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 3 of 30)
Nola Johnson said 4:59PM on 3-05-2008
What an illegal way of treating prople who are on a trip to have fun and by a whim putting in the money and then getting screwed over but it figures as ost of the casinos are big rip offs anyway and you know they are there to wsin not to kose there crooked way of operating I was under the understanding that all machines are checked on a regular basis so if not what is the law about this and you know darn well they were being crooked. Most gamblers may be somewhat innocent but read up on the material provided and it will give you thw real poop. We knoe when we go to Las Vegas it is for the fun and not to win because they are very crooked people and greedy or how do they continue to build great extragigent casinos C'Mon Tjere day will come and I hope every one of them die begging to live and in such pain it cannot be controlled I would let the devils suffer at no cost. I will keep this man in my prayers that he wins his justice and I do not care about him being a lawyer as we have had lawyers who have helped us several times because of jerks as this casino operator I hope {the casino operator} burns in hell. This is a good lesson to ask first if this machine is in perfect order and maybr even ask for a signature saying as such. Do not be to quick to play the machines before questions asked I am going to take this article with me when and if I ever gamble again. Do not give them a leg to stand on!!!!!!
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undrgrndgirl said 6:52PM on 3-05-2008
yeah, good luck with that.
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Nola Johnson said 4:58PM on 3-05-2008
Another reponse to the person that says the machine never spits out the winnings as I have witnessed monies spitted out but only so much of the amuont and them it stops and a staff member is called to finish the pay-off and this happened in Laughlin Nevada at the Riverside Resort and the pay off was almost 40.000thousand dollars so PLEZZZZ to that guy also Get with it and watch before you speak We who wr playing all cheered!!!!
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Diane said 5:01PM on 3-05-2008
I have worked in las vegas casinos for 26 years. Even in las vegas, the smaller casinos do NOT like to pay out big jackpots. I hope that casino loses the case and has to pay double the jackpot. Why didn't it "malfunction" while he was feeding it the money?
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Jule said 5:07PM on 3-05-2008
Funny that it would be an ATTORNEY, as the one this happened to!!!!! hmmmmmmm?????? Do I smell conspiracy? I'll bet this same attorney found a rat in his free food that they gave him! another lawsuit comin' right up!!!!
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Chuck said 5:24PM on 3-05-2008
Alvin Paulson said he was vacationing with his family at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas Island and stopped in the Ocean Club Gaming Center the first night he was there.
That is where this is supposed to happen.
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bubbagene said 5:25PM on 3-05-2008
how are you gonna find 12 people to serve on a jury that aIN'T BEEN shafted by some bull like this? (you ain't)I could win this in court and only ask one question,How many malfunctions has this casino had in the last year that money was refunded to a player? BAAAAM! HOW ABOUT THE 5 MILL.
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cubby said 5:27PM on 3-05-2008
I used to repair slots at mohegan sun. I've never seen them pull a plug but i have seen a customer not win due to malfunction or plain stupidity. it happens all the time. people should not gamble it only makes the casino richer and they suck to their employees.
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Fredb said 5:34PM on 3-05-2008
Where did this happen? Virgin Islands? I guess he wasn't a virgin after getting screwed by the casino!
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millikinol75 said 10:21PM on 3-10-2008
Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas Island
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don said 5:40PM on 3-05-2008
If anyone has big jackpot take pictue of screen with cell phone camera or other camera just in case there is a problem.
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Cheryl said 5:38PM on 3-05-2008
Good for him... I would be sueing too, to see the proof that it was faulty or for the money. After all just because an employee pulls the plug and says that doesn't mean it was faulty...it could be that the place just didn't want to pay out that amount of money... Which would be fraud. I wished we could find out how this is resolved down the road...but I am sure that will never be published. I hope he get's his proof or money.
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T.K. said 5:35PM on 3-05-2008
I played at a casino that had a machine that WAS malfunctioning and the staff wouldn't unplug it. I guess if anyone won anything the casino could justify not paying them.
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sharon said 5:37PM on 3-05-2008
A machine will spit out what you have put in minus your bet and the jackpot if you hit. So while the machine will not spit out 5.5 mil in winnings it will spit out coins if it is an older machine. The ones here in Vegas will register your win and be hand paid but the amount you have left after your bet will remain in the machine for you to play off. So it is possible to have coins spit out if the machine hit the jackpot.
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klacorrie said 5:37PM on 3-05-2008
Call the gaming commission of that state.
those slots DON"T malfunction
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G.L. said 5:39PM on 3-05-2008
The casino worker is lucky they didn't shot.SERIOUSLY.
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Court said 5:54PM on 3-05-2008
I'd KILL that mutha*#@%er!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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corkie said 6:26PM on 3-05-2008
The HUGE money machines don't spit out quarters. I don't even think they accept quarters. Only larger denominations.
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billyjamm said 5:53PM on 3-05-2008
now a lawyer knows what its liked getting screwed.
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bulldozer said 6:16PM on 3-05-2008
This isn't unusual, I've heard of it happening a lot! The owners (read mob) &/or indians don't want to lose that kind of money, so they pull this crap...happens a lot!!!
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