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)
Sherry K said 1:43PM on 12-05-2008
My husbands cell phone started playing Bad to the Bone during a viewing, needless to say I could have crawled into the casket with our friend God rest her soul.
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manassaspeggy said 9:15AM on 12-06-2008
That was really funny. I am still laughing. Ours always go off in church when we forget to set them to vibrate.
JOE said 10:45PM on 12-05-2008
My most memorable incident was at my brothers viewing, during the pastor's homily, a pretty young lady's phone started ringing. It happened to be in her purse. Which was zipped shut. Lying on the floor in front of her. While bending to retrieve it, she both, shocked and amused (maybe even aroused) those around her as she exposed her crimson thong, and the buttendages that surrounded it. Ahhh, the things ya see when ya don't have a camera!!!
Darby said 3:12PM on 12-05-2008
Lots of people are going to take their cell phones to their graves,who cares?
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KR said 3:23PM on 12-05-2008
During my father's funeral service, not once but TWICE the same person's cell phone rang. You can imagine the gasp that went through the church the first time it rang, the sound of disgust when the 2nd call rang.
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Brittni said 9:12PM on 12-05-2008
I work at a store, a very large corporation, doing returns. I also do money transfers. What bugs me more than anything - and I'm an 18 year old female, deeply in love with my cellphone, is when customers come up to the counter STILL talking on their cellphone! Thats very rude! If I were on my cellphone I'd be fired for being rude. Its ridiculous.
I don't mind if you are walking around shopping, or even standing in line on your cellphone, but when I'm trying to help someone, not blabbing their head off about who did what with who is the least they can do.
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Steve said 2:56PM on 12-08-2008
Probably the most embarassing place would be at a funeral or a viewing but the one place you absolutley don't want your cell phone to go off is in court during a trial or a hearing. The judge will not take kindly to you if this happens.
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jbl said 8:45PM on 12-08-2008
i was visiting a freind of a friend in the hospital who tried to kill herself the night before and as soon as i walked in her room my cell phone starting playing korn's why won't you die., lol
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Deziraye said 1:04PM on 12-10-2008
I knew a women who was having an affair and her husband came home, the guy she was with hid somewhere, when her husband came into the room the guy she was having an affair with cell phone starting ringing. BUSTED!!!!
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kerrry wenrich said 3:25PM on 12-10-2008
i once had mine ring in the bathroom when i worked at a bowling alley that was not cool i was about ready to murder the person on the other end
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polly said 7:08AM on 12-16-2008
I want to know if there is not a off button on them things or what is so important that it can't wait till you get home. If there is something more important that you need to be doing mybe you need to be doing that instead of standing in front of a cashier while she is trying to ring you up or going to the funeral home. I think that is the most rude thing that I've seen people with cell phone's talking to who knows who not paying any attention to their children or anyone else with them and don't even have time to do the things they need at do while they are shopping and those things sticking in there ears is another story you don't even want me to get started with.
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BrandieRenae said 10:00AM on 12-16-2008
ALL calls can wait if I'm in the loo.
Cell phones have caller ID, you can call them *right back*
You wouldn't engage a sales person if you're in an important conversation with someone -- the same applies being on the phone in a store. One can ALWAYS tell the person on the other end "I'm at the cashier now -- I'll call you back when I'm finished. How hard is that?
It seems, since the advent of the cell phone -- a good segment of the population has forgotten common courtesy.
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