Wal-Mart To Start Black Friday Pricing Early (HD DVD players less than $100!)

MarketWatch ^ | Oct 31, 2007 | Angela Moore

[TrueKnightGalahad]

[Wal-Mart] Wednesday said it would start its Black Friday and holiday pricing early on some items, in a move to drive sales during the increasingly competitive holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said it will offer Black-Friday prices three weeks early by unveiling "secret" in-store specials. The company said it will offer discounts on five popular gift items. Wal-Mart plans to reveal discounts on its Web site on Thursday. The items will be available in stores beginning Friday morning, Nov. 2 as it officially opens its special Christmas shops. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping days of the year and is known as "Black Friday" in the retail industry because retailers earn so much on this single day they are able to swing to profitability.

[Revolting cat!]

[Non-Sequitur]

One here in Indiana started at the beginning of October. And Christmas merchandise was side by side with Halloween stuff at pretty much every department store.

It wasn't quite that bad here because Halloween candy was out on display in August.

[Revolting cat!]

[Revolting cat!]

[JerseyHighlander]

Talking about quality of the screens. (color depth, contrast ratio, dark area gradation, etc) I was asked which I’d prefer.

I’d rather take one of the prior generation 1080i DLPs over the cheapest 1080P LCDs we’ll see this Xmas season.

I’m personally holding out for the Samsung LN-T4071F 40” LCD TV , hoping it falls below $1500 before the super bowl.

[rb22982]

The real sales won’t hit till the day after Thanksgiving at most places. Although for an HD DVD player < $100 I don’t think you’ll beat that this year. It was $500 last year and runs like $299 at most places still for Toshiba.

[OCCASparky]

OK, how much for the HDTV to go with it?

A lot less than you might think.

[Revolting cat!]

[Domandred]

Hint for Walmart shoppers. If stuff is already marked down go shopping on Thanksgiving evening. Some Walmart stores will still be open. Last year my wife and I went at about 11pm Thanksgiving night and there was only about 4 customers in the entire store including us. About 1/2 of the “Black Friday” stuff had already been marked down in price.

[Centurion2000]

Why is the demise of blu-ray well deserved? I think its awesome. Or do you juat have Sony Derangement Syndrome?

You make like companies that install root kits on your computers. I don't. Let Sony burn in hell for that one.

[Moonman62]

I watched as WalMart staff did absolutely nothing.

What do you want for $6 an hour? Besides they are probably trained not to get involved.

[reagan_fanatic]

I would rather go to Wal-Mart, pay $20 less, and not have to deal with the crowds of self-important pretentious a-hole snobs who look down on us common folk oafs

As one oaf to another, I say preach on, Brother!

[TrueKnightGalahad]

OK, how much for the HDTV to go with it?

What size and type do you want? You can spend anywhere from $500 to $100,000+ for a high def TV. So go shopping, and if you see something you like that's in your price range, plunk down the cash.** You could wait forever for the "right" size and price - but like computers, TV is a moving target technology. The plasma TV I bought last year is now selling for $1,000 less than I paid...but I've gotten to use my set for that whole year, instead of pressing my nose against the store window saying, "I wish...."

** Of course, do a bit of research first - not all TVs selling for the same price give you the same quality and features; some are dogs, and some are stars. Try to buy a star! :-)

[Doogle]

no I was talking about the cost of HD TV’s in the last three months.

[reagan_fanatic]

Yes. And it's supposed to make them look better

Question:

Will I get as good of playback quality with a standard DVD played on an HD-DVD player as I would get with a standard DVD on an up-converting DVD player?

[Centurion2000]

Never seen that happen before. Ever.

[jslade]

It’s getting a high definition DVD player for cheap that is exciting.

True. But, you need a HD tv to hook it up to.

[Moonman62]

I haven’t liked any of the LCD HDTV’s. I can see every flaw in them. That is until I saw the 1080p sets recently. I would say they are acceptable.

[oh8eleven]

The Toshiba HD-A2 HD-DVD Player is currently on sale elsewhere for about $197. Other stores may also reduce the price by Black Friday.
BTW, here's where you can keep an eye out for other BF sales.

[BreezyDog]

I can recommend HD DVD to my family and friends with a clear conscience - can you do the same for Blu?

I use a PS3 for my Blu-Ray and Sony sends firmware updates all of the time. Works awesome. Latest update enabled 24 fps for playback. Nice for movies. Gives it a film like quality. Blu-Ray seems to have alot more choices in movies. I hardly ever use my Toshiba HD-DVD player. I use it when the movie isn't available in Blu-Ray. My PS3 upscales standard DVD better also. So yes I can and do recommend Sony products.