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)
Dar M said 10:31AM on 3-09-2008
Oh come on people WE all have played hooky from our jobs at one time or another. The smiple thing is to not get caught!
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Brad said 9:06AM on 1-07-2009
This is typical of my generation. Expect a high five figure salary in an entry level position, 2 months paid vacation, you can disrespect whomever you wish, skip work to go dress like a fairy and drink shitty beer. Gen-Y'ers are the biggest pain in the ass for employers because we're the "Look at me! I'm so special I deserve a high salary just because I'm so awesome." I can't imagine what my nephews' generation will be like. What irks me the most is this fruitcake got an internship in banking and I'm headed back to get my MBA because I couldn't find a job in finance, period. It's the stigma of Generation Y, perpetuated by total douchebags like this guy.
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Jef said 11:48AM on 11-13-2007
most of us make up stories to get out of work this is no different,his punishment for getting caught would be to show up and work for a day in the outfit. I'm sure if he had no problem putting it all over the internet then should be none at work. hahaha good luck
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Victoria said 12:18PM on 11-13-2007
How embarrassing. I hope he got fired.
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Keith J. Mohrhoff said 12:28PM on 11-13-2007
How do they know the 'party' took place at the same time as the 'family emergency'?? It's not like it was real-time, live action video, right? Just because something got posted today doesn't mean it happened recently. Obviously, this person gets a certain amount of personal/sick days per year. What they do with them should be her--er, I mean, his--business.
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steffie said 1:44PM on 11-13-2007
Hey, everyone of you told a fib to get out of work.
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Ben said 1:55PM on 11-13-2007
LOL! What a douche!
Someone at switch really needs to follow up on this and tell us the aftermath!
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al said 2:06PM on 11-13-2007
It's not so much that he lied to get out of work - we've all done it. But that he's so stupid for posting pictures online....I wouldn't want someone that stupid working for me.
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BILL said 2:16PM on 11-13-2007
DOOOPP!!!
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looksbooks54 said 2:16PM on 11-13-2007
Just what kind of party was this?
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aerospacemajor said 2:16PM on 11-13-2007
Steffie is wrong: SOME of us have NEVER "fibbed" (that is, "LIED") to get out of work. It's called being honest.
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randyjet said 2:17PM on 11-13-2007
Rudy Guilani will hire him in a NEW YORK minute! A boy after his own heart.
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jeff said 2:18PM on 11-13-2007
Sucks to be him....lmao. Should still keep job, most people have told a story to "lay out". LOL what a sissy.
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LEONA CARUSO said 2:29PM on 11-13-2007
I THINK THE ONE WHO SPILLED THE BEANS SHOULD BE DOCKED. REMEMBER IN SCHOOL WHEN SOMEONE WAS A TATLETALE? MOST PEOPLE HAVE TOLD LITTLE WHITE LIES AT SOMETIME IN THEIR LIFE.
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carole del monte said 2:31PM on 11-13-2007
He shouldn't have been fired. As has been said already, most people lie to get out of a day's work at one time or other. I love it. We see every day that people literally get away with murder (OJ?), this guy may or may not (is the date of the picture included?)be lying, & he gets fired. Was the company looking for an excuse to fire him?
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Tom said 2:31PM on 11-13-2007
The picture shoulb be circulated at work, and he should have to bear the shame. That would be punishment enough.
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phil said 2:33PM on 11-13-2007
The focus of this story SHOULD BE that the boss violated this kid's privacy by improperly BCC'ng the rest of the company on his confidential email.
And why is it even being reported on at all? This really seems like a confidential employee issue between him and his boss. It's kinda funny, but doesn't this guy not have a right to privacy in the workplace? I smell lawsuit.
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Ron said 7:08AM on 11-14-2007
So how many of us have told a lie and didn't show up for work because of a hangover,party,early vacation, or a free day alone and never got busted. Give me a break.
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VagabondNYC said 9:55PM on 11-13-2007
Kevin, you ROCK Dude!
Most of us would have done
the same friggin' thing.
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Mousie said 2:51PM on 11-13-2007
While I find this absolutely hilarious and have a gut feeling of "serves the moron right," I still have to agree with what someone else already has said... By BCC'ing even one other person in the company who would not be on a need-to-know basis, this man's boss is setting up for a world of hurt and lawsuits. Things like this, while heartily amusing to everyone, need to be dealt with between superiors and subordinates without dragging others into the situation. I do feel this man should be severely reprimanded for lying to the company... however, aside from that, anything that actually happened that day is not the company's business with the exception of knowing it was not the reason given for not being at work. Employees other than the man's boss and possibly the people in Human Resources DEFINITELY should never have been involved.
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