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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Drew said 3:18PM on 7-23-2009
thats horribly creepy if you think about it...thanks for posting!
Reply
Dudley Haas said 4:36AM on 7-27-2009
Oh Boo Who Who -- I'm still broke up over quittin' Facebook. My wrinkle faced wife is all I have to look forward to now since I chopped off the B-9 mole on my 4-head and sprouted a few hairs on top my head...
Phil said 5:20AM on 7-27-2009
janicesaves -- your post is low...fake critical comment of something that everyone who is a member enjoys doing...trying to grab attention so you can advertise your product. I hope everyone sees through your fake negativity.
Do what you enjoy! Who cares what others think of what you do, as long as it is what you enjoy doing and is not immoral!
Hope said 6:25PM on 7-23-2009
Somebody please explain to how people find the time to post messages on Facebook, My Space and all the other text messages they send out every day ?????? I run an online business and I can barely keep up with taking care of my customer's orders, inventory, shipping, purchasing, etc., etc. Something is wrong in this country when people have so much free time to do nothing when we facing such challenges in this country and in our personal lives.
Reply
traqair said 8:10PM on 7-26-2009
perhaps you should advertise on facebook....:)
mkandmld said 8:23PM on 7-26-2009
We can't sit around worrying ourselves to death of lifes problems - texting and emailing our friends is how we cope with whats going on. We shouldn't spend our life working and worrying - life is to be LIVED not frittered away by continually working and worrying.
gossdan said 8:35PM on 7-26-2009
It's about connecting with friends and family... It's called "life". What you need to consider is "balance". Try it, you may just like it! Perhaps then you wouldn't be so grumpy. Take this as advice. Social networking is 'real' and 'healthy'. If nothing else, remember this: "work to live.... don't live to work".
jack said 8:54PM on 7-26-2009
ohhh i'd love to comment, but aol doesn't like me, so they censor everything i say.... they hate different points of view. too bad... for someone who retired at 54, lives on the golf course in hawaii, and has travelled the world, you'd think they'd want to listen to a millionaires point of view
Toni said 8:46PM on 7-26-2009
Tell me about it! My husband is obsessed w/ facebook. It drives me nuts. I clean, look after the kids, cook, etc... he sits on the couch and gets on facebook for hours!
Dreolin said 9:09PM on 7-26-2009
And yet, here you are finding time to comment...
Lisa Williams said 9:17PM on 7-26-2009
Glad you are so busy! Take a break once in a while
jen said 9:54PM on 7-26-2009
in response to people asking where people find the time to go on myspace and send messages its easy. you turn on computer. log into myspace. then you write a message and send it. you know like when you sit on the computer log into aol and write comments.
jeizu04 said 10:31PM on 7-26-2009
The same way you are posting to this page!!
mattvns00 said 11:11PM on 7-26-2009
do you need some help
kdmcam15 said 11:56PM on 7-26-2009
Hope: I don't do a lot on facebook, but have run into a lot of classmates. You worry about your time, and I will worry about mine.
coojim said 12:15AM on 7-27-2009
I totally agree.
jewely said 1:19AM on 7-27-2009
I enjoy the interaction I get to have with so many friends and relatives in my life that I would not otherwise have time to call. Since we post an ocassional status update and share photos, we can stay connected with each other even when we live in different states! I generally just check my FaceBook account when I get an email notifying me that a friend has posted a comment to me, so it really doesn't take up a lot of extra time.
Ron said 1:21AM on 7-27-2009
When your retired you got all the time in the world
Cyn said 1:36AM on 7-27-2009
I'm hip, I know I'm working my ass off. I only get to be on Facebook once a week, and I have WAY too many messages and there mostly bullshit stuff. I just delete most of that. I think we need a vacation, you?
visionseer1 said 1:54AM on 7-27-2009
same way you find time to post on here...