Shoppers Advantage Offers Top Gifts for Cyber Monday Bargain Hunters

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:58 AM

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(Source: PRNewswire) tracking

NORWALK, Conn., Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- With a challenging economy, struggling housing market and rising unemployment, retailers are preparing for the slowest holiday shopping season in 10 years. In light of the economy, more cash-strapped consumers are comparison shopping and deal hunting, searching online to find the lowest prices on hot ticket items. With more consumers aggressively seeking low prices, the popularity of online shopping is rising. Shoppers Advantage, a leading national online shopping service, is poised to see its orders rise this year, by providing the lowest prices on hot electronics, housewares, appliances, toys, and everyday items.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), discount shopping and online shopping are both on the rise this year. Nearly 70 percent of consumers plan to shop at discount stores this season, according to the NRF, and the Internet will influence 33.6 percent of purchases in 2008, up from 30.2 percent last year and 28.9 percent in 2006.

Shoppers Advantage offers online shopping, which means significant savings for consumers. The company's special partnerships with manufacturers allow club members to save 10-50 percent off manufacturers' list prices. Members also receive a 60-day low price guarantee which offers them a 200 percent refund of the purchase price if they are able to find an item elsewhere for less.

"Shoppers are looking for great bargains and high quality gifts to fit a stretched holiday budget," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of Shoppers Advantage. "Shoppers Advantage offers some of the best prices on everything from the latest leading-edge electronics and stylish home furnishings to sparkling jewelry to that perfect child's gift that's the envy of the neighborhood."

Shoppers Advantage is preparing for another busy Cyber Monday. Last year, 72 million people shopped online during the first Monday after Thanksgiving - even higher than the traditional Black Friday shopping spree, which drew 66 million shoppers in 2007.

To help track the hottest gifts this season, Santa's helpers at Shoppers Advantage have created the 2008 Elf Alert, a weekly ranking of the hottest gifts in the land.

   Here are the predicted Cyber Monday best sellers:     1. Nintendo Wii Fitness w/balance board   2. Apple iPod Touch, 16 GB   3. Apple iPod Touch, 8 GB   4. Apple iPod Nano, 8 GB   5. Motorola H375 Bluetooth headset   6. Garmin Nuvi 255 GPS receiver   7. Panasonic KXTG cordless phone with three handsets   8. Canon PowerShot 7.1 mega pixel digital camera   9. Garmin Nuvi 250 receiver   10.