. >> becky worley has the pros and cons of each to help you pick up the best for your needs. >> reporter google. amazon's ech are battling to be your digital assistant. so which one should you choose? cnet says picking the right assistance is down to you. >> are you into google's services or a prime subscriber. how many smart devices do you want to control? >> reporter: hey, google, what's golden state warriors' record right now. if search is your main focus. >> we know google is the king of search. >> reporter: next media. >> all right, music on youtube. here you go. >> reporter: it's a good choice if you own an android phone, have all your accounts with google and use a chrome cast for streaming. google pause the song before i embarrass my children. google is good for homes for now the echo. my son and his friends think it's cool. >> believer. >> reporter: many use prime music. speaking of prime. >> echo, buy a fidget spinner. >> reporter: when it comes to shopping. >> you want the biggest amount of product for the best prices you have to go amazon. >> reporter: if you want to control

here's becky worley. >> reporter: online shopping. finding the lowest price is easy.ot as easy when you're in a department store, but the upside of the mall, you get your stuff right away. here's the question. give me a discount or match an online price by asking? and will it be awkward? i'm heading into a bunch of different stores to pick random items and see if they'll match or beat the prices i see and line. 160 on the box, yikes. first i just ask for a discount. is there any discount that i'm not thinking of? >> i can bring it down to 144. >> 144? all right. i'll take that. >> reporter: i found the same shoes online for another $20 off. next time i'll show the online price first. this facial cream cost $110 in the beauty store. i price checked it and found it for $68 on amazon. is there any way you can match that? >> we don't do it. you don't know if that product is fresh. >> reporter: but they do give a 15% discount on my purchase. not awkward at all to check on price matching. store at $179.99. can you price match these to something he foui found online? >> let'

becky worley shows us how we can capitalize on competition. >> reporter: the in-store versus online shoppingas a new battle front. retailers desperately want you off your computer and in their stores across the country are creating experiences in stores that you can't get on your computer. it's called experienceal retail. >> it's about using all of the senses to engage the customer. >> reporter: shopping as entertainment. what does that look like? it is really cold. this is not your typical fitting room. i'm in an eddie bauer store in columbus, ohio. if i were buying this jacket online, i wouldn't know how warm it would keep me. they've created an icebox chilled to as little as 16 degrees so customers can try out their cold weather gear in cold weather, something they definitely can't do online. you guys are trying to turn shopping into almost entertainment, aren't you? >> yeah, we want it to be fun, we want people to relate with our guys in the store and let us help outfit you for your vufrnadventures. >> reporter: and in sephora, you can digitally try on makeup and eyelashes. you can test

sunday night and you will see discounting on toys. >> becky worley for a 6:00 p.m.t tooth and indulge the smart way? we asked the experts so take a look. so many just can't get enough of those holiday sweet treats. >> sugar releases dopamine and to be released in the reward center of the brain. some people can take one bite of a dessert and be satisfied. for others one bite of something sweet is a trigger to lead to a binge. >> how can you have your cake and eat it too? pile your dinner plate with protein and vegetables and will be less hungry when you hit the dessert table. having a cocktail skip the mixed drinks. try coffee before and after desser sometimes it curbs your appetite. the sugar association says we recommend enjoying sugar in mo an active lifestyle. award-winning chef graham elliott partner at did yon restaurant knows a thing or two about keeping it healthy. he began a journey of wellness that led to a 150-pound weight loss. >> i think it's important to try to come up with some alternatives can you have that great, delicious holiday flavor but not all

becky worley is back because it is free shipping friday. yes, it is.he gift they'll be there before christmas and becky is here to share all of that with us and, becky, i'm a last-minute guy. great news for me. like everyone else out there are there minutes to what i need to buy ford to get free shipping? >> not with all of these participants, michael. no minimum purchase for free shipping. that's the premise of this entire day. you know online retailers usually have a 50 or $100 threshold. today is different. almost a thousand retailers participating, shipping costs, nada, nothing, bubkis. >> all big name stores or boutique stores involved, as well. >> it's a little of both. you tart at the free shipping day.com site to get the codes and here's a pro tip. not all those free shipping offers are listed on the retailer's sitefreeshippingday.com. target, macy's, ugg, notably amazon and walmart.com are not participating. but if you need small ticket items from a bunch of different places, today is the time to do it. >> today is the time. they're expecting

. >>> and becky worley is back with more ways to save on holiday shopping.tores and maybe even beat those prices as well. >>> lara, what's going on upstairs. >> cheers to you, michael. our audience decked out in holiday sweaters. i got to get on mine too. and we have how to throw the ultimate diy party including drinking out of ornaments. does it get any better. deejay bhen getting the party started. we'll be right back. we're on a mission to show drip coffee drinkers, it's time to wake up to keurig. wakey! wakey! rise and shine! oh my gosh! how are you? well watch this. i pop that in there. press brew. that's it. so rich. i love it. that's why you should be a keurig man! full-bodied. are you sure you're describing the coffee and not me? get 30% off 30 awesome lego construction sets. now through saturday. toys"r"us. today we play. you kis always behind the forchristmas tree?tree well, here's an idea... hey google, turn on my christmas tree. brilliant! it's google home mini, now only $29 for you, it's always now over later. and pause. not even in your vocabul

abc's becky worley is with us from san francisco with what you need to know before you use those gift cards so, becky, is there fraud risk associated with these cards and if so, how can we protect ourselves? >> you're right, dan. you need to register any cards you received with the store or retail chain it's from if you can. why? that fraud. we know thieves scratch the silver bar off. the one that's right here on the back. then they write down the code underneath and then this is what is so crazy, they can just buy another scratch-off sticker and put it on there. they wait a week or so until the card is activated and then they go oneven to redeem the code. so you need to beat them to the punch in case your card has already been compromised. go to the website of the card where you received the gift, search for redeem gift card don't shop right away you've at least staked a digital claim on it. >> let's say we buy a gift card or get one from a retailer we don't formally shop at? can we return it? what are our options? >> you sound like you're asking from experience, paula. >> i'm not su

becky worley is back with how to maximize all those gift cards. n she did some secret shopping and how she's bringing back the fine art of haggling. becky, what is secret shopping? >> secret shopping is when you go out with a producer and a camera and then you try haggling. it sounds so aggressive. right? but in this season of peace, i wanted to find out if i ask for a discount, would store clerks give me the eye and make me feel weird? well, there is only one way to find out. let's do some of that secret shopping. ♪ >> reporter: the day after christmas, a big day for sales. it's easy to find the lowest price online. it's not as easy when you're in a department store. but upside of the mall, you get your stuff right away. so here's the question, can i get my local stores to give me a discount or match an online price by asking? will it be awkward? i'm heading into a bunch of different stores to pick random items and see if they'll match or even beat the prices i find online. $160 on the box. yikes. first, i just ask for a discount. is there any dis

our thanks to becky worley there. we see black friday in the u.s. crazy.anada, quite a contrast. this is how it looked like in london. >> one guy. >> one guy calmly walking in. >> yay! >> getting a laptop. how about the canadians. >> they're so polite. >> come on, people. you're at a best buy. there is a big screen tv. there are only two tvs. go for it! tvs, go for it! >>> this morning on "world news now," the new concern in california. >> high winds are expected to get even stronger overnight, fanning those five major fires burning across southern california and forcing hundreds of new school closures. we have the latest forecast ahead. >>> plus the new concern in washington, just hours to go until the government runs out of money. does congress have a plan to avoid a shutdown? leaders meet with president trump in just a few hours. >>> plus the terror plot involving prince george. a british man accused of telling extremists to target the prince's school. see what he revealed in court. >>> and many have tried to imitate the president's hairdo, but only one

becky worley will be showing us some very creative solutions.oy stores may begin price slashing this weekend. you have to go to the physical store. for teens she recommends digital gift cards, apps allow to you send a gift certificate straight to someone's phone and there's another option. >> retailers like target and macy's are offering a feature called gift now. the recipient will get the gift in an e-mail that will say sh shopper sent you the gift. >> now let's talk experiences. 40% of shoppers plan to give experiences as gifts so that includes dinners, wine tastings, concert tickets, and spa certificates. >> i like that idea. >> it's really nice but it costs you. >> good point. >> it's not like socks. >> apple confirming now what many iphone users have suspected, older phones really are slowing down. apple says it's not a conspiracy per se to get you to buy a new phone, it's because the phone's lithium ion battery weakens over time. it means less processing power which causes older phones to suddenly shut off. apple implemented a feature sta

and abc's becky worley is telling us how stores are fighting back. ♪ >> reporter: the in-store versusstores. stores across the country are creating experiences for shoppers in store that you can't get at your computer. it's called experiential retail. >> experiential retail or retailtainment is about using all of the senses to engage the customer. >> reporter: shopping as entertainment. what does that look like? oh. it is really cold. this is not your typical fitting room. i'm at an eddie bauer store in columbus, ohio. they have dropped the temperature to put heat on their online competitors. if i were buying this jacket online, i wouldn't really know how warm it would keep me. they've created an icebox chilled to as little as 16 degrees so customers can try out their cold weather gear in cold weather. brr. something they definitely can't do online. you guys are trying to turn shopping into almost entertainment, aren't you? >> yeah, absolutely. we want it to be fun and engaging and want people to come in and engage with our guys in the store and help let us help you out with your adve

. >> well, if you're one of those who is also putting some of these high-tensich toys becky worley hass that strike fear in the hearts of parents, some assembly required. i remember spending three hours one christmas trying to assem complicated red wagon. now, technology has fewer screws and parts you can lose but a lot of assembly is still required. so many toys these days are paired with apps so this is the big tip. if you are giving a toy that pairs with an app or mobile device, ask the question today, which device will the kid use it with? your phone, like you, the parent's phone. i have gone down this route. big mistake. say good-bye to your phone. you will never see it again the first few days after christmas and when you get it back it will be out of juice. another alternative you may be banking on letting your kids use an older hand-me-down device but these often aren't compatible with the apps that run new toys. so today, install the app on the device the kid is going to use with their new toy. make sure it's compatible and if just want to pull it from the present pile and ret

. >>> also becky worley is here with how you can get the best post christmas deals with some modern day haggling techniques. haggling or is it just wanting to get a bargain? a good deal. there's nothing wrong with that. >> who wants to pay full price, ladies? >> there is some good deals out there. >> becky is bold. i have seen some of her tips before. i am tuning in. i want to know everything. she will get $20 off for no reason. >> and bottom line as you're going to learn today it's best to ask. it is best to ask for that discount. >> the worst they can do is say no. paula, thank you. >> that's right. >> thank you. >> all right, ladies, have a good show. >> you, too. >>> okay. an audit of the state public health department's diabetes prevention efforts has now found that they are not doing enough to stem a growing epidemic. according to the chronicle the state lagged behind in spending for nutrition and education programs for prediabetic enrollees in medi cal. california in 2015 spend $1.4 million while new york state was spending more than $7 million. the disease effects more than half

becky worley is taking a closer look. hey, becky. >> good morning, michael. it's a thing.and can roll down a hill. the answer #energyballs. nut, oat, healthy fats combine to make a portable finger food. you know it's a hot trend because a bakery in brooklyn is selling them. >> seems healthier than chocolate chip cookie or a cupcake. >> reporter: but how healthy are they? nutritionist maya feller and i get to work. balls, this is a food trend? >> balls are a food trend. this new fun way to grab and go. get some sustenance and people are going wild for it. >> reporter: recipe one. >> dried apple. >>> dates, nut, oat, cinnamon i mean even a little bit of maple syrup, a tablespoon. >> shape it. >> i think so. >> do you cook it. >> this is no bake. supposed to be able to eat it raw? rest two, pumpkin pie. >> oh, my gosh. that is sweet. >> uh-huh. >> that's dessert. >> reporter: these are sugar cook energy balls. what's crazy this has only four ingredients. >> exactly. >> cashew dates, vanilla, salt and they're tasty. >> oh, my goodness. that's fantastic. >> reporter: well these

becky worley is showing us how to set them up and get the most out of them by turning to the experts.ts. good morning, becky. >> good morning. >> merry christmas, aunty robin. >> christmas morning, it's all about the kids and everything you unwrapped is really about technology. so who better to get all this gear up and running than you guys. oh! huh? how do i set this thing up? to answer that question i've asked my kids and a few of their friends to help. we start with one of the hottest gifts, voices systems. >> alexa, how do i set you up? >> did you know you can change your name so that podcasts or tv segments about alexa don't trigger it? >> we changed alexa's name to echo. >> you download the echo app and get to work linking gadgets. lots of things you already own may work with it. >> echo, set the thermostat to 65 degrees. >> the heat is set to 65. >> echo, tell him to start start cleaning. >> hallelujah, my son is vacuuming. well, robotic vacuuming. also be prepared for them to try and buy things off of the echo. >> echo, buy a fidget spinner. >> pro tip, use the app to install

becky worley has very creative solutions that i think a lot of people might be listening closely to thisd morning, amy. yes, good news, it's easier than ever to last-minute shop be it same day shipping, app-based gift certificates or giving experiences. a little thoughtfulness and a save the day. can't face last-minute shopping. step away from the mall and pick up your phone. let's start with digital gift cards. a teen who lives on zara or h&m app, use it to send them a gift certificate and you can stipulate when it is sent to their phone. there is a new more personalized version of the gift card. >> retailers like target and macy's are offering a feature called gift now. the recipient will get it in an e-mail and say this shopper sent you this gift. would you like to have it sent to your home or would you like to exchange it for store credit? >> reporter: sometimes they just want cash. lots of options like paypal or venmo or text it with google pay. if you have to have it shipped there are last-minute options. >> a lot are offering expedited shipping. it varies by retailer. >> reporter:

becky worley is joining us from san francisco. attle going on. tell us about it. >> reporter: yeah, robin. that's will buy one of these voice estimates in the next five years so, hey, echo or hey, google, that's a question millions are asking this holiday season. hey, google. >> alexa how do i set you up? amazon's echo and google home are battling to be your digital assistant. which one should you choose? cnet's brian tong says picking the right assistant depends on. >> you ha it comes down is are you in google's ecosystem and all their services or maybe you're a prime subscriber. you have all those benefits from that and how many smart devices at home do you want to control? >> reporter: so who should buy google home? hey, google, what's the golden state warriors' record right now. if search is your main focus -- >> they're in second place in the western conference with 20 wins and 6 losses. >> we know google is the king of search and that stays the same. it has the best brains of both so go google home. >> reporter: next media. >

less than two weeks till christmas and becky worley is here with the secret to scoring hollywood dealsd do that, becky, because records are being set, 47% of online shopping has been done through social media over thanksgiving. where is that coming from gentleman. >> on our phones is what is so crazy. our phones are where we are shopping these days. that 47% stat and then 75% of millennials saying they are shopping on their phones. >> a lot of people shopping through apps. >> right. >> why are people going through apps to shop. >> through those social apps because look how cute that hat is. don't you want that jacket for somebody. get that for them and those shoe, i mean rose gold. i love rose gold because the reality is you're going through all these instagram posts and see stuff. discovery is the hard part when you're shopping on your phone. so the nice thing you're already following people so you love their taste. like i love ayesha curry. everything she touches is gold. i want to buy practically everything she is wearing and sometimes has sponsored posts but in these posts it's har

becky worley is back joining us from san francisco with all of the secrets to saving in 2018. is to get started right after the ball drops. >> that's right. seize the moment. now is the time. all the things we can say about time, so let's start with exercise. gym memberships, early january is the best time to sign up. our partners at dealnews.com say look for at least the first month or two free and if the gym you want to join isn't advertising, find an offer from a competing gym and show it to the manager. price matching is not just for clothes and gadgets. same is true for nutrition and weight loss programs. an example is weight watchers. they have a deal offering half off of their first month, paula. it's a little hidden but that's a great way to jump start your nutrition. >> i love the price matching for gym memberships so it's coal and everybody wants to travel. now is a good time to buy? >> it is. travel pricing is always tricky. but that said, there's a spike in sales on airfare in early january. but then get this, the deals for hotels usually come in the last week of ja

becky worley has the top tips for scoring last-minute bargains and how to get a gift card and get one bogo. buy one, get one. >> where has that been all my life. we will get to all this in just a moment. >>> first, let's get to holiday travel. airports around the country packed this morning as you might imagine. nearly 3 million people expected to fly today alone. let's get an update from david kerley out there on the tarmac at dulles airport outside washington, d.c. david, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, amy. it is a very busy day for united airlines looking at dulles, just take a look at the tarmac, a lot of activity already here. talking about early in the morning but folks are moving. the bags have just been loaded. this aircraft just came in from boston heading to l.a. they've been loading the bags in getting ready to go. today the busiest day for united airlines. already look inside chicago. the lines are already starting. yesterday and today the busiest days to travel if you are flying and also driving as well. it's about a 3% increase in the number of folks who