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.
New Zealand is a long, long distance away from Switched H.Q., but this story sure sounds like something that could have happened right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. In the city of Wellington, N.Z., a man received a text message offering him an early Christmas present that would be, erm, "presented" by two very friendly ladies. They gave him their address, told him to hurry up, and added that if he really wanted to save time, he should just show up naked.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
JEANETTE said 12:31PM on 12-13-2007
HAHAHA!! Id love to be a fly on the wall for this one. Imagine that, opening your door and there stands a naked stranger.
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John C. Gilbert said 12:56PM on 12-13-2007
Traditionally, most 'presents' even close to a nude gift are at least wrapped in plastic, at the local butcher shop, where the turkey, or ham gift came from! he could also be charged with delivery of an ubsanitary gift! chortle chortle
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clmtaker said 1:09PM on 12-13-2007
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the flightless bird native to New Zealand, the national bird.
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Rachael said 1:21PM on 12-13-2007
this guys elevator must not go all the up if he believed it was true in the first place
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Rachael said 1:23PM on 12-13-2007
Now thats what I call a peckerhead
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Bman said 1:31PM on 12-13-2007
At the bar the other day I saw a guy making out with two girls then a third came over and strated in on the session, the youth today seem to be very free with their sexuality-I dont blame the guy for thinking it could be true,but come on dude, get some moral fibers and think about the potential risk of aids,herpes,gonohrea,syphilus, and all the other things that the premiscuous people must be contracting by their involvement in so many sexual acts with so many different partners.
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DevilishVisage said 1:33PM on 12-13-2007
I had something like this happen to me once. I was supposed to meet two girls at my house before I was old enough to drive. My plan was to get there about fifteen minutes before they did so I could shower and stuff. Long story short, my ride was like an hour late so instead of getting there 15 minutes before they arrived, I got there 5 minutes after they LEFT! I'm scarred for life by this tragedy. As far as that crazy kiwi goes, well, better luck next time!
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Bman said 1:35PM on 12-13-2007
seems women today just want as many guys as possible with no thought to any consequence of disease. The many women, and young girls I here talking on their cell phones in public seem to have no moral fiber and just want to do it with anyone any time in any position with no thought to how they are being treated by their partners, I must say they are alot like the men at this point,seems ok without the threat of disease or emotional turmoil in their later years when they want to settle down with one person and have some sense of self respect on how they have lived their lives up to that point. Give yourselves respect or no man will.
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MM said 1:37PM on 12-13-2007
CLMARTINEZ -- not the Bare Facts, just the naked truth!!!
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Bman said 1:38PM on 12-13-2007
I love the ladies and I hope some day they will love themselves and have as much respect for themselves as I do for many of them. I married a strong woman and thats what attracted me to her, the women today seem they will tolerate just about anything a guy has to throw at them. Respect yourselves and make smarter choices, it will matter some day how you live your lives today.
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valerie said 1:54PM on 12-13-2007
How stupid is this? If they DIDN'T text him, he would probably still been sitting on the couch watching TV. Why do this shit? Do they not have enough problems to worry about? Are the police excrutiatingly bored?
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flameboards said 1:55PM on 12-13-2007
Common you guys make it sound like this is something new. Ive been showing up at peoples houses naked for years.
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DAN said 5:02PM on 12-13-2007
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT GOES ON IN THE BIBLE BELT
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Karin said 1:17AM on 12-14-2007
well i would just love to interview them on shocktalk internet radio. lol i think it would be a hit ;-)
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