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.
Does your neighbor's dog bark incessantly all day and night, or worse, tell you to kill? Put down the arsenic-laced Scooby snacks and instead pick up Bark Free, a nifty little gadget that silences the sound of a dog barking from 30, 50 or 60 feet away depending on the model. When Fido barks, Bark Free flips on and emits ultrasonic sound waves, which are undetectable to the human ear. When the barking stops, the sound is switched off. Though not harmful to the perpetrating pooch, the ultrasonic sound is rather unpleasant for him and he quickly learns not to bark in the vicinity of your yard. Prices range from $70 to $120.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Guy said 2:08PM on 9-21-2007
The inventor is going to make a killing, what with the BILLIONS of dogs around the world! Sign me up right away!
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heardenough said 3:56PM on 9-21-2007
Oh - how about one for trucks with no mufflers and very unruley kids? Sign me up for those - the dogs I don't mind .. but those stupid giant wheeled trucks (usually small guy driving - ha ha) and those kids - forget about it!
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Lee said 6:30AM on 9-26-2007
I found a dog collar that also emits sonic sound that dogs do not like and you can put this one on your own dog if he or she is a barker, and it cost me only $7 plus shipping on ebay. Now I am happy and my neighbors are happy.
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laprns said 6:43AM on 9-26-2007
Wouldn't potential thieves and vandals use this to silence your dog?
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DAVID said 6:59AM on 9-26-2007
I 'M SIGNING UP FOR ONE AS QUICK AS I CAN THERE ARE SEVERAL DOGS IN MY NEIGHORHOOD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SILENCE FOREVER!!HOW CAN I GET ONE?
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DAVID said 6:57AM on 9-26-2007
WONDER IF THESE WOULD WORK ON BITCHES OTHER THAN DOGS????????????????????
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Gunsmoke said 7:06AM on 9-26-2007
For those who can't affort the Gadget there's always the Old fashioned way --- Duck Tape.
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MAD said 7:39AM on 9-26-2007
BOUGHT ONE
THEY DON'T WORK
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Amanda said 7:14AM on 9-26-2007
All I know is thant I am printing this out for 3 of my nieghbors and hope they get the hint!!!
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SamsonsDad said 7:16AM on 9-26-2007
I would be upset if someone was training my dog NOT to bark. What if this device was left on the day somoene decides to rob you?
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Don said 7:17AM on 9-26-2007
Do not waste your money.I bought one of these for very noisy dogs next door that barked 24 hours a day.It did absolutely nothing to stop the dogs from barking. It is a rip-off!!!
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Shirley said 7:24AM on 9-26-2007
Lee, which collar did you buy and did it work? My dog barks uncontrollably when doorbell rings which is very annoying!!!
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Dotty said 7:26AM on 9-26-2007
This is made for training a dog not to bark BY THE OWNER. Not as a cure all by every person who wants to shut up a dog instantly.
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MAD said 7:40AM on 9-26-2007
DON'T WORK DON'T BOTHER SPENDING THE MONEY
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susan said 7:43AM on 9-26-2007
The dog barking gadget is not good for all the good dogs in your neigborhood as it will drive them crazy.. this is a cruel device. BAN IT!!!!
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Josephine said 7:42AM on 9-26-2007
Now that the dog barking has been taking care of..How about the cats pooping in your yard..By the way I always pick up after my dog.
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Kevin said 7:47AM on 9-26-2007
My neighbor's dog used to bark at me every time
I went out into my back yard. I went to the fence and TALKED to the dog, and made friends with him. Now "Mr. Barkley" doesn't bark at me. He just wanted someone to talk to him.
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t-man said 7:54AM on 9-26-2007
Hey Mad and Don how far away were you from those dogs when you tried to get it to work because I want to buy something to shut my neighbor's dogs the hell up!!! Arsenic-laced scooby snacs sound like a good idea
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Laura said 7:57AM on 9-26-2007
Having done rescue for 10+ years and over 700+ dogs through my hands, this is not an inhumane treatment. Sounds such as these have been attempted to be used for many many many years by those in the dog training field. Having been retired from showing and rescue now for years and moving to a neighborhood from a very rural area, I find myself smack in the backyard of a barking dog.
These people have no fence, and we have a leash law. So, to let their dog go out to potty etc, they take it out and put in on a dog runner. Well, this dog will begin barking after it does it's business and does not stop. My husband works at night and they will leave this dog out there for hours on end. Barking non-stop. I did try a device like this, that I had from my show/rescue days... does not work. This is not about stopping a dog from barking because you are breaking in a house... a good piece of steak and treats can do that if someone wants in your home. This is about dogs that just sit in a yard barking non-stop. It's about people who care little for the effect of that on their neighbors and selfishly think of only theirselves.
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George H said 8:09AM on 9-26-2007
It is appalling to me that people will allow dogs to bark. The noise is a gross infringement of privacy, and unnecessary, as are the dog owners.
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