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 1)
Tristen O. said 6:00AM on 4-06-2009
It would really be easier for the responsible individuals to monitor what's going on the respective event through the help of a security camera. Criminals will of course perform their unrighteous act in a place where they will not be seen by others. During a recession, people wonder what they might do for a little extra cash. Some do the normal thing and get jobs, while other less motivated individuals decide that they'll go on a spree of robberies. There has been a spree of robberies occurring at payday loans stores. A recent robbery was captured on security cameras in Virginia, where the robber brandished a knife and held up the store – and it's all caught on camera. The perpetrators of these crimes across the country better hope they got enough from their robberies to afford a really good lawyer.
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Bernard said 8:56AM on 10-23-2007
Remarkably, the nation who brought us Magna Carta and the process of the Common Law has also been profoundly expedient in allowing their goverment to step on the civil rights and liberties of their peoples. Whether the Metropolitan Police Powers Act {preempting public speach, etc.}, the Official Secrets Act {precluding the publishing of a profound amount of information - such as which would never allow for a Watergate}, the Prevention of Terrorism Act {suspending Habeous Corpus}, etc., have all been in place for decades. We before the Bush administration {Cheney} began to preempt entrenched civil rights and liberties guaranteed by the US constiution/Bill of Right, England's governments {Labour and/or Conservative} have steadily made post WW2 concepts of civil rights and liberties things to be eaten away at in the name of state security. Let this latest sojourn into private conversations cause all patriots to sit up and take notice. Dating back to the late 1960's in England then Sir Leslie Scarman and later Lord Justice Scarm sought to establish an entrenched Bill of Rights in England, and this came to no avail. Steadily rights and liberties are being erroded. In England, where freedom of speach is not guranteed, nor is the right to petition the government, to keep and bear arms, to due process, etc., etc., it serves as a reminder that it can - and does, happen in a mature democracy. Do not take your liberties for granted!
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Dan said 9:41AM on 10-23-2007
You better watch it Bernard! We know where you live!
Your favorite Uncle...
Sammy
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nick danger said 12:49PM on 12-12-2007
it's amazing that i have to put my e-mail address down and have a password just to make a comment
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