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 2)
Bruce said 3:44PM on 1-14-2009
People falling for the Nigerian scam vindicate Darwin's theories on evolution. It's just a modern way of thinning the herd.
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page said 3:32PM on 1-14-2009
yup always a dummy some where
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James said 3:51PM on 1-14-2009
THIS GUY MUST BE BRAIN DEAD. AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY WENT ALONG WITH IT TOO ?????????
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DarkLight said 3:58PM on 1-14-2009
PWNED.
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rtbjr said 4:15PM on 1-14-2009
Bruce, I concur.
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Doc said 4:28PM on 1-14-2009
I've been sending emails back to these scammers with very rude and graphic language in the subject line. It doesn't seem to cut down the number of these emails, but I certainly feel better!
As for this fool, come on, pal. Use whatever passes for a brain in your head to weed out the crooks and crazies. It may sound cold, but he kind of got what he asked for!
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K.Pierre said 4:27PM on 1-14-2009
I feel awful for this guy and his family but that was a very foolish thing to do.
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mikki said 5:26PM on 1-14-2009
i can't believe that someone fell for something so stupid. i get these emails all the time. and of course i respond. thank u for informing me of my good fortune but i do not deal with money over the internet. since u have my information please send me a written copy of this arrangement for my lawyers to look at. i haven't received any more of these scams. i hope that this man can somehow find out who did this and get his money back. but chances are he just learned a 150,000 dollar lesson.
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Rosebud said 6:05PM on 1-14-2009
Must have been desperate for a new infusion of cash. Too bad he didn't hit up Bernie Madoff, maybe he might still have some of his green left, he might have had a very tiny amount while Madoff was out buying a new copper pipe statue.
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hank said 7:04PM on 1-14-2009
Being single i get emails from all these beautiful women telling me how they like my profile & they want to meet me **BUT** right now there in nigeria there grandmother or family member is sick then later on they tell me they want to marry me But dont have enough $ to get home & a airplane flight cost $2,000.00 if i help them they will stay with me forever lol lol. anyways i play the game.... BUT DONT SEND $$$ TO STRANGERS GET REAL.......
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Mark said 9:13PM on 1-14-2009
"Stupid is as Stupid does".
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bob said 9:29PM on 1-14-2009
Well, I may not be the sharpest knife in the draw BUT according to the story the amounts add up $42,500. Where did aol get $150,000? Oh, Mr. Rempel here's you sign!!!!!!
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Tony said 12:52AM on 1-15-2009
I get these exact same emails, they send me a picture of a fedex package they will send if I wire them $285 to cover the insurance. I move the Tennessee from Miami and while I do not have any kind of southern accent I email the back about sending them a personal check. Which I would never do and they do not want.
But I so much fun trying to convince them I am just a good ol' country boy who is as good as his word......
Here is an example..It ticks them off to no end that I keep trying to send them a check.......
I gots an emails bout getting a package from yall, I was happy as a fly on biscit with honey on it to hear that. I lives in the great state of Tennessee and wants to know if'in yall delivers out in the contry where I's lives? If'in yall do, I cans send yall a persunal check right away fer the shippin fee I's ows ya. Plese lets me know where to sends the check. Its gotsta be a persunel chek cause I's jus cant gets to town like I's useta. We cuntry foke are honest as the day is long and we does everythin on a handshak. So yous dont hafta worry bout any funny bidness wit me. The good Lord sent this here money to me fer bein a good Christran and fer always tellin the truth. So plese call me or sends me youse address sois I cans send you that there chek. Thanks agin, and God bless ya.....Zeke
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Kev Roesch said 2:59AM on 1-15-2009
It seems like the author is scamming us with his bad math.
How does it add up to 150K?
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Mel said 3:05AM on 1-15-2009
I'm sorry this happened to this family but in a way he asked to be "duped". Was he a trusting person or a stupid person? His wife should not let him handle the family finances any longer:)
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Diane said 3:34AM on 1-15-2009
I can't believe this guy was smart enough to earn $150,000 and dumb enough to lose it in a scam like this. -- UNBELIEVEABLE!!
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Diane said 3:40AM on 1-15-2009
It must be the flight to London for his family and himself that compensates for the other $107,500!!! They neglected to mention they were flying in from Mars.
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ROB said 7:00AM on 1-15-2009
There is only ONE (1) REASON this guy got taken. HE'S A PIG, GREEDY AND LOOKING FOR AFREE RIFE. He deserves everything that happened and hsould consider himself lucky it was only 150. Despite the "Internation Law 419 " PROSECTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND his chances of collecting are virtually ZERO. There is always somebody out there looking and willing to participate in the Madoff type Ponzi Schemes or all these SCAMS from Nigeria, (they come from everywhere). THERE IS NO SAFE VERY HIGH YEILD HAVEN.
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Texmac said 12:31AM on 1-16-2009
When I get a e-mail from these Nigerian sub-human freaks. I reply with a strong message, (that I must not print here)., These barbaric scum of the earth need to be nuked,...."PERIOD"....Of course that just my way to rid of trash,
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Tony said 1:22PM on 1-21-2009
That is what the sender is hoping for and it just proves PT Barnum correct what he said about suckers. One, just one and hopefully more but even just one moron falls for this and he made more than he would make at $7.15 an hour for the next 2 years 40 hours a week. He can stay home now and look for the next sucker{s}...
Why is that the low life, trashy, bottom feeders who mock the system keep sliding along and get away with everything and the honest law abiders mess up one time and get the shaft and sent up the river?
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