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)
Kathy said 10:34PM on 2-11-2008
Telemarketers may not be able to legally call you on your cell phone but they can sure spam your cell with text messages! I three of them in one day!
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dalepropes said 3:06PM on 4-14-2008
I can tell usually in two or three words if i give a hoot about a callers id or intent..If not interested i say BUT..DUH..NOPE and hang up works every time...
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simplemanintx20 said 3:39PM on 10-21-2007
I used to be a telemarketer for a companie called Lifeline industries and I know first hand that having a cell phone doesnt stop the calls we used to get people on their cell phones at work and driving home in the car and all kinds of things and i can see why that would be illeagel but it was on an auto dialer like the ones mentioned in this article so i never knew whether the number i was calling was a home phone or a cell number i do think that something does need to be done because i know that lifeline was not the only company out there calling peoples cell phones
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Frieda said 2:12PM on 10-21-2007
I just make it a point to not answer every call that comes in on the house phone or the cell phone. No law that we have to answer the phone and also caller if works wonders in making a decision. I did take a call the other day as I was curious about it, calls were coming once an hour. I was told that they had been talking to my son and needed to talk to him again. I asked at what number and they told me the one that we were now talking on, in other words they did not have the number in front of them. I told them good luck and stop the lies as the kid has been Iraq since last July and I had no idea when he would be home and if there was a number to call him direct, I would dang well be using it. dead silence on the other end of the line. Also folks, just because you get an email does not make it true, that goes for anything.
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jjd5056192 said 3:26PM on 10-21-2007
A company in the Seattle area called Intellius has been saying they will comb "public" information for cell phone numbers and if they find them, they will make a cell phone directory. Don't EVER EVER EVER give your cell phone number to a bank, credit card company, or a government agency. Give your cell phone number ONLY to your friends. If you get rid of your land line and use ONLY cell phones, then I recommend getting a "message" number from the phone company. (Some companies call it "remote call forwarding.") The phone number rings somewhere in the bowels of the phone company, and callers can leave messages. THIS is the number you give banks and credit card companies. About $20 a month. Worth it to me. And so what if a telemarketer calls the number? No one answers it!
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leela said 1:39AM on 10-22-2007
I let my answering machine screen for me. Over half my calls are offers of a "better mortgage rate".
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Lee said 2:57PM on 10-21-2007
My family is on the Do Not Call list. The issue is, in my town, the police (yes, it is really them) keep constantly calling everyone's homes for donations. They will even make up a list of who donated every year, and how much! They don't do much else except hockey games, fund raisers, and other "fun" events. No one takes them seriously-they won't come down to check out a rowdy party at 1 am, attempt to catch who is lighting off fireworks in the park, and they always get there too late if someone does call. My point is, we citizens get more harassed by the cops by these phone calls for donations (they call like six times a day) instead of doing their real jobs. I'd think it would be businesses and telemarketers, but no. It's the cops, and they want money. It's really disturbing. If we had the money to donate, we'd freaking move out. Because a lot of people don't feel safe because of the lack of police around.
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Gary Fox said 3:03PM on 10-21-2007
The e-mail is actually partially true according to sites like Hoaxbusters and scopes. I have received a couple of such calls on my cell - so telemarketers may not be able to use auto-dialers - but some calls do get through. You can register your cell number on the do not call registry and be able to say to any errant telemarketer calling that you're registered and need to be taken off their list. It takes less than a minute to register your number - so I'd rather be safe that irritated. By the way, don't forget to renew your "don't call registry" for any number you've registered. The original list of land line numbers expires next year - so just be ready to re-up.
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Gary Fox said 3:10PM on 10-21-2007
By the way, as a comment to the police calling for donations - simply ask the caller how much (as in percentage) of the donation goes directly to the police foundation and how much goes to telecaller overhead. Insist on the percentage as the only way you'll even consider a donation. A legit campaign by the actual police will use near 100% for the cause. Most funds raised by telemarkets have a large percentage going directly to the telemarketing firm. Tell them you need written proof or you won't be able to donate. As a rule, I've never heard back from those I challenge. As for those who say nearly 100%? - that's when I ask again for the written statement. Never fails!
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jjd5056192 said 3:31PM on 10-21-2007
Legally, telemarketers CANNOT call cell phones. However, if you have ported your land line to a cell phone, the telesleezes have no way of knowing that. Therefore, in that situation, you need to register the number on the DO NOT CALL list.
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L said 3:37PM on 10-21-2007
This email IS fake! I went to the "do not call registry" site on my own to check out the status of my family's cell phone numbers. They were all still registered with the do not call registry for the next 4 years. The email stated that my cell phones were able to be contacted in the next month or so. WRONG. Don't ever click on a "provided" link in one of these emails. It's always bad news. Always go directly to the site yourself. I also get "scam" emails on a regular basis from banks and paypal that are just trying to get personal information out of me. BEWARE!!!
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allie said 4:17PM on 10-21-2007
This list only applies for telemarketers. IT DOES NOT APPLY FOR POLLING AGENCIES. They are providing conducting a public interest suvery and are not asking you to buy anything. If you do not wish to participate simply hang up say you would not like to participate. Please don't yell at the people from these places for your own ignorance of not knowing the details of this list.
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Judy Nichols said 4:24PM on 10-21-2007
I have been on several times I registered myself 4 times in 4 years, my sister and brother reg. me each as well, doesn't do any good, how do you prove they even call do do anything about it anyway? Yes I have trouble with the Sheriff as well. I tell them, where were you when my daughter and son-in-law trying to murder my grandson, they had no leg to stand on, we live in the same area, so they couldn't pass the buck, after 13 years I got custody of him, cps was no help either. All charties are exempt that includes the cops as well, if you have a solution I'm with aol, let me know.
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cheryl said 4:53PM on 10-21-2007
well, i know the numbers do get passed to bil collecters and telemarketing coz they call my cell all the time!!!!
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Bah said 5:19PM on 10-21-2007
Ok this is ridiculous. I didn't put my name on a do not call list just so I have to do it again. Maybe that should send a message to telemarketers that WE DON'T WANT THEM CALLING US. Do they really think they will get business done calling all these people who were already on the previous do not call list? When they call me I'm going to threaten to kill them. That's the only business they will get outta me.
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Bea said 5:24PM on 10-21-2007
I've gotten 4 or 5 different calling numbers that said they were collecting for police agencies. They goofed when they said they were collecting for my county. My county doesn't allow raising money in this fashion.
I made it a job and collected the different numbers they called from, did some research, got addresses etc. and called my local police. An officer came and talked to me and told me this is one of his pet peeves and wanted to put a stop to it. I have given him a total of 6 numbers. Myself nor friends have gotten a call since.
That's not to say a new group wont' start. calling.
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Bah said 5:23PM on 10-21-2007
who the **** came up with the idea to let these "do not call lists" expire? Why the **** would they expire? Telemarketers are in for a rude awakening especially when they call me. I will threaten to trace them down and kill them and their kids if they have any. Maybe if we put fear into them like the media does to our country everyday, they might stop calling by will.
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jek said 5:47PM on 10-21-2007
Oh Thank You.
For being the only bloggers that actually have a brain and write intelligent comments! I am on the D N C list, and feel like it works for the most part.
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renviss said 8:16PM on 10-21-2007
I've recently received tele-marketing calls from Mexico that came through completely in Spanish on my cellphone. Since everything's in Spanish, I can't call the number to tell them to take me off the list since I can't speak or understand Spanish. I have no idea how a Mexican-based company could get my cellphone number. I've had the same phone number for 8 years. Evenso, I've registered both my home and cellphone numbers with the do not call registry.
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Amanda said 6:33PM on 10-21-2007
The law with telemarketers or researchers calling you, all you have to do is say "Take me off your list" or "Do not call me again" and they are not allowed by law to make a phone call to you again, or else they could be sued for up to $6000. When it comes to cell phones, once you say "This is my cell phone, don't call it again" they can't either, or they could be sued for up to $11,000. If you simply don't answer their phone call, they WILL call back, that's how the computer program is designed.
As Allie says, the Do Not Call List doesn't apply to people conducting research of any kind. If you don't want them to call you back, simply say so. If you hang up or say I'm not interested or simple don't answer the phone, they WILL call you back again. So just save yourself the headache and just tell them to not call you back again.
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