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.
Yesterday's announcement of a price drop to $399 for the eight-gigabyte iPhone probably put a big smile on the faces of anyone who couldn't afford the original $600 price tag. But if you were one of those people who paid $599 or -- gasp -- more on eBay, you probably have a rather different expression on your face. But here some good news: Today, Steve Jobs announced that his company would offer a $100 Apple Store credit to any jilted early adopter. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cookworld of Georgia said 6:55PM on 9-07-2007
I applaud his PR savvy.
However, it is sad that people tend to forget that this is an economy based on capitalism.
Sellers should not have to feel ashamed for price fluctuations on their product from one customer to the next. If those people wanted to pay less they could simply wait or shop around.
The value of anything is defined simply as what one is willing to pay for it. Bragging rights are a form of value. Those people were willing to pay what they paid because they wanted to enjoy the bragging rights of early ownership of a hot new product. The cost of those rights in this case was @ $200.
They got their extra value...why should they expect a refund because many others were patient knowing that this ridiculous price would come down and didn't feel the need to brag about waiting in long lines for an overpriced product?
I am going to wait until I can get one for less than $300. If they were to refund everyone $300 when the price goes down again I would be upset because I feel that the lower price is the value of my patience and practicality.
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baybaykid said 2:22PM on 9-07-2007
Apple hit us in the pocket now it is time for us to hit them back by boycotting them
Boycott Apple
Boycott Apple
Boycott Apple
Boycott Apple
Boycott Apple
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Stacia said 2:33PM on 9-07-2007
bullcrap! I can't believe they are offering ANYTHING to these spoiled brat customers. I don't own anything apple. Seeing what pushovers they are, I guess I should!!!!!!
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debbie lord said 1:36PM on 9-10-2007
I agree, boycott Apple. All of the loyal customers who supported Jobs and his new technology got screwed on the alter of greed and arrogance. Jobs first responce was harsh and the second was self-serving, it helps Apple sell more products. Why should anyone buy anthing new? All these loyal people helped Apple by buying the new invention and telling(and showing) it to others, Apple does not care about the people that took a chance on them.
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Matt said 2:52PM on 9-07-2007
If you used a credit card that has price protection your are safe. Go for the $200 and get the $100 at the apple store!!!
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Jim said 2:57PM on 9-07-2007
I seen too many crybabies around lying on their back kicking their feet up in air. Big Deal. Grow Up.
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Brian said 3:04PM on 9-07-2007
It's just a fact of life if you buy something when first hits the market you're gonna pay more. I remember in late eighties Atari 200 was reduced to 50 bucks. I didn't expect a refund for price differnce to what I had paid. I have a Razr I got it after it had been out for a while but price is even lower today for me to look for compensation for my previous purchase is crazy.
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Brian said 3:06PM on 9-07-2007
It's just a fact of life if you buy something when first hits the
market you're gonna pay more. I remember in late eighties Atari 200
was reduced to 50 bucks. I didn't expect a refund for price
differnce to what I had paid. I have a Razr I got it after it had
been out for a while but price is even lower today for me to look for
compensation for my previous purchase is crazy.
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serprizeserprize said 3:07PM on 9-07-2007
WOW! Shocking! The price on a new gadget went down. The big question is why is anyone surprised by this? Geez. Knew it would happen and that's why I waited. DUH!? Name one thing that hasn't gone down in price once the initial craze died down? HELLOOOOO?
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serprizeserprize said 3:10PM on 9-07-2007
There are thousands of Americans that would like a refund on their Real Estate right about now!
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sweetdreamz1181 said 3:40PM on 9-07-2007
this should be a suprise to anyone. When an item first comes out the price is sky high then it drops... it happens with everything.. i bought a $1000 camera and now i can buy it for $200!
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roger said 3:41PM on 9-07-2007
Everyone who bought one when they first came out were boasting about there purchase and now they are crying. It's common knowledge that whenever any new electronic product comes out they drop in price soon after. You paid for the "bragging rights", so what?
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amanda said 3:45PM on 9-07-2007
Ok stop with the crybaby comments.....they reduced the price by 34% in like 10 weeks....tell me when you bought a product that discounted that much that fast. If it would have been 5-6 months down the road I wouldn't have blinked but $200 is a lot of money and loyal Apple users felt betrayed.
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Pretty D said 4:37PM on 9-08-2007
this is why bill gates is so much cooler...
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dave bowers said 3:52PM on 9-07-2007
Stop crying. Apple really should have just kept taking the money. Poor business move to take a top selling product and treat it like a commodity.
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smarteepantz said 4:02PM on 9-07-2007
While I can (sorta) appreciate early-adopters obsessive need to buy everything cutting edge the second it comes out, I much rather prefer buying second or third generation. I know that more of the bugs will be worked out, the capabilities are often much greater and the usability is typically higher. I bought a second-gen Mini, then a Nano Red (which, I believe is a fourth-gen) and have no intention of buying an iPhone for at least a year (probably, by then, a fifth-gen). Besides, Apple comes out with next gen so quickly, it's kind of tough to place faith that they're putting out the best possible product for the buck (exhibit a: the recent announcement of the iPod/Nano redesign...less than a year after the previous redesign).
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oliviahaimani said 4:23PM on 9-07-2007
If you have that much money to spend on a phone, then $200 should not be a lot of money to you. If it is, you need to be working on getting your priorities straight and learning to manage your money better.
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roger said 4:23PM on 9-07-2007
I am not being critical of people being disappointed but it's possible that the reason the price has dropped so much is because the mass market isn't going to pay $599 and maybe Apple does'nt want to sit on a lot of inventory?
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Jason said 4:40PM on 9-07-2007
Here's the deal. 6 years ago when the X-box came out, the price tag was $500. less than 3 months later, it was dropped to $300. No one even batted an eye at the price drop or stomped their feet for Microsoft to give refunds. It's called pricing your product based on the market demand. EVERY BUSINESS DOES IT, and I think Steve Jobs is not making the right decision in offering a refund...Apple will lose much respect on this decision. 1 for ticking off the "loyal apple customers", and 2 in the business world for setting a precedent of offering refunds when the price drops after the introduction of a new product.
Bottom line is I didn't run out & buy an iPhone when they came out, because I knew the price would drop. Common sense tells you that...beyond common sense PAST EXPERIENCE tells you that (unless you've NEVER bought ANYTHING in your life, which I doubt). Personally I'm going to wait until AT&T/Cingular offers them as an upgrade option instead of even paying the full $399 they're priced at now. See how that works? That's using your noodle...
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ditdotdee said 4:52PM on 9-07-2007
I do think that people who are saying "stick it" to those that purchased the high priced phone are being cruel. I wasn't trilled to hear the price drop so much so fast. Maybe the day after thanksgiving would have been more appropriate to drop price. It did leave a sour taste in my mouth hearing price dropped so much so fast.
True, I'd suck it but also true that it would taint my relationship with apple products. The $100 rebate is excellent. Keep in mind we are not getting money but rather ability to buy something else from apple. Too bad last week I spent $70 in the apple store expanding my service plan on the iphone to two years....I only hope that I can buy itune gift cards from the store to use in itunes or I really have no use at this time for the $100 rebate. I'll use it to pay the full song price to get a 30 second clip of ringtunes....
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