by Doug Desjardins
With analysts forecasting a big jump in Cyber Monday sales, more retailers are stepping up their deals and discounts this year and – in some cases – giving them an early start.
JC Penney will get in on that trend by starting its Cyber Monday sale on Sunday night. In addition to deep discounts on apparel, JC Penney will offer a 60-percent discount on lighting and décor, 50 to 60 percent off its entire stock of furniture and 30 percent off all video games. 
“We know customers are increasingly shopping online, which is why we’re confident that jcp.com will be the shopping destination this Monday,” said JC Penney executive vice president Tom Nealon. The retailer is also offering free shipping on purchases of $25 or more, well below its previous minimum purchase requirement.
Among the deals offered by Amazon.com on Cyber Monday this year are 3G Kindles for just $139, marked down from a regular price of $189. Amazon.com is adding to the appeal of its slate of Cyber Monday deals with free shipping on all items and free 30-day returns.
Wal-Mart’s Cyber Monday screen-busters will include a 42-inch Panasonic 1080p plasma TV for $478, an Xbox 360 video game console bundled with Kinect and two games for $388 and the Apple iPod 64 GB bundled with an accessory kit for $223.
Best Buy will focus on affordable discounted items, including a Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse for $25, the video game World of Warcraft: Battle Chest for $20 and a wide selection of Blu-Ray movies for $8 to $10.
Barnes & Noble will be offering 25 percent off any one item in its online store on Cyber Monday and deep discounts on thousands of items. The deals include a 50-percent discount off any book after the purchase of one book of equal or greater value, up to 40 percent off children’s books and up to 80 percent off select DVD and Blu-Ray titles.
Even travel Web sites are getting in on Cyber Monday by offering discounts on winter getaway vacation packages. “Everyone is looking for deals on Cyber Monday, so it makes perfect sense to put hotels on sale,” said Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor at Travelocity.
Travelocity has not released specifics on what it plans to offer but said deals will include 50 percent off nightly rates for ocean-front hotels in Hawaii, 30 percent off trendy, upscale hotels in Los Angeles and a free fourth night with a three-night stay at hotels in the Bahamas.
Starwood Hotels plans to offer discounts at 60 of its properties ranging from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands on Cyber Monday. The deals will be good for travel booked between Jan. 1 and April 30 in 2011.
Resources
Cyber Monday Deals: Free Shipping Winners and Losers
JC Penney Unveils its Biggest Cyber Monday Sale
Barnes & Noble Announces Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals and Steals
Cyber Monday 2010 Deals Amazon, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target
COUPON TIME
We've got all the best Black Friday Deals AND Cyber Monday Coupons as well!
