Keep Your Eye On Cyber Monday Sales, But Don’t Actually Buy Anything

Cyber Monday used to mean something. It was the cool younger sibling of Black Friday, the one who didn’t shove people in a Walmart aisle but still scored killer deals from the comfort of your couch. Fast forward to now, and it’s basically just ... another Monday with prettier graphics and “SALE EXTENDED” banners slapped across every website. The excitement’s gone, the discounts are fake, and the whole thing feels like retail gaslighting wrapped in a pretty coquette pink bow.

So yeah, you can keep your eye on Cyber Monday sales, but I highly recommend not actually buy anything.

Let’s Talk About the Death of the Deal

Once upon a time, Cyber Monday was about accessibility. Not everyone wanted to risk life and limb for a $99 TV at Best Buy, so retailers brought the deals online. The idea was genius, real discounts, actual competition, and a shopping event that made you feel like you’d outsmarted the system.

But … like every good thing on the internet, brands milked it dry. Now, Cyber Monday “deals” start two weeks early, last three weeks after, and feature prices that are basically the same as they were in October … and June … and April.

Want proof? Scroll through your inbox right now. “50% OFF SITEWIDE!” they scream, in all caps … but when you click through, it’s more like:

Was $120 → Now $118 (wow, thanks.)

Bundle and save! (on three things you don’t need and one you kinda wanted maybe six months ago.)

Free shipping over $200! (on a site where literally nothing costs less than $150 anyway.)

Cyber Monday isn’t about giving customers deals anymore, it’s about giving retailers data. They’re banking on your fear of missing out, knowing that if they slap a “limited time offer” label on something, you’ll feel that little dopamine hit in your lizard brain and click “add to cart.”

The Illusion of the Bundle

Can we talk about bundles for a second? Because the bundles I’ve seen are criminal.

It’s always the same formula:

“Get our best-selling moisturizer, PLUS six mini products you’ll never use, for one low price!”

Translation: we’re clearing warehouse shelves before Q1.

Bundles used to be fun, like little sampler packs that made you feel like you were getting more bang for your buck. Now, they’re just clutter disguised as savings. That “limited-edition” gift set? You’re basically paying full price for one thing you actually want and six filler items you’ll end up regifting, forgetting, or throwing away by next spring.

Don’t even get me started on digital bundles, you know, the “get five online courses for the price of one” type. There’s always one good course buried among four that were filmed in 2016 with PowerPoint slides and pixelated text.

… and “Mystery Bundles” ??? GFYS … mean it. 🫶

The Fake Sale Psychology

The biggest scam of Cyber Monday isn’t even the weak discounts, it’s the psychological warfare.

Retailers hike prices in early November, then drop them back down for Cyber Monday so it looks like a deal. That’s called price anchoring, and it’s one of the oldest tricks in the marketing book. They show you a fake “original” price just so the “sale” price looks like a steal. You ever been inside of a Kohl’s? Same marketing concept.

The truth? You could’ve gotten that same “Cyber Monday deal” in July if you’d waited for one of their random mid-season clearances or loyalty rewards.

Here’s the secret:
Real deals happen randomly throughout the year, when brands actually need to clear stock, hit a sales goal, or make room for new inventory.
Fake deals happen during shopping holidays, when they know you’re primed to spend. (The fact that “shopping holidays” even exist is absolutely bananas, but I supposed that’s capitalism for you.)

So unless you’re stalking a very specific item you know rarely goes on sale, you’re better off holding onto your wallet and skipping the chaos altogether.

The FOMO Factor

Half the reason people shop on Cyber Monday isn’t the deal, it’s the feeling. That buzz of “everyone’s doing it” combined with a little sprinkle of capitalism-induced adrenaline. You’re sipping your coffee, scrolling through your favorite stores, and thinking, “What if I don’t buy it and regret it later?”

That’s not logic talking, that’s marketing manipulation. Retailers are experts at using FOMO to make you spend impulsively. Limited time countdowns, flashing banners, and “only 2 left!” notices are designed to trick your brain into panic mode.

You know what’s even worse? Half the time, those “only 2 left” items magically restock 48 hours (or minutes…) later. Because guess what, the scarcity is fake, too.

Online “Window Shopping” Is the Move

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t look. By all means, scroll, browse, daydream, build carts you’ll never check out. Treat it like Pinterest with price tags.

There’s something kind of therapeutic about online window shopping, like manifesting your wish list without the buyer’s remorse. But … unless you actually need something and you actually know it’s a true discount, you’re better off closing that tab.

Retailers rely on the dopamine hit of buying, not the satisfaction of owning. That’s why so many Cyber Monday purchases end up being stuff you forgot you ordered until it arrives three weeks later and you’re like, “Why the hell did I buy this electric frother?”

The Pressure to Spend Is Manufactured

Here’s the thing, Cyber Monday, Black Friday, “Holiday Blowouts,” and “End-of-Year Clearance Events” all exist for one reason: to make you feel like now is the best time to spend money.

That pressure? Completely manufactured.

Retailers know it’s the season of guilt and giving, and they exploit that to move inventory. You’re being emotionally manipulated by marketing copywriters and data scientists who know exactly when your willpower dips (hint: it’s after 8PM when you’re scrolling TikTok in your PJs).

Don’t let them win.

As I said in my Black Friday blog: If you really want to help make an impact this year, consider participating in the Economic Blackout Set for November 25th, 2025 through December 2nd, 2025. This is nationwide protest against the United States’ problematic government and severely flawed economic system. You can learn more from Blackout the System, here.

The Bottom Line

Cyber Monday isn’t what it used to be. The sales are meh, the bundles are bogus, and the sense of excitement has been replaced by mild irritation. It’s not about scoring deals anymore, it’s about being sold to. Constantly.

So if you really want to win Cyber Monday this year, don’t fall for the fake discounts or flashy banners. Fill your cart if you want, but maybe don’t hit checkout. Save your money for something that’s actually worth it, or better yet, something that makes your life better, not just your order history longer.

Cyber Monday used to mean convenience. Now, it’s just capitalism in high-gloss packaging … and if that’s not the perfect metaphor for modern retail, I don’t know what is.

Scroll. Browse. Add to cart. Then close the tab. You’ll thank yourself later. Promise.