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)
bobmalcomb said 6:32PM on 3-03-2008
I have online dated for 10 years. My experience was 99% great. Without the internet I might get one date every 5 years. I work in a engineering (male) environment. As it is I probably get a date a month from the Internet. As long as you don't give personal info and meet in a public place, it's no problem. The biggest problem is other people's reactions "OH MY GOD !!!"
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Joyce said 3:45AM on 3-04-2008
I certainly agree with Derek and Janet. Actually, I'm in tears reading all of your comments because they all ring truth in one form or another. It's been a while since I've laughed this much. LOLOLOLOLOL
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Make more Bond films said 8:44AM on 8-07-2008
Online dating is in many ways, like in person dating.
There are a few good matches and many who don't fit.
think it is a valid way to search through the dregs, without wasting too much time actually going out week after week to find that right one.
Yes I understand that at some point you still need to go out with the person anyway, but after weeding out most of those you'd never get along with.
As far as dating sites scamming people;
One method, is to tell you you have someone who is interested in you and that person actually IS on the site, but after you sign up and pay your money, you find out that person was never interested in you and the dating site just SAID they were.
And Eharmony, forget it, after wasting my time filling out their long form they said "we have no matches for you".
But they still send me their spam.
Again after a couple of years I checked their site again and they STILL say they have nothing for me, so why the hell are they still spamming my email?
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trudawoods said 2:59PM on 10-10-2007
SAFE? LIKE TED BUNDY WAS SAFE TO GET A RIDE FROM WHILE HITCHING A RIDE?
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Bob said 3:01PM on 10-10-2007
ON-LINE DATING...I was on a popular on-line DATING SERVICE for almost 4 yrs. Actually married a woman I met there; no, it didn't work out. I think it's a good idea to date for at least ONE full year before marriage. I believe that a pretty HIGH PERCENTAGE of MEN on those dating sites are really MARRIED (and I'm a man saying this)...and a LOT of men are NOT on there looking for MARRIAGE...they're searching for other things.....you know? Woman can't be too careful. Yes, there is a LOT of dishonesty on those DATING sites...people present who they WANT to be, rather than who they REALLY ARE!
I have horror stories I could tell you about my on-line experiences...the BEST ADVISE I can give is ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS and DO NOT believe ALL THE ANSWERS. Before you get VERY SERIOUS, spend a little money and have THAT PERSON's background checked out!!!
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medic4u2 said 3:01PM on 10-10-2007
wHILE ITS TRUE THAT THIS HAPPENS A lot< THERE R A FEW fREE SITES, THAT R ON THE UP AND UP. PLENTYOFFISH.COM IS ONE OF THESE SITES AND THERE CAN B QUALITY PEOPLE THERE, U JUST HAVE TO LOOK HARD FOR EM LIKE EVERWHERE ELSE.i WOULD NEVER PAYFOR A CHANCE TO MEET SOMEONE, THATS JUST CRAZY!
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valerie said 3:01PM on 10-10-2007
this is a very helpful article.i've never tried internet dating,but being curious, i have browsed through a couple of websites and it looks really interesting. but my main concern is; would it be safe?...and i've read hundred of articles on internet safety, watched it on the news, but this article is the clearest...very helpful on the do's and don'ts
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valerie said 3:02PM on 10-10-2007
ps-it's not like you can't meet someone crazy at school, work, at the grocery store-crazy people reside everywhere.
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Bob said 4:13PM on 10-10-2007
Good point, Valerie! I have a P.S.
I believe it's wise for women in the beginning to NOT give out ANY personal information; i.e.
name, phone, cell, address. If you feel you want to talk...make sure you have caller ID block, so he can't see your phone number. ALSO, be very "careful" what "information" you put on your website...a lot of SCAMMERs read those things. You can always give a guy more personal information as you get to know him...but these dating sites are VERY PUBLIC! I have a female friend who used a "nearby city" as her CITY on her website as an extra measure of safety...it's a little dishonest, but smart. And the earlier writer who mentioned Ted Bundy...yeah, getting into a CAR with a strange man is a MAJOR MISTAKE...always meet in a very public place, keep your cell phone so HE knows you have it.
I had one date who's roommate insisted I give her a photocopy of my driver's license, make and color of my car & the tag number...if a guy has a problem giving out that information, don't think about going out with him.
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DarkMistress said 3:58PM on 10-10-2007
Hubby and I met on a chat site, not a dating site but we made sure not to recommend this form of "dating" to our friends. He and I chatted for two years before meeting face to face and we are now on our 5th year of marriage. Most seem to think they can cultivate a relationship over the net in a few weeks to a couple months-sorry folks, it just doesn't work that way.
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Eric said 4:25PM on 10-10-2007
I tried Love at AOL and Catholic Match in the past. My experience with online dating has not been a good one, to say the least.
Take my experience with Catholic Match. I was looking for someone to date in the St. Louis area, with the ultimate goal of getting to know her well enough to marry her. Well, I was in for a shock when I found far too few single women to choose from to make a fair assessment. I was very honest with myself; no matter how honest you are, not many women will buy it. I signed up for one year, but pulled the plug after only three months. I have checked other online dating sites, and found that the quality of single women in my area (I live in the St. Louis metro area) are disappointing, to say the least.
I would avoid online dating at all costs. It's best to leave the matchmaking to a higher authority (ie: God).
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Jack said 5:00PM on 10-10-2007
Most so called looking for a date or Men 4 men and their afre lots of sites om the inter-net you see the same person over and over on as meany as 5 sites that's a laugh in it's self The tip off 50 year old looking for 21 to 50 never looking for his own age and yes you see the same persom time and time again. WHY ?
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Linda said 5:20PM on 10-10-2007
Peronally that huge dating site E-Harmony is a rip off, so be real careful everyone! They take your money and do not give you any matches or just a few. For what you pay them, you could by new clothes, get your face and hair done and meet someone in a nice restuarant or grocery store! lol
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Blu said 5:57PM on 10-10-2007
I met the man of my dreams on Plentyoffish after two years of horrible disasters on pay sites like Match.com and eHarmony. My advice to anyone is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. I always met in a public place and even went so far as to ask the guy to fax me his driver's license (and I would do the same if asked) to make sure that he (hopefully) was the real deal. After meeting transgenders, nut cases and married men playing like single men, I was ready to give up. I found that POF did a fairly good job of screening their members and didn't just brush off reports of "fakes." I'm extremely happy, have been with my guy for over a year and plan on spending the rest of our lives together...marriage, that's another website...lol.
Good luck to all you looking for love!
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Persia said 2:42PM on 10-11-2007
To me those dating website are a bunch of crap to me.I am on one now and I don't be bother with those,I check them and keep on erasing.They are a website that men tell lies a lot but I don't send nothing but only a smile and that is it.Read the next profile and know emails just only flirts because if you want to email you have to pay for it and I am not.Know info.of me nor picture of me at all.I met this man from a chat line and me and him have been talking for a while.We met for 3 times and still talks.He is a very nice man and a hard working man.I unsubscribe from those date website.I was playing too because I check profiles out as well and it sure does not look good to me.It looks like something does not sound right.People wake up be very careful because there are sexual predators out there trying to put there profile on there to make it sounds like they are interested in you and is not just to get to your child.So we need to wake up women,wise up.
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Mike Cassidy said 5:54PM on 10-10-2007
Well I had to join Match.com to write to this certain lady and it turns out she ended up the woman of my dreams and we are now married. So take the chance and join the other site in order to write. It could be worth the gamble.
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Mary said 6:10PM on 10-10-2007
I met someone on the internet. I got so excited, he sounded wonderful, too good to be true. I saw some photos of him, and we talked on the phone a lot. Then I saw him on a video conference and.......auch!!!! He is horrible, photos can do you a favor but the reality is not good.... DON'T BELIEVE IN PICTURES!!!!! REALLY..
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Bob said 6:53PM on 10-10-2007
I agree with Linda about e-Harmony...HUGE ripoff and I'm sick of their SPAM. I joined and did a coast to coast search...they gave me 5 whole matches...for the ENTIRE COUNTRY! At least on Match.com you have thousands of people to check out. But it's just my opinion, I believe some of these GIANT dating companies are selling our e-mail address and a lot more...they're getting OUR $30 per mo., advertising money and then what they could be earning off of information they "could" be selling.
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Janet said 9:54PM on 10-10-2007
Yes. That horrible eHarmony. They will forward ANY man to ANY woman just because he is a male and they do the same to men. I am tall and in my 40s. I am not interested in men six inches shorter than myself and 15-20 years older. No interest in spending time with someone who is well versed in Medicare, AARP, Buicks, angina, high blood pressure, diabetes, and who takes two or more naps per day. Yes, this is what they sent me, a few times. Yes, you can meet weird people anywhere. Internet dating sites are just a slice of the American population. I have been fixed up with people and there turned out to be no chemistry whatsoever. So, no one should be criticizing online dating services. Those companies are not responsible for the content of their members.
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Derek said 8:22PM on 10-10-2007
It's no suprise to me that people can't get a decent date these days. Aside from looks, a nominal I.Q. is totally important. For example, by reading these AOL posts on a regular basis, it appears that most people barely have higher than a 5th grade education! Most can't spell, form a sentence or at the very least, start their sentence with a capital letter. What a total turn off!
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