Here are our suggestions for Cyber Monday, which always happens right after Thanksgiving Weekend. It’s a big prelude to the holiday shopping season with a focus on online shopping deals.If you live in the Seattle metropolitan region and want to add Pacific Northwest flair to your gift giving, check our list of locally owned retail businesses that feature great gift ideas that you can buy online.
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What is Cyber Monday?
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The buying frenzy continues online with an upsurge in purchases on the following Monday—dubbed “Cyber Monday”. Some retailers offer a whole week of Black Friday to Cyber Monday deals. As online trends often do, Cyber Monday started organically when retailers noticed online sales increasing in the first decade of the 21st century.
Since retailers wanted to capture more of your gift-giving dollars, businesses started offering online discounts, sale items, and other savings, such as free shipping. Like Black Friday, Cyber Monday has grown into a multi-day sales event. Some online retail stores offer discounts and savings from Cyber Monday until the following Sunday.
Best Seattle stores for online shopping and gifts
Our suggested list of online retailers focuses on popular businesses in the Pacific Northwest region.
Archie McPhee. One-stop shop for party supplies, crafts, costumes, miniatures, weird toys, and candy. Standard shipping on $50 or more is FREE, or head to Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood and buy it at the store.
Amazon. The online retail powerhouse has Cyber Monday deals all week with low prices and sales on electronics, video games, DVDs, and more. Prime members get free shipping. Tip: Non-prime members (like me) get free shipping on qualifying orders of $35 or more—so I add products to cart and place an order when I have enough for free shipping. Some products do not qualify for free shipping, but many do. Another tactic to save on shipping, is to check for a product locally (e.g. Target or WalMart) and order the item for pickup (no shipping charges).
Costco offers a wide range of products, including gift baskets and gift cards. Some deals are in-store only and others are online only. Holiday sale items typically start before Halloween and continue throughout the holiday shopping season.
Eddie Bauer. Seattle’s homegrown sportswear store offers great rates on shipping anywhere in the US and can send orders to over 100 countries and territories worldwide. Free shipping on exchanges.
Elliott Bay Book Company in the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, offers over 150,000 titles and a large collection of bargain editions–and they’ll gift wrap for free. Or, purchase a unique, handwritten Elliott Bay Gift Certificate in any amount and let your gift recipient decide which book to read.
Independent bookstores in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area sell gift certificates and offer ordering online or by phone. In addition, many offer gift items such as journals, pens, notecards, coloring books, and more. It’s a great choice if you want to shop local.
Filson stands for high quality and durable outdoor and travel apparel and accessories. Headquartered in Seattle and renowned for making products in the USA from fabrics such as heavyweight Tin Cloth and warm Mackinaw Wool. Shop online or head to the #FilsonFlagship store just south of T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field) on 4th Avenue South. Free economy shipping on orders over $75 to the contiguous US.
Microsoft Store Deals. Check their sale page for deals on computers, software, games, and accessories. Free shipping and returns.
Nordstrom. Nordstrom will ship almost anything to anywhere in the United States—even Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico—for free. No minimums. No kidding. And if the recipient doesn’t love it, the return is free, too.
REI Gift Ideas. In-store or curbside pickup (available at most locations) is a free alternative to shipping. REI Co-op Membership Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Reward—for life. Join once, enjoy forever.
But wait, there’s more!
- Our guide to Black Friday shopping in Seattle
- Best retailers for gifts, party supplies, holiday decor
- U-cut, fresh cut Christmas trees around the Sound
- Christmas lights around the Puget Sound region
- Where to get pictures with Santa Claus
- December events and entertainment
- Here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- More free and cheap things to do every day: Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
- Still more ideas for frugal fun: Greater Seattle on the Cheap home page.
Christmas shopping online photo by realinemedia via DepositPhotos.com
Event calendar of free and affordable things to do
Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
Find more events and ideas for affordable living at Greater Seattle on the Cheap – Free things to do, cheap fun, discounts and deals in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area
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