Cyber Monday

Posted - Dec. 1, 2008 - 10:00 a.m.

Which do you prefer: Cyber Monday or Black Friday?

Cyber Monday got its name in 2005 after the National Retail Federation "discovered a surge in online shopping as workers returned to their cubicles the Monday after Thanksgiving and continued shopping," according to this Chicago Tribune story.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is when people crowd stores, usually big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart, before sunrise to get deals and goody bags. Black Friday is also known as the Super Bowl of Shopping or the Buyathalon in my house. As kids, my mother used to drive us from store to store before 8 a.m., so my brother and I could wait in line, grab a gift bag or coupons, and then hop back into the car for the next round.

Black Friday was a bit disappointing this year. The deals were OK, but the mall in Oakbrook, Ill., wasn't very crowded. What was your experience?