Here's what you need to know on this year's Cyber Monday
Black Friday was the busiest shopping day of this year and retailers are now hoping that consumers will keep spending for Cyber Monday.
The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) said retailers are trying to remain optimistic despite having to deal with supply chain issues and labour shortages.
“We have supply chain issues and we have labour challenges, so some retailers expected to have product on their shelves for Black Friday or Cyber Monday and they are still waiting for that product," Michelle Wasylyshen, spokesperson with RCC, told CTV News Toronto on Monday.
A new survey conducted by RCC found that almost half of shoppers planned to buy something on Black Friday and about one third planned to buy something on Cyber Monday.
Moreover, they said 43 per cent planned to shop on Black Friday, 35 per cent on Cyber Monday and 34 per cent on Boxing Day. The survey also found 63 per cent of shoppers plan to make their purchases in store while 37 per cent will shop online.
RCC’s survey also found that 44 per cent of shoppers are concerned about being in crowded stores.
Still, retailers believe many consumers want to get back to their pre-pandemic shopping habits.
"They want to return to their shopping traditions and that includes shopping in stores," Wasylyshen said, adding that the council has seen increased traffic in malls recently.
For anyone searching online for Cyber Monday deals, be careful if you're sent links by email or see special offers in social media.
"In many cases, fraudsters are injecting fraudulent links into our feeds,” CTV News Toronto tech analyst Carmi Levy said. ”If we click on that, from that point forward we're victims.”
Levy said to avoid oversharing personal information which can make it easier for hackers to find out more about you and to always take the time to check the website you're on to make sure it's legitimate.
“In the browser, look for the lock icon and ‘HTTPS’ — ‘S’ stands for secure — if it just says ‘HTTP’ back out of it because that is a sign it’s not a legitimate website,” Levy said.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become huge shopping days, RCC said, because of supply chain issues this year, there may be constant sales up to and including Boxing Day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.