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.
Last week we brought sad news of a man in Oregon whose house and barn had been ransacked by eager bargain hunters responding to a bogus Craigslist ad. It indicated that the owner, Robert Salisbury, had to leave town unexpectedly, and so everything he owned was up for grabs. The ad was completely fake, and yet the man tragically lost much of his belongings since hoardes of folks took the ad seriously. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Victoria said 6:50PM on 4-03-2008
I guess this man will now consider getting an alarm both for his home and barn. What goes around comes around, so I hope all those who stole from him end up getting theirs one way or the other. I hope the friends they bragged to snitch on them to the police. I hope finger prints are lifted and are able to be used. I hope these thieves are prosecuted. What they did was wrong and only a total idiot would have believe that ad.
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Bobby said 1:20PM on 4-04-2008
Now this is part of the true basis of what's wrong in America. Two perfectly healthy (married) people in crime expending energy to steal rather than exerting the same amount of energy to work for their needs. Probably an innocent hard working individual having his life ransacked by these two & I guarantee you they won't have to pay restitution. Please elect me president for a four yr term. I'll straighten out so much shit that's wrong in this country overnight. These assholes need to be sentenced to 1000 community service hours putting this man's life back together...
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babycakes said 8:18PM on 4-06-2008
Bobby - I'd vote for you - you make more sense than all of them out together!!!
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Darin said 8:21PM on 4-06-2008
Cl is danerous and unsafe and most ads are cops or people wanting porn pictures.. Its on the news for Hookers and things like this all the time...Never click on a link that google cant find
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TJ said 8:24PM on 4-06-2008
Bobby! You've got my vote!
Victoria, You're what's wrong with this country. Alarm everything because the liberal courts won't jail, just counsel everyone. We might hurt their poor feelings if we put them in jail.
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marshall said 8:24PM on 4-06-2008
What a really stupid jerks..Faking a robbery and using CraigList.com. I can't believe some people in this world. If you need money try to ask a family member or a local bank if you have good credit...
Next time probably see white and black stripes for your clothes instead of regular clothes...
Get the picture...dumbos~~!!
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doc said 8:39PM on 4-06-2008
geez bobby, no one will vote for you.
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coffy said 8:52PM on 4-06-2008
Bobby for President... I've bought and sold items on Craigs list but you've got to becareful.. never go to someone's house alone or some where you dont feel safe, also if you're selling an item, don't let people in your home... meet them in a public place that is safe (coffee house or something... If the item is large.. arrange someone to be with you and try to have it in your patio or garage... Not inside your home... Sadly, until Bobby is president... we've all got to be extra careful and not trust anyone...
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Joanne said 8:50PM on 4-06-2008
craig's list is a great website but you have to be very careful and educated when you use it. There are some very nice people who use this site,some really strange folk and some unscrupulous people. We have had contact with all of them. Just remember if the deal seems too good to be true -- it probably is....
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jim said 9:03PM on 4-06-2008
I hereby declare my vote for Bobby....
BOBBY FOR PRESIDENT '08
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jim said 9:16PM on 4-06-2008
Bobby, you are the man to vote for. I'd like to submit my request to be Commissioner of the IRS...I'd love to have the opportunity to make ALL IRS officers/agents/employees enforce the Internal Revenue Code as it was written...it is a WHOLE lot different than the way it is done.
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Gary said 9:20PM on 4-06-2008
It's Bush's fault!
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Debra said 9:23PM on 4-06-2008
I vote for Bobby
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Fran said 9:32PM on 4-06-2008
Unless the Horse Community is incredibly large there, which I doubt, this poor guy will have little trouble spotting his Tack.
Moreover, Horse People in general wouldn't stand for this kind of thing and would return the Tack fast. He probably has the Saddles back already, given these two sad cases were stupid enough to post their ad using their own PC. Apparently, they never heard of the "Back Door" policy put into place in the late 90's. As for all the other belongings, there's no need to wish those people who keep them ill. Look back on your own lives, hey? Tell me that anything good ever came from ill gotten goods....never,hey? It will catch up to them.
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Fran said 9:36PM on 4-06-2008
Oh, Yes! Me too!
Bobby for President!
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Kathy said 9:37PM on 4-06-2008
This couple don't deserve the day of light for a very long time. What they did in fraudulently posting the advertisement on Craigslist, is cold, calculating and ruthless. Cover up indeed, guaranteed, they had family or friends doing the looting, then posted the ad to further cover up what they've done, to take the light off them. Restitution for the lost and sentimental values of material things, life possessions that you work so hard for, can't be repaid, are priceless, but the owner deserves compensation. From both these perps, guarnisheer their pay, whether job, or public assistencs, SSI or SSD. Should they own cars or homes, etc, this should be confiscated from them and given to the victim of their vicious hoax. See how they like if their most memorable possessions, tvs, stereo system, DVD, etc., being taken from them?
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gary said 9:55PM on 4-06-2008
Budhists believe that how you live your life will come back to you ten fold, good or bad. Can't wait to see people who deserve this happen to them . I have witnessed one case already. And yes i think Bobby for president would be a better choice than what we have now, and i don'teven know Bobby. But i like your ideas.
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WILLIAM VAN ALST said 10:08PM on 4-06-2008
WE ALL SEE THIS AND PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE FIRST TIME. THEY DO IT AGAIN AND ARE OUT OF JAIL BEFOR THE PAPER WORK IS DONE. I SOMETIMES READ THE COURT NEWS IN THE NEWS PAPER AND A PERSON MIGHT HAVE 6-10 CHARGES AGAINST THEM AND IT TELLS WHAT THEY RECEIVE FOR EACH COUNT. 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES. SO MANY DAYS IN JAIL. SUSPENDED. ON AND ON. SO MANY DAYS SUSPENDED. OVER AND OVER.
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Melissa in TN said 10:22PM on 4-06-2008
TJ -
What you said made absolutely no sense. You condemned Victoria for simply making a statement (she said she GUESSES that this man will now get an alarm system). You sit there and say that the so-called "liberal courts" won't jail anyone because they're afraid to hurt feelings, but yet, you're backing up Bobby who thinks that these idiots should only get community service. Perhaps you should re-read Victoria's comment...she's the one who wants them to be prosecuted, and from her tone, I'd say she hopes they deserve jail time.
Sounds like you don't even have a clue where you stand on a simple issue like this. I sincerely hope you're not voting in this election, because if you can't even support your own feelings on a simple internet story, I'd hate to see how jumbled and backwards your political thoughts are.
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Lexiregina_lovely said 10:36PM on 4-06-2008
I just can't belive the internet could be used for crimes like that, and Craigslist is waaayyy overrated.
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