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.
Hopefully we've covered enough tales of phishing woe that you're now cautious of clicking on links and entering in your personal info. We've also talked about the process of whaling, and how modern phishers are getting sneakier with their fake e-mails. Now, though, some are giving up on flooding your e-mail inbox entirely and instead heading for your voicemail inbox.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Caelen said 8:47PM on 8-25-2008
I got a text message that was supposed to be from my service provider, and when i called the number, they asked me to enter the last 4 numbers of my social security number! needless to say, i hung up right after that, but be careful! They get you through texts too
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Penny said 9:41PM on 8-25-2008
I never answer a call I always let my machine answer if I want to talk I will if I don't know you I delete the message. I just don't trust anyone and my bank doesn;\'t have my cell number/
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PENNY said 9:40PM on 8-25-2008
Never answer a call I let my machine answer thats why I got it. I don't give cell phone out only to family members.
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Pamela said 9:59PM on 8-25-2008
We had something similar to that happen in my city in VA recently. It was a Saturday when people started getting calls from banks I guess needing personal info. Well we got one, of course I screen my calls saw it was not my bank and did not answer...But that night it was on the news that this was a fake number and has been disconnected and if you did talk to them to call your bank immediately. For one its Saturday, they do call it bankers hours for a reason!!
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John Palazzini said 10:05PM on 8-25-2008
Its very very simple. Never, ever, ever, EVER give personal information to someone calling you on ANY telephone. It doesn't matter who caller ID says it is. If its legit, they will give you a call-back number and name of an individual. I've been doing that for years anyway, and I've never had a problem.
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jack said 10:16PM on 8-25-2008
THERE'S BRAD WITH HIS IMFAMOUS SCANDALS AGAIN. COULD YOU STOP NOW.
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infamoustrini said 8:58AM on 8-26-2008
the wierdest thing happened the other day,i got a call from someone with with a number short on my caller i.d. (cell) I answered and was some kind of automated thing i just hung up.
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Keith said 11:18PM on 8-25-2008
Everyone show brad how much you appriciate his crap by clicking on the red minus sign.
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Trish said 1:16AM on 8-26-2008
Thank you Mike ,,,,for putting that prick (oops..) wicked prick in his place.
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gypsygurl said 1:40AM on 8-26-2008
Has anyone gottenn an e-mail from the FBI about getting 8million$$ froma nigerian bank? lol the first 2 sentences give it away. its rather funny.
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Russell said 3:13AM on 8-26-2008
Thats ok wickedwayz ..while your "lagughing at us losers" we losers are having sex with REAL women and the lonley fat guys claming to be women on the net
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j woodward said 3:57AM on 8-26-2008
only give personal information to a person right in front of you otherwise tell them no thanks , use your head for something other than a hat-rack. or answer your phone as sgt. whoever with your local police department, working with bunko division.that will stop them .
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sandi pancamo said 4:04AM on 8-26-2008
wickedwayz: My nephew has super intelegence and uses it for the good of mankind and is handsomely rewarded for it. You are simply a slimy worm who feeds off misfortune of others.
Never answer a call you do not know and keep your computer safe. My first computer had a DOS operating system and I have never been hacked or had a virus. Common sense is all it takes. There is no free lunch so do not answer too good to be true emails either.
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Newwiccanwmn said 5:15AM on 8-26-2008
Hey Brad want nudity? Go look in the mirror and keep it to yourself you JACKASS!!!!!!
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FG said 5:20AM on 8-26-2008
Jcorathers you're a complete idiot for following the link!! I hope your computer is toast because you don't deserve it anyway, since you were using it for viewing explicit content...
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Lulu said 10:15AM on 8-26-2008
WickedwayZ... just because you can, doesn't mean you should - and just because we haven't, doesn't mean we couldn't... Figure it out
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Veronica said 9:08AM on 9-02-2008
wickedways......guess what , your name says it all, and you shall have your reward in the end, get it? In the END. You may be having your hey day now, but it always comes to and end doesn't it? BTW, those meals they serve to you sharks in the penitentiary, are sick.....just like you, the shark that is eating it. Go blow yourself. Youre gonna feel kinda funny when the sharks in the penitentiary are going after YOU.
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