Click frenzy for online sales

November 19, 2012, 6:18 pm Lynda Kinkade Today Tonight

Some of Australia's biggest retailers have adopted the approach that 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' when it comes to their online rivals.

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Now 150 retailers have joined forces for a 24 hour super-sale that they're calling Click Frenzy.

If you believe the hype, forget about going to the Boxing Day Sales. Australia's biggest spending spree is expected to start tomorrow, and the best part - there's no queue at the checkout.

For 24 hours Click Frenzy centralises all the best deals online on the one site. The aim is to mimic America's Cyber Monday Sales where last year more than ten million online shoppers spent over a billion dollars in just 24 hours.

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From 7:00pm tomorrow the frenzy will begin and hundreds of Australia's biggest retail brands will offer thousands of deals. If it's a success, this could be a turning point for Australian retailers.

According to Dr Brent Coker, an internet consumer psychologist from Melbourne University "potentially this could be a game changer. This is a chance for local retailers to attract customers back and increase loyalty."

Brands like Myer, Dick Smith, Target, Bonds and Dan Murphys will all be offering website only specials in an all-out retail assault.

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According to IBISworld, online spending is expected to increase by more than 30 per cent in the lead-up to Christmas.

"The expectation is high and I think retailers need to step up to the plate and offer these deep discounts," Dr Coker said.

"There is a risk here that so many people will participate in Click Frenzy that websites will go down and they'll crash."

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Hoping to tap into the online traffic, other websites are offering extra special deals. From now until Wednesday on Appliances Online you can save $300 on a Samsung front load washing machine; there is a $450 saving to be made on a Fisher and Paykel fridge; and if you're after a new plasma TV, you can save $200 on a 51 inch Samsung.

From 11:00am tomorrow for just twelve hours, Catch of the Day will offer flash sales. Every 30 minutes a new deal will be offered, and founder Gaby Leibovich claims you can find presents for just $1. The last flash sale saw over 1.5 million customers take part.

The Home will be offer savings of up to 70 per cent, and for Today Tonight viewers an additional $10 off any purchase.

Rather than claiming all the commission they earn, Start Here give some of it back to loyal customers. Chief Executive Dr Adir Shiffman says it is free to join.

"As a special offer to Today Tonight viewers, we'll provide a free upgrade to a Gold membership which provides even more cash back on every purchase," he said.

Customers Ethan and Rachel Sifris claim the savings are huge. "You've got products at an excellent price, a sales price, but on top of that you get the cash back which can be up to fifteen per cent," the couple said.

And if you really want to feel good about shopping, visit GOthat. Founders Della Pin and Belinda King are giving half their commission to charity.

"GOthat is a site that allows shoppers to get the best daily deals and support their favourite charity or school," they said.

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This reporter is on Twitter at @LyndaKinkade



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