Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: More shoppers turn to online for seasonal steals

Megan Roney shops online at Europa Coffeehouse in Denver in this 2011 file photo. (AP / The Denver Post / Helen H. Richardson)

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shoppers on both sides of the border have plenty of options for saving money during the traditional kick-off weekend to the holiday shopping season.

But which will they prefer: battling the massive crowds for door-crashing deals or shopping in their underwear from the comfort of home?

According to a recent Nielsen survey, the ever-present online world may be winning out.

The poll found 82 per cent of U.S. consumers plan on forgoing Black Friday shopping this year. However, 30 per cent say will be taking advantage of online sales come Cyber Monday.

“Just as consumers are converging their use of traditional and new media, so we see a convergence of traditional Black Friday with the new Cyber Monday,” James Russo, VPof global consumer insights at Nielsen, said in a statement.

Nielsen points out that online shoppers cangather sales information from retailer websites, newspapers and advertisements for Cyber Monday, as well as the added benefit of Facebook and Twitter.

And it looks like Canadians might even be more cyber-crazy than our U.S counterparts. According to a recent BMO poll, 44 per cent of us plan to shop online for Cyber Monday deals.

But if you’re still are thinking of making the trek to the U.S. Friday, it’s best to do your homework before you travel. Tiffany Mealia, founder of ShesSoSavvy.ca, says there are websites out there to help Canadian shoppers figure out if a cross-border deal is really a true steal.

“You can find out if something is actually cheaper in the U.S. or Canada,” she told CTV NewsChannel.“You can find out what the shipping costs are that are associated with it so you can actually make a plan to either cross the border and shop, or enjoy Cyber Monday in your own home and have it shipped to you.”

For thosewilling to get out there with the crowds, Mealia says having a secure plan can help make the outing worth it.

“Because there’s so many people and there’s such a high velocity of sales going on, you want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting, exactly what you’re going for and exactly what you’re willing to spend,” she said

According to the Neilsen survey, Black Friday consumers do a majority of their shopping at department stores, discounters, consumer electronic stores, online sellers and tory stores.

What’s more, Russo said marketers don’t see Black Friday and Cyber Monday as an either/or situation -- they see it as a collaborative strategy that they plan to use to engage consumersas the holidays draw nearer.