Shoppers turn to Internet for deals on Cyber Monday

Today's "Cyber Monday" -- the day many people are expected to log onto their computers looking for the best Internet deals.

It's not as significant as when it first began in the 1990s, said Ken Colburn, of Data Doctors and host of News/Talk 92-3 KTAR's "Computer Corner" show.

"Cyber Monday was coined back in the early days of the Internet when most folks did not have high-speed Internet at home, so they would use the high-speed Internet connection at their office on Monday morning after Black Friday to try to take advantage of on-line deals," Colburn said. "It's more of a marketing ploy than it is anything these these days because just about all of us have high-speed Internet."

However, Colburn adds, "The on-line retailers would love for you to continue to talk about it because it gives them an excuse -- just like Black Friday -- to create some excitement that wouldn't necessarily be there."

Colburn advises to go ahead and look for on-line deals, but be realistic about what you'll find.

"The reality is, you'll be able to find some deals on-line that you may not be able to find any other day, but they're likely to be far and few between."

Going on-line can open you up to all sorts of security breaches, so pay attention to your screen, said Colburn.

"Make sure that you are on a secured page which will have the "https" in that little yellow lockdown in the bottom right-hand corner before you actually start putting in information like your credit card number and what have you," he said.

Colburn said it makes a different which card you use.

"Stay away from using debit cards because, if something happens, that money will come out of your account until you can get it cleared up, as opposed to a credit card where it just dries up your credit," he said. "Make sure you use an actual credit card on line."

What about buying from a store that's in financial trouble? Bad idea, said Colburn.

"You want to make sure whatever you're buying has a warranty through the manufacturer, so you don't have to rely upon the store... I would think that gift cards and things of that nature -- extended warranties -- you'd have to be very, very careful about with stores that are potentially closing."

The cheapest prices on some items, particularly electronics, are not always the best deals, according to Colburn.

"With technology in particular, it's real easy for people to buy into the hype," he said. "The general rule of thumb with technology is that, if it's the lowest-priced item, be very, very suspicious. It's usually the cheapest of any type of electronics -- whether it's a digitcal camera, a computer, whatever it is -- usually the cheapest tends to be the least desirable and the ones they typically use as a means to kind of get your attention."

On-line shoppers are expected to spend $800 million on Cyber Monday.

Valley credit counselor Dean Wegner said that's fine who people who hate to go to the malls, but he cautioned shoppers to be smart.

"A lot of people are buying clothes and items on the Internet and they're not even sure if it fits or not," he said. "So make sure the return policy is good."

Also know the seller's policy on defective items, Wegner said.

"If it's electronics -- is there a return policy? Make sure there's a warranty behind it. Is it a refurbished part? A lot of times, deals that seem to be too good to be true, are refurbished."

Just like for Black Friday, it's essential to make a budget and not spend more than you can afford, Wegner warned.