I ordered probably two-thirds of DD’s gifts yesterday on Amazon. But nothing that I’d consider a big savings. On Black Friday I saw what I thought would be the perfect gift for DS & DDIL, the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro Plus wet and dry vacuum (they have 3 rescue fur kids and a new house). I searched for a good deal on it, but ended up just ordering it from Amazon. Free shipping to them, but again, the savings was not that much. It arrived at their place this morning (already!) and was a a big hit. At least it arrived in time for Christmas (LOL)!

On Thanksgiving, I ordered two 1/4 zip sweaters for my boys from Vineyard Vines. They were 25% off. Just for fun, on Black Friday, I looked to see if the price had gone down. There was a banner across the top of the page announcing their lowest Black Friday pricing with a discount code. The sweaters were back at their original price but then when I put them in the cart and added the code, they came up as the exact same price as I paid the night before. So much for "lowest pricing" LOL. Then, just now, I had to call VV b/c of course, despite USPS saying my package was delivered at 12:22 this afternoon to my front porch (five feet from where I was sitting inside my house at that time), there was no package. So I called VV whereupon I got into a round and round conversation b/c her tracking code from UPS said it was being delivered today but I had to explain that they sent it UPS SurePost (which I HATE but that's a vent for a different thread) which meant it got delivered to my post office on Saturday who then supposedly delivered it today. I had all of this right in front of me using the two tracking numbers I had been provided. Anyway, I digress. When I went to the VV website to get their phone number, I checked to make sure they still had the sweaters in stock. Lo and behold, they are 25% off again. So the price has been the same for the last six days.

I'm not surprised by any of this. It's all a marketing ploy. Several websites I looked at today said "Cyber Monday prices extended" - but of course, yesterday they made you think you would only get that price yesterday. I never fret if I miss a "sale" because I know it will go on sale again before Christmas. Just means I have to keep frequently checking.

The one thing I did get that rarely goes on sale was a Kindle Paperwhite. I JUST bought one for myself using birthday gift money this summer on Amazon Prime Day. And then I accidentally left it on a plane when it fell off my left shortly before landing (I couldn't reach it and planned to get it when we landed and I forgot!) I NEVER lose stuff so I was so upset. Anyway, I got one on Black Friday but the lower pricing is still valid b/c a brand new generation Paperwhite just came out so they previous ones are on sale. I'm just glad I got one before they sold out.

I bought home stuff from Wayfair yesterday and had an extra 10% coupon so saved at least 10%, although some of the things were supposedly on sale. I no sooner placed the order when I opened an email from them and a chandy I wanted that was out of stock for a few months was now available. I tried the coupon again with no luck but called and they gave me 10% off the chandy. Yay!

A table I was looking at was more on Wayfair than Hayneedle by about $50 so it pays to google the name of the item to see who has it for less.

I always google before ordering if it's an item that can be sold anywhere.

I ordered gift from Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Abercrombe. Everything was on sale except for one item. I will keep tracing it and see if I can get a discount when it goes on sale.

I avoid Amazon if I can.

Yesterday I was considering purchasing a knife set. It was considerably cheaper than anyplace else. The listing did not say cyber Monday or limited sale, it just said they were marked down.

I wanted to do some more research before I purchased. I went back today and the knives are back to the original price!

So, some cyber sales are real sales. Trying to figure out if a store is having a real sale versus a fake sale is a challenge!

I generally always check for the best deal, but I do know that those Instant Pots were being sold at differing prices everywhere. I bought on at a gift, but I know it was a few dollars above the absolute low. I also paid about $5 too much for a new 32inch monitor (still a bargain at $135). I was sorely tempted by the Saks sale (25% off with bonus Ebate of 14%) as many brands are usually excluded.

Steam has real black Friday (week) sales. Not that I was looking.

There were some great sales between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. I did most of my shopping during that time (all online). Everything I bought was on sale. I did pick up a couple of clothing items for myself (and a pair of booties) after Thanksgiving, but before Cyber Monday. I didn't see anything yesterday that was a much better deal than what I got. I had several emails from clothing places I shop that were up to 60% off. I believe the sweater I purchased from Loft was 60% off. The booties were 30% off. So good deals. I did buy a shirt yesterday that was 40% off.

Funky alerted me that my particular sweater was 50% off (it was not the whole site or even all sweaters), so I bought it. It is now back up to $700 again. I'm a believer.

Wow, mtn, that's so cool you got it.

My "big" purchase were the pajama pants for DH at Belk that they have buy 1 get 2 free on Black Friday.

Am I the only one who shopped for themselves? All of the hair care products that I use were a very good deal. I also bought an insta pot as well for myself. Unfortunately the big ticket Apple watches were not on sale and never will be on sale unless it’s a model they are phasing out.

cm1964 - You are not the only one. I purchased a ton of Lime Crime lipstick (which rarely goes on sale) as well as 3 sets of makeup brushes, 2 lipliners, a new vertical computer mouse, and two sets of paint.

Mtn, some companies rarely have sales so when they do, I know if there was something I wanted that I should get it then and not wait!

WRT shopping for oneself, I did buy the Son & Park cream glow and beauty water mentioned in another thread when it was 40% off last week. Unfortunately, I just noticed it's being delivered by USPS so I'm not optimistic it will arrive. I'm missing two separate packages, two days in a row, that show "delivered to front porch" - I know for a fact they were not delivered b/c my office overlooks my front porch and I was home all day both days, with dogs that alert anytime someone comes near my house. One of the packages has a sweater my son needs for a college interview this weekend. :(

I received a coupon from Sundance for 20% off and free shipping which I used to buy some Christmas presents for 2019. I don't follow the Sundance site so I don't really know if that was a decent deal or not. (The reason the gifts are for 2019 is that they won't ship until February, 2019.)

I hit quite a few great sales-- but I was shopping for quite a bit vs one thing. Amazon, Macys, Urban Outfitters, Banana Republic, Free People all did well for me!

I swore I wasn't going to shop for myself-- but I did. Almost to the tune of "one for me, one for you" ;)

I bought some old technology, two hardcover books for a girl who has grown up with all kinds of technology (both her parents are computer science PhDs.) Thanks to the decline in the value of the £ the cost of the two books on Amazon UK was less than one book on Amazon.com.