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.
Remember when we told you that the government of Pennsylvania was telling any eBayers in the state who sold goods for others to get a license? Yeah, well, apparently they weren't kidding. A woman there opened a consignment shop on the online auction house so that she could stay home and treat her daughter with cancer. Now she faces a $10-million fine for doing so without an auctioneer's license.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Charles Clark said 2:57PM on 1-31-2008
We agree with the State of Pennsylvania, want the maximum fine with 10 years imprisonment imposed to make an example of this woman. We also believe all sellers on Ebay should be required to get a license and post at least a 25,000 cash bond before being allowed to sell anything on Ebay. Ebay has for many years now been a haven for criminals and all sorts of unethical sellers selling everything from stolen property to counterfeit goods (98.2% of all Ebay transactions the past 5 years have been in these 2 categories). Hats off to Pennaylvania for taking action to resolve these problems
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teacherdude said 8:56AM on 7-09-2008
Stupid comments. I buy and sell on Ebay and I am not cheating anyone. Sounds like an idiot to me.
indyf16 said 3:07PM on 1-31-2008
charles, babe, you sound like a disgruntled Auctioneer.
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mattw81 said 3:09PM on 1-31-2008
Charles Clark is an idiot
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msud434 said 3:11PM on 1-31-2008
Where do you get your statistics from CHARLES CLARK? I would like to see where it is stated that 98.2% of items are either stolen or fake. Also it sounds like you are an auctioneer yourself, and I am certain that you never take advantage of other people for the items that you sell. You would never undervalue an item so that you can purchase it and then resell it at an auction. I am so glad you are a great business person. Try not to lose to much sleep lying in bed worrying how others are making money to support there families.
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Isabella said 8:34PM on 2-01-2008
I understand that this is the law in Pennsylvania but I also think they should show a little compassion for this woman. She only did this because she wanted to be able to stay home with a sick child. She immediately closed shop as soon as she was notified. They should make allowances for things like that
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chris said 3:26PM on 1-31-2008
Every time a dollar changes hands, the government has to get a cut. How much tax revenue does each paper note generate during its life time?
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ApplePie said 3:32PM on 1-31-2008
Oh come on Charles - it's not like there aren't a large number of "disingenuous" LICENSED auctioneers around PA & the USA. Having a license does not confer honesty. The law is really a way to increase $$ to the state as well as a likely payoff to auctioneer group lobbyists who are upset that their exclusive club can be bested by 'anybody' making a living selling items on ebay. Also, how many auctioneers do you think are fed up with disgrunteled customers angry that they feel their item was undersold by the auctioneer citing ="It goes for $X on ebay!".
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Chris said 2:40PM on 2-01-2008
I learned you NEVER open any of your emails from ebay under your regular email. Most of it sent to you is spam! When you open it, it will ask you to sign in and password. That's how they can get your information! ONLY check your mail from ebay and ebay members at the website www.ebay.com then go to my ebay at the top, put in user id and password, then on your summary page click my messages. It's very important to click SIGN OUT when you are done. Feedback is very important to. I am careful of feedback less then 98% If someone has had a lot of 100%'s after 1 bad feedback with a 97% I may consider to purchase from them. Hopes this helps someone! Good Luck
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fritz slusser said 3:49PM on 1-31-2008
you are an idiot charles, that law is to generate money for pa. if people could spend 25 grand for this kind of thing they wouldn't have to take a jod working for ebay would they. what's the matter hon? lose your auctioners licence or something?
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edandroxann said 3:55PM on 1-31-2008
Do you need a license to have a garage sale? Basically the same as selling on ebay! What next?I may get fined for leaving this comment without a license!
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renee said 3:59PM on 1-31-2008
Charles must work for the state of PA. It's the same thing as a yard sale, just online. I agree that the government just wants a cut.
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Natalie said 4:13PM on 1-31-2008
Charles, you my dear friend, are an idiot.
How can anyone say that she should spend 10 years in prison for trying to stay home to care for her daughter who has cancer?
Ebay is ebay. Like it or not.
And I would like to mention - that I buy and sell many things on there that are NOT stolen or counterfeit. Just things that I don't need/use anymore that someone else might want. What's wrong with that?
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Stewart said 4:08PM on 1-31-2008
I think Charles made some interesting points but lost me with the absurd statistics. Advice to Charles, people are less inclined to take you seriously when you distort facts. I have no idea what the real percentages are but common sense tells me the stats you present are wildly inaccurate. I do however think that licensing may bring down the number of out and out frauds as at least it is another way to verify the identity of the seller.
Stewart
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tsk-tsk said 4:16PM on 1-31-2008
Charles seems to have a total lack of compassion and kindness for his fellow man. The article says she was working at home in order to care for a daughter who was diagnosed with cancer. Charles believes it would really be beneficial to make an example of a woman who probably already has enough problems with an ill child? At least she was working at a business to support her family instead of begging for donations on a blog.
May someone make an example of you when you're in the worst time of your life, Charles!
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JENNGGA said 5:15PM on 1-31-2008
Poor Lady. I wish she had lived in another state - honestly.
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tim said 5:03PM on 1-31-2008
I think they should waterboard her for violating the rules. Torture and Cruxifiction should occur also. Seriously, Pennaylvania needs a life.
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Rebecca said 5:08PM on 1-31-2008
I must add that this PA law requiring auctioneer licenses for ebay sellers is not for the average Joe that is selling Grandma's old china, it is for EBay Stores where you drop off your stuff and they post it and take a commission. I do however think this was started because unscrupulous licensed auctioneers were unhappy that they were no longer making a killing on selling old estates since people could now depend on these stores to sell the stuff for them.
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Frank said 5:29PM on 1-31-2008
Wow. 98.2 percent of the items being sold on Ebay are counterfeit or stolen. And here I was thinking they were just crap.
I suspect Charles was kidding.
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Tim said 5:36PM on 1-31-2008
Charles, you suck.
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