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 8)
Rick said 7:00PM on 7-29-2008
You have an opinion about how they feel about it? Get over YOURSELF. You're going to tell OTHER people how to "feel" about the "buyers remorse" they have about THEIR purchase. It's none of your business, unless you work for Apple. Speaking of business, Apple's customer are some of the most loyal of any company. Know any enthusiasts of Motorola? Samsung? If Apple's early-adopters are unhappy about Apple's pricing policies, Apple needs to pay attention. The rest of you probably ought to move on to something else.
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Harmy G said 1:40PM on 9-06-2007
I have no sympathy, since the whole reason that the price was so high to begin with was because they knew that the "must-haves" would pay through the nose for it.
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dw said 1:45PM on 9-06-2007
i actually do feel bad for the early adopters, because the price drop is a smack in the face, but i'm amazed they didn't see this coming. anyone who's a fan of apple products and has invested major $$$ in them in the past knows that apple cares very little for early adopters - their products debut at outrageous prices which they drop dramatically in a year, they don't develop additional software for existing products so that you have to buy entirely new ones in order to enjoy new options, and complaining won't change their behavior. i want an iphone badly, but i've been burned so many times by apple, i know to wait a year or two for the dust to settle. few companies on the planet take their customers - particularly their most hardcore fanbase - for granted the way that apple does.
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SJBOSSMAN408 said 1:51PM on 9-06-2007
US MEXICANS WAIT TILL THE PRICE DROPS B4 WE BUY N E THING. THE PRICE WILL DROP EVENTUALLY. BETTER SOONER THAN LATER. SORRY 4 THE CHUMPS THOUGH.
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Patti said 1:52PM on 9-06-2007
What a bunch of whiney spoiled brats.
If they would have waited, they wouldn't have had to pay so much.
They deserve it.
It just goes to show how spoiled, self-centered, and shallow people have become.
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Devin said 2:14PM on 9-06-2007
Harmy G hit the nail on the head.
This can all be explained by micro economics and the principle of Supply and Demand. Has anyone heard of Price Discrimination?
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Sedonacrownjewel said 2:15PM on 9-06-2007
When you have to be the first kid on the block to get something new when it comes out, you should have to pay the price for it, and Big Companies know that you will, so they unfairly mark the price up real high and then lower it later. It's a big ripoff. They know it, you know it, must the rich kids will keep on doing it just to be the first!
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Ed Hood said 2:18PM on 9-06-2007
I have a Apple Computer and a iphone, selling them both will never own anything else Apple has cutting the price was unreal !!!!!!!!!!!
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asutton said 2:53PM on 9-07-2007
I'm waiting for the new Nokia phone!!!!!
http://videoplayer.thestreet.com/?clipId=1373_10377024&channel=Market+Strategy&cm_ven=&cm_cat=&cm_ite=&puc=&ts=1188654324996
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Rowan said 2:34PM on 9-06-2007
I follow one simple rule:
NEVER BUY ANY TYPE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR VIDEO GAME THE FIRST DAY IT COMES OUT. EVEN THE FIRST WEEK IT COMES OUT... BECAUSE THE PRICE WILL DROP WITHIN THE 1ST MONTH OR SO.... ALMOST ALWAYS!
So No, I really don't feel sorry... Apple knew that some people would pay the Inflated Price to have the latest gadget!
I was a Open house for my Son's school, and everyone was huddled around this one kid... WHY? Because he was playing with his mother's New IPhone and everyone was watching this kid and not listening to the principal talking... Pathetic.
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Tainotaz said 3:07PM on 9-06-2007
I, myself who work for a wireless provider am not suprised by the price adjustment made to the handset. It happens all the time. Its just those impatient people who are taken in at first. You know what they say, "Theres a sucker born every second !" "Just remember to Power Up !!!"
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anonymous said 2:45PM on 9-06-2007
You think it's bad just reading about this stupid phone. Think about the people who work at Apple or even AT&T, the only cell carrier that supports the iPhone...me. Getting calls everyday from people who THINK they are getting screwed. OMG... things change!! I can't believe it. "I should have to pay the same price for phone service that i paid a year ago". Now..."I demand you to give me a credit for the difference of the phone". You poor idiots that bought the iPhone the day it came out, sorry boutya. Now you poor idiots that bought that phone less than 14 days ago, go to the apple retail store or att store you bought the phone from and get your refund. and most of all quit whining to us. It wasn't our decision.
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anibethc40 said 2:39PM on 9-06-2007
Still people shouldn't purchase an i-phone because of AT&T which offers lousy service, and misleading sales pitch other than the merger with Cingular that happens to have the worst reputation, and offering the worst wireless service ever. You have to read consumer's report to believe it in order to find out more about Cingular and its misleading hype about dropped calls. Cingular, along with AT&T has more dropped calls than any other wireless providers so their sales tactics are generally misleading. Other thing about i phone service and functions you need to know, while may look attractive, it is still prone to defects and other problems which may end up costing you more to replace.
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Sam said 2:34PM on 9-06-2007
Thats what happens to people who can't wait and must have it that minute. Electronics always go down in price, but the recent price drop was due to the popularity of the item and Apple is gearing up for the holiday season.
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Patti said 2:36PM on 9-06-2007
SJBOSSMAN408, for your info, I live in the varrio, and most of the kids and homeys had to be some of the first to get the iphone, so that's bull.
It has nothing to do with culture or ethnicity.
It has to do with how self-centered a person can be.
So don't even go there.
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Ken said 2:35PM on 9-06-2007
WAH!
All those poor "early bird" buyers are the snots and snobs who have to make everything a race for status. They wanted the iphone first so they could show off their new possession as if it meant they were a better person than the guy or girl with a $20 Gophone.
Hey, you're rich and cool, remember? What's a couple hundred bucks as long as you have the fanciest toys first?
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Izzy said 7:38PM on 9-18-2007
Well... early adopters have the money to spend.. no matter how much the price was.. they don't really care.. back when they first released the phone, they may had paid a more than the price right now but they had the reputation around the people they know.. I GOT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT.. AND YOU GUYS DON'T.
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primo carnera said 2:37PM on 9-06-2007
The reason why I paid 600 for it was so that people with certain economical background would not be able to buy it; now it's within reach for every one and it’s going to be like the razor all over again, next thing you know my freaking grandma is going to have one too.
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Max.dB said 2:40PM on 9-06-2007
HAHAHAHAHA
I'm not laughing at all the iPhone buyers, just the crybabies. Of course I understand your frustration, but I don't see why you "JUST HAD" to have an iPhone once it came out... actually I can see why. Once they told you that you needed one you ran out and got one. I want an iPhone too, but seeing as I've gone 27 years without one I can wait til they inevitably drop the price and work out the kinks. you fools got duped.
Once again I don't mean to direct this at all of the early buyers just the ones who now say they are gonna sell their apple products and never buy anything from them again... yeah right, wait till they come up with an iDildo you'll be first in line to shove it right up your iAsshole.
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rstilwel said 2:39PM on 9-06-2007
I was a late early adopter. I will never buy somthing from Apple again until the holiday session comes around and price drops come. I love their products and ideas but they need to think just a little about their customers next time.
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