Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wstdade said 11:38AM on 8-14-2007
Unfortunately, somethings NEVER change. By the looks of it even the new facelifted MA Bell still has complexity on her invoices. The way At&t invoices customer is a NIGHTMARE, historically proven. No matter how much of a facelift she gets internally Ma is still old.
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Hank said 2:13PM on 8-14-2007
Forget the trees; who's the girl? I'd gladly add a few pages to that bill next month.
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Frank said 11:16PM on 8-14-2007
I would love to have an Iphone but refuse to get phone service through AT&T-worst cell phone service by far-I now have another good reason to avoid AT&T and unfortunately an Iphone
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iguy said 2:04AM on 8-15-2007
Go to www.ijustinefan.com for all the links to this 300 page bill.
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JJ said 1:31PM on 8-15-2007
I have AT&T. I hate them! But I love my phone number! My bills are usually about 50 or so pages usually. You can't even understand them!
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Jessica said 2:04PM on 8-21-2007
I don't feel a bit sorry for someone who uses that much text messaging and iphone internet. But, yes, wasting that much paper does suck. I sometimes wonder how many people would actually go out and do things (like buy an iPhone) if they were not able to show it off to people. "Hey, look, I have an iPhone" or "Hey, look, I have a new tattoo." ITs pathetic how many things people do, say, and purchase only to show off and try to impress. There will always be 300-page bills as long as we keep consuming like machines.
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Dominica said 3:28PM on 8-28-2007
My bill was nowhere near 300 pages. It fit in a nice neat enevelope. Oddly enough since this video ATT has sent out emails saying they were no longer detailing bills unless you requested such.
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Ronen said 5:28AM on 9-08-2007
Hey Jessica...I just bought the iPhone, and all my freinds and family were like "oh it's so cool, Can I see" and I realized after all the excitment was gone I didnt really care that much about the iphone, truth is everything I did on my iphone I could have done on a different phone...it's a very advanced piece of technology, but I think no carrier can make it work to its maximum potential. So in essance I do agree with you in the sense that most people do buy it to show off their new piece of gagdet
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bill rozakis said 6:09PM on 12-14-2007
she is hott and i had the same problem with a $1000 bill, dumped iphone and went back to sprint. loved the video though
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Martin said 8:14PM on 12-14-2007
Plain and simple! AT&T SUCKS! I fired them when they became my long distance carrier because they bought out my carrier back in 98. I fired them from being my Internet provider when they took over my ISP in 2001 and I am getting ready to fire them again from being my cell phone provider when they took over cingular!.... Bottom line is that they do not know customer service. They are in it only for the money so they have to keep reinventing themselves and buying customers to grow. If you hear that AT&T is buying a company you like... RUN!!!!!!!
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Richard Bennett said 11:52PM on 12-14-2007
AT&T really stinks, I swithched to AT&T because of what appeared to be a good family and possible international plan. With 4 phones on the plan, I got the unlimited text plan and a shared minute plan. the problem came after my third billing cycle and my bii jumped to almost $400 with a $570 bill to follow. I went to the agent and complained and asked what the heck was causing my bill to be so high? they said it was internet use, and it was on my oldest girls phone number. I told my wife and we confronted our oldest girl and showed her what the agent had pulled up from internet use for "MYSPACE and some PORN" site; my daughter said she did have or know of either of those sites. I went back to the store and the agent said she would get me some credit and also for next cycle and put those in her notes for my account. Well my fourth trip back to store was not good as customer service told the agent, if she was going to give credit, she would have to send in a form to do so. The agent asked what form, so they sent me to a corperate store and they said they don't have any forms and they can't give me credit; But to call customer service again. Customer service dept. said they could not give me credit and that the charges are valid. I went back to the store were I bought the phones and asked for her bosses phone number, she also emailed him and cc it to me, he still hasn't called or emailed me 3 weeks late. THEY STINK.
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Jennifer said 9:46AM on 12-15-2007
I too have an AT&T. OH MY GOD, I ordered new phones online for myself and husband. After looking at the charges online and thinking "ok, we can afford this it wont be too bad of a first bill". Well I got the bill in the mail a few weeks ago and I was shocked. $357.76 cents!!! Just to start up new service!!!! It really sucks to be in a 2-year contract with them. Lol wonder what next months bill is going to look like. OUCH!
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Eugene said 10:06AM on 12-15-2007
ONE. AT&T didnt buy over cingular. Cingular bought over AT&T
SECOND. AT&T isnt even that bad i have had for 2 years and im gladly extending my contract you just got unlucky with your issues
THIRD. They dont even send those kinds of bills i have an iphone and two other phones in my plan and my bills are only about 9 pages long and they are about 125 dollars month total. So i personally think AT&T is a great company!
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