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.
C'mon folks, does it really take an in-depth research study to figure this one out? On the whole, per-use SMS rates have doubled from $0.10 to $0.20 in the span of three years, and carriers have shown no shame in pushing messaging packs (the "unlimited" one in particular) in an effort to snag more revenue per user. We already knew that Senator Herb Kohl was looking into the matter, and a new piece in The New York Times clearly explains just how lucrative these bite-sized messages are for carriers. We're told that most consumers simply assume that it's costing operators more each year as the volume of texts sent increases; according to University of Waterloo professor Srinivasan Keshav, "it doesn't cost the carrier much more to transmit a hundred million messages than a million." You see, SMS messages are elusively hidden within the so-called "control channel," which is space already reserved for the operation of the wireless network. So long as messages are kept concise (say, 160 characters or less), they can be sent without any real implication on the channel. Will this epiphany somehow change the way we're being gouged? Tough to say, but don't think for a second that carriers won't figure out another way to nickle-and-dime you if the hand is forced.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bruce said 11:08AM on 12-29-2008
LMAO, not with Sprint "Everything" plan they don't. One price $99.99 covers everything, minutes, texting, pic's, internet, GPS, TV, whatever! PS: I use the crap out of it, never below 10000 minutes a moth anymore.
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dslyohio44439 said 4:26PM on 12-29-2008
Personally I think you're full of it. In order to even reach 10,000 minutes of cell phone usage a month, you have to spend almost 6 hours on your phone a day every day with no days off. And don't tell me that you use more than one line, since that rate applies per line.
Nice try though.
Bruce said 10:56AM on 12-30-2008
Ya know, ya just don't know do ya? I drive an interstate truck, I'm on the phone most of the night. Driving 10 hours every night, you do the math. I have over 200 contacts in phone book. What the heck do think keeps me awake at night? Coffee? Just make ya PPPPP. PS: It is just one line w/call wait, and a blue eagle bt900 wireless headset w/15 hours of talk time.
Dev said 4:04PM on 12-29-2008
PLEASE SPAM SOME OTHER SITE WITH YOUR AT&T PROPAGANDA. WERE NOT BUYIN IT.
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CHRIS WINNINGHAM said 3:14PM on 12-29-2008
I JUST GOT MY BILL & I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO TEXT MESSAGING/ I HAVE A BLOCK. I NOTICED A .3 CENT CHARGE WHERE SOMEONE TRIED TO TEXT ME SO THEY CHARGED ME!! I HAVE SENT THEM A EMAIL QUESTIONING THIS. WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY , I KNOW 3 CENTS IS NOT MUCH BUT IT IS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE THING I'M SO FED UP WITH BEING RIPPED OFF I CAN'T STAND IT!!!
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Rudy said 3:46PM on 12-29-2008
I'm fed up too. After having seen text charges go from $.05 per text, to $.20, I blocked text usage on my phone.
I questioned them as to why they would even need to charge for a service that should be free with the phone usage. I rarely use text, but when you get 15 - 20 incomming texts a month, it's absurd to have to pay anything extra to the cell phone company. I'm pretty upset that that will now be one less way to be reached. There should be a universal cost per month for cell phone services, including unlimited text (and everything). With the cost of living exceeding our means, cell phone should be no more than $50.00 per month!
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wendy said 8:15AM on 1-04-2009
if anyone would take the time to tell me HOW to block texts i would SO appreciate it!!!!!! :D
Drowsyram said 2:30PM on 1-04-2009
"With the cost of living exceeding our means, cell phone should be no more than $50.00 per month! "
AMEN Rudy!!!!
EyesOnTheRoad said 4:55PM on 12-29-2008
I'm pretty upset that that will now be one less way to be reached.
Wow! Is it really that important that you need more than one way to be reached? Hope you don't live in California, as of Jan 1, they will have a law against using a cell phone while driving. The only way will be a hands free unit. So if someone behind the wheel is even holding a cell phone it's an automatic ticket. Oh my! What are all those people going to do now? LOL, IMO it's a good law and should be in all states. Less distraction, fewer accidents.
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Mike A said 5:56PM on 12-29-2008
CA has had the hands free law in effect for awhile now. What goes into effect Jan. 1 is that you can't text on a mobile phone while driving. A major loophole in the previous law. It really doesn't matter. I live in the Bay Area and idiots still text and use cell phones all the time while driving.
Terry said 12:55PM on 1-04-2009
I think it's A GREAT LAW!!!! It should b shut off while driving driving.......I see sooooooo many cops using the cell while driving too......and I live in Mass
imperialdragon27 said 5:10PM on 12-29-2008
For anyone who already have internet on thier pc & dont use thier phone too often, net10 is the best deal out there. its prepaid but 10 cents a minute all day & night everyday & a nickel a text. im not spamming either, im a plumber & not a rep, this is my real advise to non cell phone addicts. I hate cell phone companies, they are all crooks!
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mike said 5:37PM on 12-29-2008
If yoiur worried about being ripped off check what interest rate you are paying on your credit card. Be sitting down when you check. you will find for many of us it is 31 per cent. YES, 31 percent..............hope that puts this 3 cent texting charge into context.
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Deacon said 6:20PM on 12-29-2008
If you are paying 31%.....it is because of something you have done to your credit. My highest card is 12.9%, and my lowest is 2.99%.
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Chester said 2:31AM on 1-05-2009
you should probably read the fine print on your statement because I'll almost bet you that they're soaking you for more than 12.9%
deacon said 6:21PM on 1-04-2009
Actually, after reading my most recent statement....it's only 10.99%, not the 12.99% that I had previously stated. Sorry, my bad.....
Chuck said 6:49PM on 12-29-2008
I don't even look at the interest rate on my credit cards. When you pay the balance in full every month, doesn't matter what the rate is.
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Firehawk said 8:13PM on 12-29-2008
Good for you! Not everyone does this however, and if the payment is even a second late, most cards jack up the interest BAM! Do it again and BAM! next thing you know, the interest rate is 18.9, 21.9 24.9 , 28.9... you get the idea. Heaven forbid going over the limit! This info comes from hard earned experience during tough times and having to live on credit cards. The best thing anyone can do is either live without credit cards or use them wisely, and only use what you can afford to pay off at the end of the month. In a pinch , maybe 2. It really isn't worht the agony of dealing with credit card companies any more.
stephani said 7:23AM on 1-02-2009
About firehawks comment, soooo, right MNBC is the worst bank/credit card in the world. If you have one shred it throw it down the disposal. They are the preditory lenders of the credit card world, the ones who started putting the stop watch on the payments, and no ceiling on interest, while coming up with all these schemes to raise rates, THEY WROTE the new bankruptcy law that George Dumya was so hot to pass & did, It essentially allows no bankruptcy and endless interest rates. They also contributed 2.5 million or some such number to George Dumya's campaigns. Lets not forget they spend millions marketing the debt as well, pushing people to take the money. Even if you never miss a payment, you should still dispose of that card get a new one/s in case you need longer terms so you don't go from 2% or 0% to 35% because they did not send the bill so you could pay or some such shit.
Shauncie said 2:43PM on 1-04-2009
I concur. If you use your credit card(s) responsibly, you don't have to worry about interest rates at all.