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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
nonny2t said 6:31AM on 3-21-2008
How lovely, dozens of thieves lined up in a row. It is nice to know that we still have wonderful people who are honest in this world and look, they even brought their kids along to show them how to steal!!!!!
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Veedub3 said 6:40AM on 3-21-2008
You obviously did not do your homework when reporting o this issue. Sure they received more money than what they requested but it is so easy for the bank to see who debited the money and they will definetley make the adjustments. It is not that the machine ran out of money, the bank shut the machine down once they noticed a trend out of the ordinary. They will get there money back and it will not cost the bank anything extra than what they are all ready paying a department who oversees this type of issue.
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Scott said 7:16AM on 3-21-2008
I would have definatly took the extra money and ran! Hell you might even get enough to buy a gallon of gas if your lucky lol!
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Mary said 2:01PM on 3-21-2008
Wow how nice! Look parents are teaching their children to do the right thing..RIGHT?? See honey this is how you do it. When you see machines are giving double you just stick that little card in get the cash, then do it a few more times. That's a good boy! you learn so fast. Mommy and daddy are proud of you. Bless your little heart. Love you soooooo much..
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hayden8506 said 7:45AM on 3-21-2008
would have been in that line waiting just tlike the rest of them
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Ricky P said 7:50AM on 3-21-2008
Crooks Robbing the Crooks! LMAO
I'd have to report that but if it was permittting me to withdraw more than my $400 limit would be quite another thing as there shouldn't be such limits, it's my money! Funny are the idiots I see on TV's 'Caught on Tape' Backing their vehicles up to ATM's attempting to rip them out of the wall and instead their rear ends yanking off their pick Up Trucks or the ones stupid enough to leave their Liscense Plates on as their cuaght on tape! Dummies!
Same thing here as these people are caught on camera stealing the money and robbig a bank is a feloney offense in any form! FDIC means your in trouble Baby!
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bj del said 7:53AM on 3-21-2008
corporate.entities.are.stealing.from.the.public.
why.not.return.the.favor!!..We.need.about.
60billion.more.and.we.may.be.1/4.the.way.their!!
good.4.U!!!
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vickitot said 8:01AM on 3-21-2008
REMEMBER THE OLD ADDAGE. YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT ! ! !
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Connie said 8:03AM on 3-21-2008
Notice that all the adults have turned their faces away from the person taking this picture. At least they have the decency to hide their thieving faces.
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tom said 4:15PM on 3-21-2008
What else would you have expected from them? Their Brits for God sake.
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Candy said 8:39AM on 3-21-2008
What goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow. You steal, someone will steal from you. Or, your child who watches you steal may be part of a theft ring some day. There are consequences to actions. Now, if the folks took the money and went to the bank with the overage - which is what I would have done had I accidentally received extra money, then that is a different story so we cannot view this on the surface. However, the bank will know that 10 or 20 people withdrew 300 pounds each and received 600; they will get their money out of the accounts. This same thing has happened before and that is what has happened, the banks just withdraw the money from the individual's account. As for the rest of you dishonest people, shame on you! You deserve the same thing to happen to you.
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melissa said 8:43AM on 3-21-2008
so lets see not only does the ATM keep a record of all the transactions, but now there are pictures of the theives as most ATMs have a security camera built in.
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Fred said 8:47AM on 3-21-2008
And the Brits think ill of us fellow americans?
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Veronica said 8:53AM on 3-21-2008
ROFLMAO=Kudo's to all who got a good laugh at this. Who's the theives, really? Banks used to charge you just to have an account(or more without an account) to cash a check. Fees for everything. The policy used to be that if the bank makes a mistake in our favor it's the bank that loses. Some of you sound jealous that it didn't happen to/for you. This life is only once around--enjoy what you can, while you can! Hehehehehe. No different than a slot machine, maybe it was headed to vegas and was dropped at the wrong location.Hahahahaha...Latest in video gaming...Hohohohoho, what a hoot! Lighten up people...Oh, and FDIC too!!!!
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Joe said 8:53AM on 3-21-2008
In America these people would be called liberals, you know, the people who voted for John Kerry.
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Bill said 8:57AM on 3-21-2008
It's all George Bush's fault....
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dinoandduke said 6:20PM on 3-22-2008
A few years ago in England at a Pay and Pump Gas Station on one pump however much you paid for it dispensed double. That lasted for three weeks before it was discovered. Those were the days.
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Gina said 9:05AM on 3-21-2008
That's stupid. It sounds great and fantastic for about 1 second and then you have to realize that there are codes on each transaction not to mention cameras. They will figure out who took money from the machine and see the extra money missing and want it back. That's not FREE MONEY! What a bunch of morons. And yes, the parents with the child are idiots. If my bank's ATM malfunctioned and was giving out extra money I would contact the bank and or the cops so that the bank where I keep my money at doesn't have grave problems... not to mention that's stealing to keep the extra bills.
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GOLDFINGER said 9:06AM on 3-21-2008
ALRIGHT,ALRIGHT...STOP PUSHING,OUCH TOUR STEPPING ON MY FEET,...LOL
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gard said 9:23AM on 3-21-2008
IS THAT OBAMA IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE WITH THE HOOD ON?
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