Comprehensive Guide To Cyber Monday 2018 Freebies Promotions And No-Cost Offers

The 2018 Cyber Monday shopping event offered consumers numerous opportunities to access free products, services, and promotional deals across various retail sectors. While Cyber Monday is traditionally known for significant discounts on electronics and holiday gifts, many retailers extended their promotional efforts to include complimentary offerings, sweepstakes entries, and no-cost services. This comprehensive overview examines the diverse range of freebies available during the 2018 shopping holiday, organized by category for easy reference.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Several food and beverage retailers provided complimentary samples and promotions during the 2018 Cyber Monday shopping period. These offers ranged from in-store product samples to buy-one-get-one deals designed to attract customers during the busy holiday shopping season.

Baskin Robbins participated in the Cyber Monday festivities by offering free samples of their Red Velvet Roll Cake on Monday, November 26, 2018, between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. This limited-time promotion allowed customers to experience a seasonal dessert without any purchase requirement.

Barnes & Noble provided a coffee promotion that extended through the Black Friday shopping period. The bookstore chain offered Buy One Get One Free Starbucks® coffee at participating locations until 10:00 am EST on November 23. This promotion targeted early morning shoppers seeking a warm beverage while waiting for store openings or during their shopping expeditions.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop was mentioned among retailers offering Black Friday freebies and giveaways, though specific details about their promotions were not provided in the source materials. The retailer reportedly offered gift cards, high-value coupons, or other freebies to shoppers during the Black Friday weekend, which often extends into Cyber Monday promotions.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's (which had recently merged) provided multiple family-friendly offerings throughout the holiday shopping period. These included free crafts, games, and activities available through December 24. The outdoor retailer also offered free photos with Santa, creating an opportunity for families to create holiday memories without the typical photography fees. Additionally, the first 100 children photographed with Santa received a complimentary plush toy, adding extra value to the experience.

Retail Store Promotions and Gift Card Giveaways

Numerous retail chains incorporated free gift cards, high-value coupons, and special promotions into their Cyber Monday strategies. These offers ranged from straightforward gift card giveaways to more complex promotional events requiring customer participation.

Belk launched an extensive gift card promotion offering $1 million in gift cards with values ranging from $5 to $500. The promotion structured daily winners, with one $500 prize awarded per store each day. The gift card distribution began at 4:00 pm on Thursday and continued at 6:00 am on subsequent days, creating multiple opportunities for shoppers to win.

Old Navy combined traditional discounts with complimentary products to enhance their Cyber Monday appeal. The retailer offered 50% off their entire inventory while also providing free cozy socks with any purchase. This dual promotion strategy encouraged both bargain hunting and additional foot traffic to physical locations.

Kohl's enhanced their Cyber Monday shopping experience with multiple incentives beyond discounted pricing. The retailer offered free shipping on online orders of $50 or more, free store pickup on all orders, and an additional 20% discount when customers applied the code YOURFAMILY during checkout. These promotions collectively aimed to reduce purchase barriers while increasing order values.

World Market implemented an interactive promotion called the Golden Bell Scavenger Hunt. Shoppers who found a golden bell in stores could receive rewards ranging from $10 to $50. The promotion ran through December 9, extending beyond Cyber Monday to maintain customer engagement throughout the holiday season. Official rules for the scavenger hunt were available on the World Market website.

Electronics and Technology Deals

The technology sector featured prominently in Cyber Monday 2018 promotions, with various carriers and retailers offering device discounts, trade-in deals, and bundled offers. While many of these required purchases, some included significant value-add components that effectively reduced the cost of ownership.

T-Mobile presented one of the more compelling smartphone promotions, offering up to $750 off the iPhone XS or XS Max when customers traded in their old phone and added an additional line of service. The deal specifically required customers to have an existing phone line and add a second line to qualify, rather than upgrading their current service. This promotion targeted customers looking to expand their family plans while acquiring premium devices.

AT&T countered with a different promotional strategy, offering a complimentary iPhone XR with the purchase of an iPhone XS or XS Max. This bundle approach provided customers with two devices for the price of one, potentially appealing to couples or family members sharing phone plans.

Walmart featured several smartphone deals during their Cyber Monday sales event, though notably absent were current-generation iPhones or Samsung Galaxy smartphones in their standard offerings. Instead, the retailer promoted Straight Talk Apple iPhone 8 Plus for $599.99 (saving $99.01) and Straight Talk Apple iPhone 8 for $499.99 (also saving $99.01). These deals represented opportunities for customers seeking previous-generation models at reduced prices.

In the gaming category, Walmart had reduced their Xbox One X and PS4 Slim deals for Cyber Monday, leaving an Xbox One S deal and limited Nintendo savings as their primary gaming promotions. This shift in inventory suggested either supply constraints or strategic focus on specific console models during the shopping event.

Health and Wellness Offers

Healthcare retailers incorporated complimentary services and product samples into their Cyber Monday promotions, providing practical value to consumers while demonstrating their products.

CVS Pharmacy offered free biometric screenings including BMI measurement, blood pressure checks, glucose testing, and cholesterol assessments. Beyond the complimentary health services, participants received a $5 coupon specifically for CVS brands, creating an immediate incentive for additional purchases. This promotion positioned CVS as a health destination rather than just a retail pharmacy, potentially encouraging customer loyalty among health-conscious shoppers.

The digital health space also saw promotional activity, though specific details about health app promotions were limited in the source materials. Some retailers may have offered complimentary trials of health-related services or apps as part of their Cyber Monday strategies, though these were not explicitly detailed in the provided sources.

Contests and Sweepstakes

Numerous retailers incorporated sweepstakes and contests into their Cyber Monday promotions, creating opportunities for customers to win prizes without making purchases. These promotional tactics generated engagement while providing the chance for significant rewards.

Pixie Faire conducted a comment contest offering a $100 gift card as the prize. Participants were required to leave a comment on a specific blog post completing the sentence, "I'm Thankful for _." The contest explicitly stated that no purchase was necessary, with the winner chosen at random and notified via email. This promotion ran through Wednesday night, November 21, at 9:00 PM Pacific Time, preceding the Black Friday shopping period.

New York & Company hosted a Cyber Sunday and Cyber Monday Sweepstakes, with their promotional page confirming that no purchase was required for entry into the drawing. This approach aligned with common sweepstakes regulations while maximizing participation potential.

Half Price Books promoted a holiday gift guide that included contest entries, though specific details about the nature of the contest or prizes were not fully detailed in the source materials. The retailer directed interested participants to their holiday gift guide page for additional information.

Houston Texans football fans had access to online promotions for chances to win, with no purchase necessary. The team's official website featured a dedicated section for contests and promotions during this period, targeting their local fan base with team-specific incentives.

Digital Freebies and Entertainment

The digital realm offered numerous complimentary content and entertainment options during Cyber Monday 2018, providing value to consumers without physical product requirements.

Movies Anywhere provided a promotion offering three free movies when customers synced two new accounts. This promotion targeted streaming service users looking to expand their digital movie libraries while encouraging platform integration.

Marvel Insider members received a complimentary digital comic book, specifically Venom #1. The promotion required Marvel membership, which was free to join, and the use of a specific coupon code (VENOMSF) to claim the free comic. This offer appealed to comic book enthusiasts and Marvel fans during the holiday shopping season.

Office Depot/Office Max promoted their Elf Yourself application, which allowed users to create fun videos of themselves and friends as elves. This free digital entertainment option provided seasonal amusement without any cost or purchase requirement.

Stan Lee Comics offered ten free digital comics through their platform, though specific details about the selection or method of acquisition were not detailed in the source materials. This promotion likely served as both a tribute to the late comic book legend and a means to attract new readers to digital comic platforms.

World Market's digital offerings included a free download of Omni Remover, described as "the world's best Mac uninstaller app" capable of removing stubborn Mac applications. While the source materials noted that the app was "Not Tested by ActuallyFree.com," it represented a practical software promotion targeting Mac users during the shopping holiday.

Family and Kid-Focused Offers

Several retailers tailored their Cyber Monday promotions to families with children, offering activities, photo opportunities, and special events that created memorable experiences beyond traditional shopping.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's provided multiple child-friendly offerings throughout the holiday season. In addition to free crafts, games, and activities available through December 24, the retailers offered free photos with Santa from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday. The first 100 children photographed with Santa each day received a complimentary plush toy, adding immediate gratification to the experience. On Saturday and Sunday only, customers could receive a free photo package (valued at $20) when they donated a new toy, combining charitable giving with holiday memories.

World Market's Golden Bell Scavenger Hunt also held potential appeal for families with children, turning a shopping trip into a game with the possibility of monetary rewards. The interactive nature of the promotion could make store visits more engaging for younger shoppers while encouraging exploration of the retailer's diverse product offerings.

Conclusion

The Cyber Monday 2018 shopping event demonstrated that retailers' promotional strategies extended beyond traditional discounts to encompass a wide range of complimentary offerings. From food samples and health screenings to digital content and family activities, consumers had numerous opportunities to access value without direct monetary expenditure. These promotions served multiple purposes: attracting customers to physical and online stores, generating social media engagement through contests and sweepstakes, and providing practical benefits that enhanced the shopping experience.

The variety of freebies available reflected diverse retail approaches, with some businesses offering immediate physical samples, others providing digital content, and many incorporating sweepstakes elements to extend customer engagement. While many of these offers were time-limited and specific to the 2018 shopping season, they illustrate the creative tactics retailers employ during peak shopping periods to differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace.

For consumers seeking similar offers in future shopping seasons, the key takeaway is the importance of monitoring retailer communications both before and during promotional periods. Many freebies required specific timing, location visits, or entry procedures that, when followed, provided substantial value beyond traditional discounts.

Sources

1. ActuallyFree.com Cyber Monday Freebies 2018
2. WRTV Cyber Monday Deals and Freebies
3. Forbes Walmart Cyber Monday 2018 Deals
4. CNET Best Cyber Monday 2018 Phone and Wearable Deals
5. Pixie Faire Black Friday to Giving Tuesday Deals
6. WRAL Black Friday Freebies and Giveaways