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 2)
Scott Small said 2:38PM on 4-07-2008
Lori Lamb: Why do you think prostitutes and their customers should be locked up? If you don't like dealing with those people, you surely don't have to. But why should a society punish a person with a service to sell or a person who wants to pay for it in a private transaction? And if your only objection is that a law is being broken, it's not like all laws are fair or just. Bad laws need to be changed ... it used to be legal to hit women or two own slaves.
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matt said 2:58PM on 4-07-2008
Lori Lamb: How is it your business what these mature adults do with their lives? What they do doesn't affect you so you shoul F-CK off you loser
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CelluliteQueen.com said 4:18PM on 4-07-2008
Move to Nevada... prostitution is legal there!!
www.CelluliteQueen.com
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Teach2 said 6:10PM on 4-07-2008
Prostitution should be legal. It cannot be prevented. The government should make laws requiring safe sex and monitoring for STDs and AIDS.At least that will protect the innocent wives who get the illnesses but have none of the fun This industry should also be taxed BIG TIME.
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BAMA said 6:39PM on 4-07-2008
REMEMBER DEOMOCRACY?
KINDA NICE, WASN'T IT?
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Chris Mohney said 10:59PM on 4-09-2008
Should law enforcement be wasting their time chasing consenting adults? Probably not, the issue is when those adults may be linked to human trafficing, drugs and racketeering. Truth to tell most "providers" probably don't want to legalize it either as they would then have to get a license, pay taxes and all the rest. The scary part is that the "providers" and their "clients" by playing opposite the law leave themselves very vulnerable to other people seeking to take advantage of them. If an escort is beeten up what is she going to tell the police and will they really be concerned, probably not. If a client gets robbed or worse he doesn't really have any place to turn either. The bottom line is that it is very hard to enforce "morality" laws. Does anyone remember prohibition, basically one group should never be able to force their values on another by writing it into law.
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Todd said 3:23PM on 4-08-2008
Ok .. so I take a woman out to eat, then to the movies, then for a night cap ....hopefull it would end up back at my place for a little one on one action and of course i paid for the whole night....WHAT the hell is the differance. At least if i give a woman 50 bucks and i get some we are both happy ...rather than paying for all that crap just to end up with my cok in my hand ......
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Ray said 4:50PM on 4-08-2008
I'm glad that the people that frequent these sites and any other establishments that have this kind of entertainment have a place to go. Better that they have an out let then be preying on someones child on the street or someones wife in a mall parking lot.
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Mr. T said 5:47PM on 4-08-2008
They aren't paying for the sex. They are paying for her to go home afterward. Otherwise it's just a date.
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pipelayer413 said 7:20PM on 4-08-2008
down here in daytona beach they arrested 7 hookers off craigs list..one hooker showed up with her husband and kids in the car..mommy turns tricks while they wait in the car..good role model huh..they watched mommy hauled off to jail..whats this world coming too..billary clinton trying to become president these are the people voting for her..
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Dave said 11:02AM on 4-09-2008
Vote Libertarian and this type of nonsense wouldn't exist.
To the government I say "Stay out of my bedroom, my boardroom and my bloodstream".
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coma said 12:53PM on 4-09-2008
My guess is it's ok for the government to break laws that we are to follow. Use to be a law against ENTRAPMENT! To catch killers...hardcore criminals I could understand. We are still free to an extent...as long as the government and all our neighbors feel that what we are doing is ok.
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emory lamar said 2:15PM on 4-09-2008
a quick fix would be to get rid of the "erotic" and "adult" sections. obviously craigslist isn't trying too hard to address the problem.
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Michael K said 1:53PM on 4-09-2008
OOOHHH...THE COPS BUSTED "JOHNS"!!!! WOW, I'M IMPRESSED. I WISH I COULD MOVE TO EUROPE, WHERE SEX FOR 'SALE' AND MARIJUANA USE IS OK. LAND OF THE FREE HUH? OVER 1 MILLION IN JAIL OR PRISON FOR NON VIOLENT POT SMOKING OR A LITTLE CARNAL PLEASURE. LEAVE PRISON FOR VIOLENT SCUM.
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Gary Vocks said 4:18PM on 9-05-2007
What a waste of tax dollars for the cops to spend their time and resources busting consenting adults for sex--even if it is for pay!
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joe said 4:34AM on 1-22-2009
LMFAO why is porn legal but being a whore isn't ? its the same thing sex for $ ill tell u why... the porn industry is taxed b/c the girls/guys are 10-99 they pay taxes !! whores on the street get the $ tax free that's why being a whore is illegal the f**king government doesn't get their cut plain and simple !
Philip Richards said 5:30AM on 11-21-2007
Prostitution is reportedly the 'oldest business'
in the world. As long as there are live human beings there will always be adults who seek sex for pay. In my opinion, what an individual does in private is nobody else's business. Police should have NO authority to invade a private,
personal meeting ! ! ! ! !
THE JUDGE...
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RICH SANTANA said 2:59PM on 11-21-2007
PROSTITUTION SHOULD BECOME LEGAL-ITS A CONSENT SEX BETWEEN 2 ADULTS , IN LAS VEGAS THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO HIV TESTS AND AND SOME PARTS IN EUROPE TOO! In the Netherland the crime rate is very low compare to U.S.A AND PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL-THE PROSTITUTES. COPS SHOULD FOCUS ON MURDERS, KIDNAPPING , CHILD PREDATORS.SEX IS SEX ITS PLEASURE. BUT IF IT BECOMES LEGAL I AM FOR SAFE SEX AND ADVOCATE TO HIV AND OTHER VENERIAL DESEASES AND USE OF CONDOMS BY JOHNS AND ALL UNDER THE LAW AND SIGN IN AGREEMENTS-PARALEGAL STUDENT-RICH SANTAN
AND BY THE WAY I HAVE A SUGAR DADDY 4 MILLION DOLLARS ASETT GENTLEMEN AND TREATS ME VERY VERY ELL- A PROUD MALE PROSTITUTE THAT IS STUDYING PARALEGAL TO WORK FOR A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER-MY GOAL! PLEASE HAVE SAFE SEX AND USE CONDOMS!!
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Lori Lamb said 4:33PM on 11-21-2007
GOOD! It's about time these whores were taken off the streets and off line. Since when is it okay to offer sex for "250 Roses" and the cops don't take that as selling your ass? Roses my sweet white heiney! These broads need to be locked up and so do the fools who buy their services.
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Jason Browne said 4:41PM on 11-21-2007
I think its disgusting that the states and federal goverment would waste taxe dollars on this! We are fightting two wars right now and this is there main concern? And i would bet these crooekd politicans are the biggest users of craigslist erotic services section. Hypocrisy at its best my fellow americans
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