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 4)
Khris said 11:49AM on 4-25-2008
"$1 million, claiming emotional distress, loss of sleep, nervousness and more"
What a crock of ! Granted, the Sprint employee was 1000% in the wrong, however this woman shouldn't be given a dime! Her husband probably coerced her into a lawsuit trying to make a quick buck.
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Steve K said 12:04PM on 4-27-2008
Nope, sorry but an employer IS and SHOULD be held responsible for the actions of its employees. If the pictures were unsolicited, the employee AND the company need to be held liable and pay through the nose for actions of this unwated nature.
Cheers,
Steve K
dalbax2 said 12:20PM on 4-27-2008
I don't agree with a million dollars.....that is ridiculous, but she should get some kind of compensation. A fair price might be 25,000.
Dan said 2:02PM on 4-27-2008
SteveK's comment is only partially true. Employers are responsible for SOME of the acts of their employers...generally those committed in the course and scope of employment, particularly those committed at the company's direction or for the company's benefit. Companies are generally not responsible for the intentional torts (as opposed to negligence) of their employees. This is not the type of case in which the company is or should be liable, legally, though they'll probably cough up some money because it will be cheaper than the costs to litigate it all the way.
bobby said 4:09AM on 7-03-2008
Dear Khris, your parents can't spell and you're a moron. Send me your phone number. I have some pictures I'd like to send you. Let's see how your opinion changes after you get them. You're a dumbass.
Daniel Gaunt said 12:45PM on 4-25-2008
I agree, the firm cannot be held responsible for the action of an employee. He should be fired though and she could press charges against him for stalking her
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
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Norm said 1:46PM on 4-25-2008
I used to work at a cell phone store with this guy (John) that was like a GQ model type. Women used to come into the store buy from him, leave and then text him and call him. He had a phone FULL of nudie pics of tons of married women. These women would always leave their phones laying around and their husbands would find it and come into the store gunning for John. I feel kind of bad for our friend in this story. I'm almost sure he felt safe sending her the pics.
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R1cebrner said 1:53PM on 4-25-2008
The questions would be did she ever send a message that said stop?
If so, then she has a case i would think, at least for the cost of the messages received + legal.
If not, then the employee should be fired (im sure that will happen anyway) and thats about it cause he didn't know it wasn't a welcomed "encounter". Then i guess the husband should ask for a divorce since she never told them no
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retro77 said 4:55PM on 4-25-2008
Classic. The guy should get charges of indecent exposure as well and be labeled as a sex offender. I hope she gets her mil.
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ajm33771 said 7:18AM on 4-27-2008
typical permissive pervert that permeates our society. let her shoot him with a paint ball gun so that he learns that his wee wee is a no no lol
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Phil May said 8:47AM on 4-27-2008
Sounds like a setup in the making. Really, who does this. It sounds like it was setup by either the Sprint employee and the woman, or the sprint employee and the woman's husband. Either way, it was done for money. This way the sprint employee gets a cut and no jail time, because it isn't a jailable offense. And sprint is held liable due to the employees unwarranted actions. I bet, it you look into this employees backround, they're gonna find some disgruntleness. Either way, its a setup.
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Phill81975 said 8:45AM on 4-27-2008
Sounds like a setup in the making. Really, who does this. It sounds like it was setup by either the Sprint employee and the woman, or the sprint employee and the woman's husband. Either way, it was done for money. This way the sprint employee gets a cut and no jail time, because it isn't a jailable offense. And sprint is held liable due to the employees unwarranted actions. I bet, it you look into this employees backround, they're gonna find some disgruntleness. Either way, its a setup.
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Web said 8:14AM on 4-27-2008
The young men at these stores are that. I have never seen an older person working selling phones. They just are not tech savy. Sounds like a young buff hottie took her advances to far.
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Jerry said 8:30AM on 4-27-2008
Let's see,,, she was married, her plan didn't cover text pictures, (John) is like GQ ( stuck on himself) he sold her the phone, knew her number and he is the one that texted. Yeah he's an ass and should be burned in court as a sex offender, public indecent expossure, and finally jail and the company is responsible for their employees so they get stuck too. He could also be hung by his balls for a couple hours and take that shit eatin grin off his stupid face. Give her $250,000, fire John, and have the asshole labeled where ever he goes so everyone knows. The married women on his phone are little bitches and he is the ass that has them there. If you're not married to her leave her alone, if she makes advances and is married, just tell her to leave.
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teltech54 said 9:15AM on 4-27-2008
Our perfect justice system at work. She'll get her money although probably not a million dollars. She will only get what she can by the amount of lawyer she can buy.
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Cameron said 9:36AM on 4-27-2008
CEO Hesse has failed miserably with this so called "new customer service culture". Sprint's customer service is a joke! If you need help, you'll need to block out an hour of your day for starters then wait for horrifying results on your next bill. I hope the girl in Dayton cleans house - maybe Sprint will wake up!
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Leroy said 9:41AM on 4-27-2008
These days it seems like everyone wants something for nothing. The guy was wrong definately but a million bucks. C'mon Where's the damage? Ha-Ha!
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Katie Alexander Greer said 9:46PM on 5-06-2008
You ask, what harm? It is about power and control. It is to terrify the woman. If a man would go so far as to strip naked, and photo his body, send the pictures, fix her phone, so she can recieve them, he is capable of anything!! What if it was your Mother he was doing this too, or you 15 yr. old sister!! Your view would change. He is a preditor!! Men never understand, "It is not about the sex, It is about control, Power, and frighting women!! He belongs behind bars!! He need to be on a pervert list!! Her husband should be given a baseball bat, and put in a small room with him, and then let him see what control and power is!!
mary said 9:48AM on 4-27-2008
Sprint has customer service? Wow I have had sprint now for 3 years and can't get a straight answer or correct bill from them. They are the worst and can not wait for my contract to expire so I can kick them to the curb.I hope the women wins and gets back some of the $$ they have screwed me out of.
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Bernice Ryan said 9:52AM on 4-27-2008
are you safe ANYWHERE today?
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