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.
It's made it through some tough times in the past (the other DIVX, anyone?), but it looks like Circuit City is now really up against the wall, and it's apparently considering some rather drastic measures to avoid becoming the largest retailer to enter bankruptcy protection in recent years. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
blablabla said 11:10AM on 10-21-2008
CC can't compete with i-net sellers and pricing....plus the economy sinking.....cheer up, help is on the way...Bama,Pelosi,Biden, Soros,Franks,Kerry and Reid are going to save us...with socialism...lol
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JackJob said 12:59PM on 10-21-2008
Socialism??? What are you a moron? I love paying $$$ $3-$4 per gallon of gas so that some Oilman can pad his wallet...but thats ok in your eyes. I love all the hard working americans near retirement who have lost it all in the recent stockmarket disaster. so you keep repeating your catchy political phrases but look arround son, this country is a disaster. Not to mention the billions a day going into a blackhole called Iraq. If socialism means I can send my kid to school and feed the kid then fine, call it what you may, people with mega$$$$ are running this disaster of a country!
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Leo M. said 7:35PM on 10-21-2008
I'm with you JackJob
I'm amazed at the ignorance of some people.
tsquared said 3:25PM on 10-21-2008
Hey Jackhead,
Your liberal bs is not surprising. Its folks like you that should leave this great country. Yea, we have problems, but we, those that are patriots, will survive. And if you think that this failing economy has nothing to do with a liberal congress the last two years, then I will pay for tickets for you and your family to leave the US.
Circuit City has been a terrible retailer over the years. Mismanagement and corruption along with mishandling their employees is now all coming full circle. They deserve it....
Reply
Leo M. said 7:38PM on 10-21-2008
"Those that are patriots, will survive?"
You can't be serious? Talk about blind. I'll take that as a really bad joke, just like McCain.
"Circuit City has been a terrible retailer over the years. Mismanagement and corruption along with mishandling their employees is now all coming full circle. They deserve it...."
By this logic, the U.S. deserves "it" (whatever "it" is) since the US has had terrible mismanagement problems in the last 8 or so years, along with corruption and mishandling of it's citizens? But of course, this concept doesn't apply to that does it? Seems like your logic engine is broken.