Today is set to be one of the busiest in online shopping as ‘Cyber Monday’ grips customers looking for a festive bargain.
Following ‘Black Friday’, the first day in December is estimated to be the day when as a nation we will spend millions of pounds online shopping.
Maria Hughes, supervisor of ASDA Huyton, told JMU Journalism on Black Friday: “It’s been a lot quieter than last year. They were fighting and the police were called last year. Today has been calmer and we’ve had more time to plan a better system with tickets and stuff.
“A few people have agreed that it’s been quieter because the sales are lasting until Monday now, so less people are going mad on the Friday. It makes it better spreading the sale over the weekend.”
Merseyside Police confirmed local shoppers were on their best behaviour on Friday as they had not been called out for any trouble during the day.
Today, shops such as River Island, Schuh and ASOS are extending their Black Friday sales until midnight tonight, with sales up to 30% off online only.
Wilson, managing director of consumer insight at Experian Marketing Services, told BBC News he predicts consumers will spend £649.6m on 1 December, or £451,000 a minute – a 26% increase on Cyber Monday last year.
Rebecca Dunn, trainee manager of Schuh Liverpool One, told JMU Journalism: “It’s been so busy all weekend and apparently we’ve sold loads online too. We’ve extended the sales until Monday but most are just online now for Cyber Monday. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas early this year and everyone is just going crazy for the sales.”
Online queues are proving to be an main issue today as complaints have piled up with many online retail outlets.
Some people entering the Curry’s website on Friday were automatically placed in an hour-long queue.
Miss Dunn added: “Most websites can’t cope with the amount of activity that’s going on so they crash. I think people just need more patience with online shopping and just appreciate that thousands of other people are trying to shop online too.”