survey by Shop.org estimates about six in ten workers with web access (or 76 million people) will shop for gifts from the office on Monday.
If that includes you, here's a cheat sheet of web-exclusive deals this Cyber Monday.
Amazon.com
The online retailer's "Cyber Monday Store" opens at midnight on Sunday and lasts through the end of the week. Deals include:
- Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V 10.2 MP Digital Camera for $199 (save $150)
- Pentax K-5 Digital SLR (Body Only) for $999 (save $200)
- Microsoft Xbox 360 250GB Holiday Bundle (includes Fable III and Halo Reach) for $199 (save $100)
- Nokia N8 (Unlocked) for $299.99 (save $249)
- Monster Diddybeats Headphones for $59.99 (save $89)
- Mercer Cutlery Genesis 6-Piece Knife Set for $99.95 (save $150)
- Panasonic Linear Vortex Shaving System for $78.99 (save $171)
- "Twilight" series DVDs for $6.99 each
BestBuy.com
Sales start Sunday, November 27 and run through Cyber Monday. Customers who opt for store pick-up and spend $100 or more get a $10 store gift card. Customers also receive free shipping on everything through December 27. Cyber Monday deals include:
- Samsung 28 cu Ft 4 Door Stainless Refrigerator for $1,799 (save $1200)
- Acer 10" Iconia Tab for $229.99
- Toshiba laptop with AMD E-300 processor, 2GB DDR3 memory, 320GB hard drive and 15.6" display for $279.99
- Free AT&T HTC Titan with two-year activation (save $199.99)
- Save $100 on Any Blackberry Bold, on any carrier
- Sony Cyber-Shot W570 16.1 Megapixel Camera for $99.99 (save $60)
Walmart.com
The world's biggest retailer will kick off "Cyber Week" on Sunday November, 27, a day early. Promotions will run through Friday December 2. There will be more than 250 online only specials, including:
- Toshiba 32" LCD HD TV for under $250
- HotWheels Mega Garage Playset for under $30
- Xbox 360 Holiday Gamer Bundle for under $320
- Disney Cars 2 Lightning McQueen Talking Feature Chair for under $20
- Tramontina Dutch Oven for under $40
- Danskin Women's Velour Hoodie and Pant Set for under $15
- Fuji Finepix AX330 Camera Bundle for under $60
- Oral B Electric Toothbrush with bonus Crest 3-D Whitestrips for under $40
- Free shipping on home orders of $45 or more on Cyber Week specials
The New York Times
The newspaper giant is offering new customers 50% off a 26-week subscription of any New York Times digital subscription package. Twelve and 26-week gift subscriptions will also be available for 50% off.
ToysRUs.com
The toy giant will release Cyber Monday promotions starting Sunday, November 27 and on through the week. Customers can get free shipping site-wide throughout Cyber Week. The store is offering some freebies, as well as 20 to 25% many items, including:
- Free Skylanders: Soyro's Adverture with the purchase of Red Nintendo 3DS with Mario Bundle for $199.99 (This deal begins at 8am on Monday, November 28. Limit 3000.)
- Free game, controller or headset with the purchase of Xbox 360 with Kinect for $299.99
- Buy-One-Get-One 60% off hundreds of video game titles
- 25% OFF ALL Transformers Action Figures and Role Play
- Save $15 on any Barbie doll or play-set purchase totaling $100 or more
- 20% off all Justin Beiber dolls and room decor
Target.com
The big-box retailer is promoting several deals online throughout "Cyber Week." Kicking off the event on Cyber Monday will be the following discounted items:
- Movies starting at $3.99
- $100 in free accessories -- cradle, LCD screen protector and AC Adapter -- when you buy a Sony Tablet S ($499.99)
- Over 30% off some electronics
- 60 percent off a top selling scooter ($19.99)
- 30 to 50% off toys
- Buy one, get one free pillow sets
Sears.com
Find web-exclusive deals on diamonds, digital cameras, tools and more.
- Sterling SIlver 0.18ctw diamond stud earring for $49.99 (originally $199.99)
- NordicTrack ACT Elliptical (includes free delivery) for $749.99 (originally $1,299.99)
- GE Create 12MP digital camera for $49.99 (originally $129.99)
- Craftsman 200pc MTS set for $99.99 (originally $199.99)
Kmart.com
The discount retailer is slashing prices on some electronics and toys:
- Ario 32" LCD HDTV for $199.99 (originally $299.99)
- GPX PD701W Portable DVD 7" LCD for $49.99 (originally $74.99)
- 25% off all Nerf toys and Baby Alive dolls
HomeDepot.com
The home-improvement giant is offering a number of items up to 75% off on Cyber Monday:
- Zenith 26" metal over the shower head caddy in white for $5.99 each
- Maytag French Door refrigerator in stainless steel for $1,198
- Dyson multi floor bagless vacuum cleaner for $318
BlueNile.com
The online jewelry store is partnering with daily deals site LivingSocial to sell $100 vouchers worth $200 in merchandise. The sale starts at 5am EST on Monday and the voucher will be valid starting the next day
2. Hard Times Generation: Families living in cars
Watch the Segment »
Scott Pelley brings "60 Minutes" cameras back to central Florida to document another form of family homelessness: kids and their parents forced to live in cars.
(CBS News)
More than 16 million children are now living in poverty and, for many of them, a proper home is elusive. Some cash-strapped families stay with relatives; others move into motels or homeless shelters. But, as Scott Pelley reports, sometimes those options run out, leaving an even more desperate choice: living in their cars. 60 Minutes returns to Florida, home to one third of America's homeless families, to find out what life is like for the epidemic's youngest survivors.
To learn more about the organization "Families In Transition" - the social services organization featured in this piece - click here. The organization works with homeless students in the Seminole County schools.
The following is a script of "Hard Times Generation" which aired on Nov. 27, 2011. Scott Pelley is correspondent, Bob Anderson and Nicole Young, producers.
Never has unemployment been so high for so long. And as a result, more than 16 million kids are living in poverty - the most since 1962. It's worst where the construction industry collapsed. And one of those places is central Florida.
We went there eight months ago to meet families who'd become homeless for the first time in their lives. So many were living day-to-day that school buses changed their routes to pick up all the kids living in cheap motels. We called the story "Hard Times Generation."
A reporter's story: Finding homeless families
Unemployment in central Florida is so acute that some families are now living in their cars. So how did Scott Pelley's team track down people without addresses?
Unemployment in central Florida is so acute that some families are now living in their cars. So how did Scott Pelley's team track down people without addresses?
Now, we've gone back to see how things have changed. It turns out some families are losing their grip on the motels and discovering the homeless shelters are full. Where do they go then? They keep up appearances by day and try to stay out of sight at night - holding on to one another in a hidden America - a place you wouldn't notice unless you ran into the people that we met in the moments before dawn.
Time, has carried us into uncharted territory. The great recession began December 2007. Almost 1,500 mornings ago.
If you were rushing to work this morning, in Seminole County, Florida, it's not likely you'd notice the truck or hear the children getting ready for school.
Arielle Metzger: In the clear bin, we have dirty laundry. In that one, there's tools that we might need.
Scott Pelley: All these bank bags are storage of this and that.
Arielle Metzger: Like shampoo....
Austin Metzger: And over here is food.
Arielle Metzger: Food.
Pelley: So, you're really not heating up food so much. You're eating out of cans?
Arielle Metzger: Yup.
This is the home of the Metzger family. Arielle,15. Her brother Austin, 13. Their mother died when they were very young. Their dad, Tom, is a carpenter. And, he's been looking for work ever since Florida's construction industry collapsed. When foreclosure took their house, he bought the truck on Craigslist with his last thousand dollars. Tom's a little camera shy - thought we ought to talk to the kids - and it didn't take long to see why.
Pelley: How long have you been living in this truck?
Arielle Metzger: About five months.
Pelley: What's that like?
Arielle Metzger: It's an adventure.
Austin Metzger: That's how we see it.
Pelley: When kids at school ask you where you live, what do you tell 'em?
Austin Metzger: When they see the truck they ask me if I live in it, and when I hesitate they kinda realize. And they say they won't tell anybody.
Arielle Metzger: Yeah it's not really that much an embarrassment. I mean, it's only life. You do what you need to do, right?
3. Best bets for Cyber Monday deals
(CBS News)
Check out Lewis' tips to plan your Cyber Monday shopping adventure on Page 2.
Last year, Cyber Monday was the most popular online shopping day of the year, and this year it's predicted that sales will reach $1.2 billion, as eager shoppers take advantage of steals and deals offered by various online retailers.
So how can you get the most bang for your buck?
On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," CBS News contributor and personal finance expert Regina Lewis shared some of her best bets for this year's Cyber Monday shopping celebrations.
Check out her picks below:
Cyber Monday: How to avoid getting scammed
Special section: Celebrating the holidays 2011
Pictures: Holiday Gift Guide 2011
Special section: Celebrating the holidays 2011
Pictures: Holiday Gift Guide 2011
Best Overall:
Amazon really pioneered online-only shopping and they continue to do so. We connected with the company and they'll have a range of offers throughout the day along with "Lightning Deals." They show you the percentage off, which is a nice way to really get your head around how good a deal something is. Amazon Prime makes checking out incredibly fast, because you'll have a one-click buying option and free shipping on most items. Once people join Amazon Prime, Amazon tends to become their shopping default, meaning they'll check there before trying anywhere else.
You've got to hand it to Zappos. They offer free shipping both ways 365 days a year. I've never had an issue with them, and that includes returning several big boot boxes this fall. I should point out, they're known for shoes, but they now sell apparel, too, and offer free two-way shipping offer holds.
Best Electronics:
Walmart's whole mantra is "everyday low prices" and that holds true online. This year they're reporting they'll have 250 online-only Cyber Week specials. Walmart.com actually has tons of items you won't find in their stores.
Best Buy is pulling out all the stops online this year. Their stores are known for having really helpful guys and girls in blue shirts to answer all your tech questions, and this year online, the site is pretty well organized to give gift giving suggestions. Electronics is such a hot category, so it's an area where people really do want to know what's hot for men, women, teens and kids. They've even got a tech gifts section for sports fans - win-win.
Best Jewelry Deal:
LivingSocial with Blue Nile
Living Social and Groupon are known for providing local deals. Watch for Living Social to really break out with some national deals. For instance, it's already been announced that BlueNile - the online jeweler - will be partnering with Living Social to offer $200 worth of merchandise for $100. So, right off the bat, you'd DOUBLE your buying power if you go this route. Then, using the $200 voucher on Blue Nile means you'll get more bling - and we're talking the real thing - for your buck. This is a Cyber Monday power move!
Best Creative Gift:
GetMaineLobster and Restoration Hardware
What's the point of having millions of items to select from online, if you don't get a little creative. This idea will really get the recipients attention! You can deliver live lobsters or give a gift certificate to order live lobsters - and to be clear - they arrive moving in the box. The only issue is you need to be sure the recipient is around to receive the order and that the dog - having learned from experience - doesn't discover the package first. I like the idea of giving this gift and then enjoying it on New Year's. If you order on Cyber Monday, they're offering 40 percent off their Surf & Turf special. Good stuff.
Every year the Restoration Hardware stocking stuffers get better and better. They're not always cheap, but they're really unique - and there are hundreds of them - everything from Slinkys to survival kits in sardine cans.
Best Free Gift Wrapping:
This is one of the best-kept secrets, especially if there's someone on your list you're trying to impress - a boss or an in-law perhaps - you can order an item on NeimanMarcus.com and they'll gift wrap it for free. They don't even offer that in the store. And, trust me, the gift will look like a million bucks. So, if you purchase an ornament that's $25, by the time Neiman's does their thing and it arrives, it'll look like the Royal Family sent it.
SOURCE;http://www.cbsnews.com
1) Today is what consumers and retailers have names, "cyber Monday". This is because there are so many special deals available on-line today, the Monday following Thanksgiving. Today marks the largest online sales in the history of the internet. The dow numbers showed an optimistic view of todays sales. This is good news for retailers, who just saw the largest Black Friday in history too. Black Friday sales were over 11 billion dollars and gave great hope for good retail season for businesses. Economist have said that due tot he recession, and poor economy, Americans have been paying down and clearing off old debt. For the first time in years, Americans are in the best debt shape since 1995. The failing European economy may have an effect on the optimistic shopping season.
2) Yet another women has come forward with allegations involving Presidential candidate Herman Cain. Ginger White has now given a news station and interview about her 13 year affair with Herman Cain. She says she knew he was married and knew it was wrong. White has produced some proof of the relationship, including some records indicating the sexual aspect of the relationship. Cain has denied all allegations brought against him and this is no exception. He has stated only that they were friends and were not having an affair or any sexual relationship. Political analyst say his support is dropping, both because of the allegations and also some of his poor statements during his debates. Cain says he will continue with his campaign for the presidency.
3) The main supply route for the U.S Troops have been cut off by Pakistan forces. THe supply route has been shut down in retaliation for US air force strikes that hit Pakistan forces. Pakistan people are still angry about the US raid that killed Osama Bin Ladan. Their people were rioting today and demonstrating against the U.S. forces. Nato has promised an immediate investigation on the incident. The U.S. soldiers involved, claim they were under fire by a Pakistan outpost by insurgents and ordered air support to assist in the fight. The fight lasted about 2 hours. U.S. officials say there is no immediate danger of running low on supplies at this time. This is the main supply route but not the only supply route.
No comments:
Post a Comment