Shoppers to crash websites in £1.4bn online spree

SHOPPERS are set to crash websites tomorrow in a £1.4billion Cyber Monday spree – amid price cuts of up to 87 per cent.

Spending on traditionally one of the busiest internet shopping days of the year will hit a record for the day, a Centre for Retail Research study for VoucherCodes predicted.

It will beat Black Friday’s £1.04billion – which was down from £1.15billion last year – as many shoppers kept wallets shut in anticipation of bigger discounts tomorrow.

Cyber Monday online spending will peak at 8am and 6pm as commuters shop by phone. A further £1.55billion will be blown in stores, giving a total spend for the day of almost £3billion. Debenhams will cut the prices of Hobbs Lauren dresses by 87 per cent, from £169 to £21.60.

CRAZY

Experts warned of websites crashing after some froze on Friday, including Debenhams, Game and Gym Shark. VoucherCodes marketing director Jimmy New said: “Many websites implemented queues on Friday. Some will buckle under the pressure. Live Irrésistible Délicieuse eau de parfum 30ml, Those worried about missing deals should set their alarms for 7am.”

Richard Perks, of market researchers Mintel, said: “There are signs shoppers are disillusioned with Black Friday.

“It’s crazy that retailers are training shoppers to wait for late November discounts before spending. Retailers are undermining their own business.”

The four-day £8.29billion spending splurge from Friday to Monday will be even bigger than the days before and after Christmas, CRR and Financial Conduct Authority research predicted.

CRR director Professor Joshua Bamfield said: “Cyber Monday and Black Friday are delaying spending from September and October, and pulling forward spending from December.”

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