Scoring great deals on "Black Friday," the big sales day after Thanksgiving, doesn't require getting up before dawn or waiting in lines that rival those at Disneyland.

You can get even better deals on this busy shopping day -- so named for its ability to shift retailers into the black -- by hitting the sales online. There are far more retailers to buy from on the Internet and many more ways to save.

This year, 80% of online retailers claim to be offering some kind of free-shipping deal in an attempt to woo shoppers discouraged by rising gas, food and utility prices, according to Jupiter Research. And one in five retailers say their discounts online, especially on consumer electronics, will be steeper than in previous years, said Patti Freeman Evans, Jupiter senior analyst.

When you factor in that most online retailers don't levy sales taxes, the savings can stack up.

Finding the best deals on your Christmas list items, however, does take some research and a bit of strategy. Here's everything you need to know to navigate the Black Friday sales without having to put down your coffee cup.

Find the deals ahead of time

Sale ads are leaked to these sites by third parties and are often marked "rumored" because they are posted without retailers' consent. But generally, experts say, their content is pretty reliable, giving you at least a taste of what's coming.

Article by msn