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.
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aries said 4:00PM on 8-06-2008
GET OUT OF HERE! These SUBWAYS, are kidding, you know I haven't bought a sandwich from them in a couple of years I was tired of them having these wonderful pictures of sandwiches, then getting a piece of crap sandwich which looks nothing like the pics I was baited to come in with though.
Well as for as I recalled a sandwich is not a sandwich w/o mustard or mayonnaise. A lot of the people behind the counter are ignorant how much would it have taken to put mustard or mayo on this man's sandwich I don't care how he was acting he paid for it, and ordered a large sandwich too. I would want him to come back so slap the business on the sandwich and let him go away happy.
The stupid police officer should have told them the same thing, give the man the sandwich he paid for it with the condiments requested. Not waste tax payers time with misdemeanor charges that shouldn't have happened. These cashiers and service staff are so rude you have to actually call the cops sometimes. I've seen it. They act like they're paying you to come into their establishment. It's ridiculous.
Reply
vje said 7:44PM on 8-06-2008
I work in customer service and I'm glad the cops charged him. He was making a big deal out of nothing. The people working behind the counter are taught that "the works" means vegetables. There's even signs stuck to the glass counters saying that "the works" means all the vegetables. This man was extremely irrational. Would it really take that long for the man to wait for them to add mayo and mustard. No. He was just impatient and got what he deserved. The article doesn't say he asked for mayo/mustard either. All it says is he wanted "the works" and when he came back demanded "the works". And a sandwich doesn't need mayo and mustard to be considered a sandwich. One person not coming back to one Subway doesn't make a difference to the company either way. I don't know how people think its ok for a person to be that rude to another person. That poor person behind the counter.
Constantine said 4:09PM on 8-06-2008
That's the Subway diet then? Order their sandwiches and throw them out?
Reply
David Vincent said 8:15PM on 8-06-2008
This is Florida you are lucky if they even speak English! If he had spoken spanglish or cuban he would have gotten his order like he wanted. But down here in DA GOOD OL SOUTH you don't git it your way! You get it ther way when they feel like it if they feel like it - learn to adjust - or leave cuz ---cuz they 'ain't changeing here
Reply
kpilker said 5:01PM on 8-29-2008
I personallly do not like mustard and cant stomach mayo. What this man did is show how childish even adults can be. The article does not state how the man asked for mustard and or mayo when he reordered. I have worked retail and have had to deal with customers like this. They are never satisfied, even when you follow what they say to the word.
Reply