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.
A few months back eBay made the controversial decision to remove the ability for sellers to leave negative feedback about buyers. The site said it got too many complaints and decided that the system wasn't worth the trouble. So, with that ability gone, when a seller of some collectible coins felt jilted by a less than positive review from a buyer, he did the purely logical thing, which was to sued said buyer for $10,000.
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hofmaster2001 said 3:16PM on 4-24-2008
I have all but quit using ebay, there are way too many crooks on ebay, they either sell junk, or sell things really cheap and rape you on shipping. I had one that sold me a laptop screen and knew it didn't work. I put it on my clients computer and all I got were streaks of horizontal light which meant that the backlight worked. I put the broken screen back in place and it worked except for the broken part. This guy guaranteed them and it was packed great. I had to threaten him to get my money back. ALSO, I sent it to 2 other techs and They got the same result..all I am saying is LOOK at the price and the shipping cost. Investigate the cost to ship it before you buy it if it says ask the seller... I have had many excellent experiences on ebay as well, I have many favorite sellers... all I am saying is BUYER BEWARE and be vigilant....
Reply
Paul said 9:26PM on 5-17-2008
Try TheZlot.com instead of EBAY. No listing fees and no baloney. Easy to use too. Just FYI...
bestdeals9 said 1:00AM on 5-18-2008
Be careful about your ebay comments. They will find you and suspend you. I was a Platinum Powerseller for many years, selling $40-$80k per month, had a few negatives in a 90 day period and was suspended. My overall feedback % was 98.2% with around 5,000 positives, and they suspended me without hesitation. Ebay is not loyal to you and never will be. They have crushed many small businesses by using these tactics. Fortunately for me, I had already diversified, but many sellers depend specifically on Ebay. I believe that the call it seller non-performance, but it's crazy the way that they do it. If your sales drop off and you get a couple of negatives, they'll ban you, no matter how long your history. I told them to F-off when they did it to me. Not only had I paid them upwards of $50k per year in advertising fees for 6-7 years, I was also a high-dollar buyer, buying many $10k+ items on there.When they suspended me and I talked to my rep. I told them that if this is how they treat their customers, I don't want to do business with them. Be careful, they do not care about anyone, and will ban you without hesitation. Fortunately these actions will eventually ruin them.
Levien said 12:33PM on 4-25-2008
I think it is wise to leave only the positive rating on e-bay. So if you see a seller with no rating you know he is not good.
Also this can happen off-line. So it doesn't have to be e-bay
My wife runs an e-bay shop in Spain. I know she is giving the best service and tries to over deliver . Her online shop is http://www.lunaindia.es
You can leave a comment on my website:
http://www.barcelona-webdesign.com
And I wish you wise shopping.
Reply
Rick said 6:09PM on 4-24-2008
What are you talking about? Sellers can still leave feedback! I just did it today.
Reply
comicsgirl said 6:45PM on 4-24-2008
Only until may..after that sellers can no longer leave anything but positives for buyers..it is their new policy..
Paul said 9:26PM on 5-17-2008
Try TheZLot.com if you're not happy with EBAY. No listing fees and it's easy to use. Just FYI...
kpilker said 11:45PM on 4-24-2008
What the seller did could have ruined the coins. The guy could have bought the coins for $100 in mint condition but loose like that would make them only worth 50% of that.
Reply
RB said 7:01AM on 4-25-2008
As a long time seller on eBay, about 10 years running, I recently had the opportunity to question their decision regarding this change. Their response was that the customer is always right and needs to be protected. I said, you are right and I AM eBay's actual customer, since their revenue comes from me the seller, and not my buyer.
They need to look out for the seller, because without us, there is NO REVENUE!!!!!!!!!! I on the otherhand, need to protect my customer and I am sure there are plenty of bad dealings that take place daily on eBay, but don't take away our right to post a negative when OUR CUSTOMER has done wrong. Do you hear me eBay my customer, not yours, since your customer is me!. What eBay really needs to do, is to tighten up the process for being a seller. Right now, if you have a credit card or checking account you are automatically qualified. That's money hungary eBay's first problem that needs fixing.
Reply
Paul said 9:26PM on 5-17-2008
Try TheZLot.com if you're not happy with EBAY. No listing fees and it's easy to use. I own the site and would be curious to see what a long time EBAYer thinks of it.
bestdeals9 said 12:55AM on 5-18-2008
Be careful about your ebay comments. They will find you and suspend you. I was a Platinum Powerseller for many years, selling $40-$80k per month, had a few negatives in a 90 day period and was suspended. My overall feedback % was 98.2% with around 5,000 positives, and they suspended me without hesitation. Ebay is not loyal to you and never will be. They have crushed many small businesses by using these tactics. Fortunately for me, I had already diversified, but many sellers depend specifically on Ebay. I believe that the call it seller non-performance, but it's crazy the way that they do it. If your sales drop off and you get a couple of negatives, they'll ban you, no matter how long your history. I told them to F-off when they did it to me. Not only had I paid them upwards of $50k per year in advertising fees for 6-7 years, I was also a high-dollar buyer, buying many $10k+ items on there.When they suspended me and I talked to my rep. I told them that if this is how they treat their customers, I don't want to do business with them. Be careful, they do not care about anyone, and will ban you without hesitation. Fortunately these actions will eventually ruin them.
bestdeals9 said 1:07AM on 5-18-2008
Be careful about your ebay comments. They will find you and suspend you. I was a Platinum Powerseller for many years, selling $40-$80k per month, had a few negatives in a 90 day period and was suspended. My overall feedback % was 98.2% with around 5,000 positives, and they suspended me without hesitation. Ebay is not loyal to you and never will be. They have crushed many small businesses by using these tactics. Fortunately for me, I had already diversified, but many sellers depend specifically on Ebay. I believe that the call it seller non-performance, but it's crazy the way that they do it. If your sales drop off and you get a couple of negatives, they'll ban you, no matter how long your history. I told them to F-off when they did it to me. Not only had I paid them upwards of $50k per year in advertising fees for 6-7 years, I was also a high-dollar buyer, buying many $10k+ items on there.When they suspended me and I talked to my rep. I told them that if this is how they treat their customers, I don't want to do business with them. Be careful, they do not care about anyone, and will ban you without hesitation. Fortunately these actions will eventually ruin them.
Whiskey Run said 9:58PM on 5-04-2008
WTF? No negative feedback on Ebay? What is to keep poeple honestand accountable? Were they afraid they would hurt somebody's wittle fweelings? This is pathetic! Just like the schools who no longer keep score at sporting events becasue they don't want to crush the fragile little psyches. I have been a seller on Ebay since 1999 and have 100% positive feedback. Its on the shisters and frauds who are afraid of negative feedback.
Reply
babymouse6 said 11:59PM on 5-15-2008
I Think the feedback as been flawed from the start,my reason being no matter if you are the Buyer or the Seller If you leave a Neg.feedback for the other person no matter what the problem was or who was at fault you will be left with a neg. too.And that is not fair if you are a good ebayer and have a 100% pos. feedback all it takes is to leave 1 neg. for somebody and they in turn ruin your perfect rateing with a neg.So if you want to keep your 100% you just have to suck it up & not leave any feedback. Just not fair you can't tell the truth without retaleation against you.
Reply
mari said 4:20PM on 5-16-2008
I have been on ebay 10 years. My main acct. has 4400+ positives and 5 negatives. 4 negatives were from deadbeats. The last negative was from a stupid moron who blamed me for the post office losing her item. Thankfully, I was able to return her negative. Ebay has made the feedback policy worse. It wasn't perfect before but now it is going to get worse. How can I retaliate against an unjust negative? Do I go after the bidder with a lawsuit? Do I mail them a lb. of dog manure? Do I bid on their auctions and return the negative just to get even? Tell me Ebay, how to I protect myself against scum? Ebay forgot that the their customer is their sellers. Ebay doesn't realize that one of the reasons that people stopped using ebay is because of the poor economy. People do not have money to buy stuff now. I know that eventually Ebay will be changing this new policy because it is wrong. WHy should people pay ontime now?
Reply
Paul said 9:27PM on 5-17-2008
Try TheZLot.com if you're not happy with EBAY. No listing fees and it's easy to use. Just FYI...
Paul said 9:26PM on 5-17-2008
many complaints I see daily about EBAY. All EBAY users can check out TheZLot.com...a new up and coming auction site with NO LISTING fees. Can't beat it and it's easy to use.
Reply
Jeff said 11:32PM on 5-17-2008
I was a member of Ebay for almost five years. I did little business because of the anonymity of it. About a month or so ago I was window shopping an Ebay store. I couldn't figure out how this merchant was selling new product so cheap. I mean, really cheap prices. So I looked into HIS flat rate shipping and quickly realized where his profit was coming from. I contacted Ebay with all info. and corroborated email from HIS buyers. Ebay's response to me was a joke. Bottom line is... As long as they (Ebay) are getting their share from the merchant, they could care less. I quickly closed my account with Ebay. If you have had good luck selling or buying on their website, good for you. I say find somewhere else to do your business. Beware !
Reply
Rob said 1:27AM on 5-18-2008
I think the whole e-bay feedback thing is messed up. I got my only negative feedback as a buyer from a seller that had no negatives at the time. He sold me a broken cylinder. Ebay should make the seller leave feedback first. If the seller is on the up and up then they should leave feedback as soon as the buyer pays. After-all, once the buyer pays quickly and on time how could you neg that? The buyer has completed his side of the deal and feedback needs to be left for them at that time.
Then the when the buyer recieves the item, it is thier turn to grade the seller with feedback.
What happened to me was, the seller never left me feedback as he knew he sold me something messed up. When I was unhappy and told him I wanted a refund he said no. I said I will leave you bad feedback and he said then so will I. So I did and so did he.
Once you have enough good feedback there really is no reason for anyone to leave feedback and sellers don't until the buyer responds by leaving feedback first. Feedback is supposed to help things but actually makes it worse by not being regulated as to seller having to leave it first. If they don't leave it first then they should lose the ability to leave any at all.
Reply
Aileen said 2:31AM on 5-18-2008
Babymouse6 and Rob: you guys have it right.
The only negative feedback I ever received was for a jewelery item I purchased that took almost 3 weeks to arrive. Unfortunately, I needed it for a formal event that occurred the day before it arrived. Upon winning the auction, I had the item paid for within the first 2 minutes or so (however long it took me to log into PayPal).
Because the item took so long to arrive, I left the seller a neutral rating. Not even a negative, but a neutral. The seller, in turn, left me a negative rating. The only one I have ever received in 3 years of eBaying.
I disagree with the policy of removing negative comments altogether; rather, I think that if a seller leaves a buyer a negative rating, the seller should have to justify the rating through eBay before it is posted. A negative rating should only be allowed in cases of non-payment or some other extreme. I also agree with Rob's comment that the seller should have to leave feedback first, as you have completed your obligation as a buyer once you have paid for your item.