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)
ed matys said 11:22PM on 5-06-2008
As the person who pioneered the most real free newspapers three decades ago with over 500,000 circulation I heartily agree with the move to free ;; however, it is not the distribution method but the focus on psychographics and localism which will aid newspaper survivals. Very few newspaper publishers are in a positon to be nimble and there are few consultants who will push anything other than more of the old with a few buzzwords and push the movement of paper rather than using the paper as a platform for total marketing reach through an enveloping strategy utilizing all media platforms and cross marketing opportunities.
ED MATYS founding publisher New Mass. Media , the advocate newspapers of new england, syracuse new times, pasadena weekly, citibusiness, 9 to 9.
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looseONTHEgoose said 4:19AM on 5-07-2008
Yes. I agree. There is only one way to compete. The more internet devices entering the mainstream + People WAKING UP about the net = Why Pay for newsPAPER (Caps = Environmental concern)
And yes. Internet servers take up electricity, but find a forum for that friends.
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Ray Hannon said 4:51AM on 5-07-2008
The newspaper carries advertising far more comprehensible than the bites of TV and websites, and news in depth instead of soundbites. You sit and read a paper and cut out lines to mail to others, especially if you read papers they don't. I absorb newspapers every day. frp, the smallest town weekly to the Washington Post and many in between. I consider myself learned because of papers. I'm proud to have been the youngest general manager of a big city daily in the country.
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Chris said 9:20AM on 5-07-2008
They already are free in Metro areas like DC and NYC. The papers make smaller (both in number of pages and size to make it easier to read on the subway) versions with just the basic AP articles and local news. They rely purely on the advertising but they lack the more in depth articles and niche ones. I can see them expanding though if they can find a good advertising method.
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