Stores beckon all weekend

Retailers increase hours, incentives

Just in case you couldn't rouse yourself from bed this morning, you can still get in on the shopping madness.

Stores are staying open longer all weekend and tempting shoppers with freebies and contests. Among the offerings:

* Pier 1 Imports is holding a weekend-long sweepstakes. The winner gets a 2009 Volkswagen Beetle and a $500 gift card. Five first-prize winners also get $500 store gift cards.

* Members of TGI Friday's frequent diners club get a free dessert with the purchase of any entree all weekend.

* Williams-Sonoma shoppers get a $10 coupon for every $50 they spend this weekend. The coupon can be used after Dec. 26.

If those offers don't sway you, there's always Cyber Monday.

This year, 35 million people are expected to shop online Monday -- apparently when their bosses aren't looking -- according to research from Purdue University. The busiest hours last year were from noon to 4 p.m.

ONLINE ADVANTAGES: Free shipping and possibly no sales tax.

More than half of the retailers surveyed by Purdue said they would offer free shipping.

And don't forget, retailers only collect sales taxes from customers in states where they have a physical presence -- store, warehouse or administrative offices. The state, however, would like to collect that money when you file your income taxes.

ONLINE DISADVANTAGES: You've heard the warnings about identity theft. But here they are again:

* Use sites that use encryption. Most do. Look for a padlock in the browser as well as the "s" in "https" in the site's address.

* If you're shopping via wireless, use its security features.

* Create complex passwords.

* Use a credit card that's just for online. Check credit reports immediately after the holidays.

* Don't click on links from an e-mail message; it could be from a phishing scam.

* Shop from your own computer. Public computers can have spyware that records your information as you type it.

* Don't e-mail or instant message personal information such as credit card account numbers.

GET IT ON TIME: Internet and catalog shoppers are protected by the Federal Mail Order Rule, according to the N.C. Attorney General.

A company is required to ship your order within the time stated on its Web site. If they don't give you a timeline, they have 30 days to ship your purchase once they've received your order. If the item can't be shipped on time, you must be given a chance to cancel your order for a full refund.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)