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 1 of 1)
Roxy said 12:58PM on 4-17-2008
What would happen if we all started sending each other a bill for wasting our time. For example, all the time we spend waiting at Dr. visits, waiting for tax refunds (after all, this is owed to us because we OVERPAID), repairs to our autos because roads were not repaired on time, waiting for repairmen, deliverymen, even paperwork?
Doesn't our time count for something? Why should we be nice all the time, if politicians and tax collectors can get away with anything they want? Sure, it's not fair to make a profit on something you made, that didn't have anything to do with Uncle Sam, politics, etc. If I buy the ingredients, taxed, and I put my own time in making the product, free, then how can the government justify taxing the end product? I already paid the taxes on the stuff when I bought each individual ingredient. Should I have to pay taxes on my taxes??
I think we're way out of control. The Gasoline/Oil barons have gouged us for free, while they collect record sales, money I don't think belongs to them, and the government does nothing!!!
We already pay for free food, lodging, medical, trips, etc. for each politician. They don't spend a dime, plus we give them a salary on top of that. Why do they need more???
I need more! What about me?! Nobody pays me extra for wasted time. Maybe we need to seriously start thinking of sending out Bills to all the time-wasters!! (I bet that would shut them up - or worse, they'd probably whine!!)
Roxy in New York
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whyit said 5:53PM on 4-17-2008
Hmmm? Our Presidents father is one of the biggest oil Tycoons in the world, and oil companies are raking in a record number of profits. Sounds fishy to me! Probably the same reason that pharmaceuticals are so expensive, seeing how the Vice Prez has major stakes in the drug industry. We are taxed and double taxed on every cent that we receive, by the people who don't follow the same rules. The IRS isn't even a legally governing body, what gives those bullies the right to take our lunch money every week, when we already pay them a tax on everything we buy? Maybe ending a senseless Trillion dollar war would save States some money rather than taxing downloads. This is ridiculous, our tax money pays for everything the politicians lavish lifestyles consist of yet they still continue to want more. When will enough be enough? When every American is homeless?
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Army said 8:38PM on 4-17-2008
All I ever here from the Sheep in this Country is talk................ blah,blah
DO SOMETHING ABOUT UNFAIR TAXES !!
Remember the Alamo
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