It’s Cyber Monday

[Update 11/29/2011: This post in no longer relevant. I removed the Amazon Store from the website this morning. In a nutshell, it wasn’t being used much and was too troublesome to continue.]

You all know by know how much I dislike marketing this website. I do it, though, because it directly helps Ryan. Hey, I’m not polished at it so I just ask people outright. Such is the case today. In the season of holiday shopping, today is called “Cyber Monday”. It’s a day where online retailers offer huge deals for those who buy online.

Click to link to deals!

Amazon is doing this and my request is simple. If you are buying from Amazon (this will link you to Cyber Monday Week Deals) this week, please use Ryan’s Store to make the final purchase. Please.

I checked it out myself and the deals are, in fact, real. It makes me wonder why people would even consider braving Black Friday, other than the rush of getting maced, tasered, or stampeded.

Okay, so maybe there is a thrill to taking down a grandpa to get that x-box? Unless, you’re the grandpa, that is.

Here is how Amazon is promoting it:

Cyber Monday Deals Week: The Deals Are Here

…we’re so glad you’ve joined us this week for all our Cyber Monday deals. Cyber Monday is another day-that’s-not-just-a-day at Amazon. And we’re excited that it’s finally here. We’ve loaded up Cyber Monday Deals Week with a week’s worth of Cyber Monday deals, just in time for you to get back to work after Thanksgiving … and shop online. (Shhh … we won’t tell your boss!) We’ll have Cyber Monday deals and sales all day, every day this week, including Cyber Monday itself of course, with those big Internet-only sales you’ve been waiting for. Trust us, if you love a good deal, you won’t want to miss a minute.

What sorts of deals will you find during Cyber Monday Deals Week? Just like during Black Friday Deals Week, you’ll find limited-time sales and specials from across Amazon, including sales on electronics, low prices on DVDs, magazine subscription specials, toy bargains, and fashionable deals on clothing, shoes, jewelry, and more. You’ll find the best deals we’ve got right here during Cyber Monday Deals Week, and Deal of the Day bargains you’ll snap up for holiday gifts.

Still hoping for more online deals even after Cyber Monday Deals Week is over? We thought so. That’s why we’ve got something special planned for next week. Stop by on Sunday, December 4, for an all-new event called Holiday Flurry Deals Week. Each day of Holiday Flurry Deals Week we’ll be featuring a popular Amazon store and showcasing deals and sales from that store all day long. Fitness fanatics, movie buffs, handy men and women–we’ve got the deals you’ve been looking for.

Again, remember to find what you want (and make a list) then return to Ryan’s Store to make the purchase. Please. This helps Ryan financially and doesn’t cost you even a cent more.

I’ve always been a fan of shopping online (not just on Cyber Monday). Yes, it’s insanely convenient.  But, it’s a secure way to make purchases if you follow these simple rules (from pcworld.com):

1. Don’t Click E-Mail Links. Following links from a phony e-mail is one of the oldest methods for perpetrating any online scam. So don’t be fooled by messages in your inbox offering enticing sales at known sites and then clicking away only to land on a scam site. Instead, open up your Web browser and enter the URL to the site offering the discounts you’re looking for and do a search for the items yourself. If you can’t find the amazing deal from the e-mail, it’s probably a scam.
2. Ridiculously Deep Discounts. With many retailers offering deep discounts, sometimes as much as 50 percent, it may be tough to figure out which deals are too good to be true. The best way not to be taken in by a scam is to only shop at sites you know and trust (like Amazon). The National Retail Federation’s CyberMonday.com also has a list of legitimate retailers offering Cyber Monday discounts.
3. Secure Your Purchase. Only enter credit card details on Web pages that use SSL (secure sockets layer) security, like Amazon. To make sure you’re on a secure page, check to see that the URL for the page begins with “https://” (and not “http://).” That “s” lets you know the site is secure.
4. Pay With Credit Card Only. Only pay for online purchases with a credit card (as opposed to a wire transfer or other non-plastic payment method). Federal laws let you dispute an item on your credit card bill if you don’t receive your purchase. Many credit card providers also have “zero liability” policies meaning you’re off the hook if a bad guy gets your credit card and starts using it.

So, I guess to sum this all up, it is safe to buy from Amazon through Ryan’s Store. I’m in agreement with most experts that it is much safer to shop online (and after-purchase recourse is stronger) than in a retail location.