Friday December 5, 2008 10:30 AM ET | =
U.S.=20
Markets close in: 5h 30m
| ![3DRSS=20](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/framework/images/rss.gif")
=20
RSS | Help | SmartMoney
-
-
-
-
-
View All = Tools |
![3D"SmartMoney](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/framework/images/select_s.gif"=20)
| ![3D"SmartMoney](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/framework/images/select_s.gif")
=20
-
MY=20 PORTFOLIOS:
![3Dinvesting=20](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/cfscripts/smiads/images/Vanguard_logo2_12=){kind=logo}
![3D"Click](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/cfscripts/smiads/images/TRP_Q308_Logo_RO2=){kind=logo}
Deal of the Day by Lisa=20
Scherzer (Author=20
Archive)
5 Ways to Nab Great Gadget Deals
Gadget hounds are in luck this = holiday season.=20 Struggling consumer electronics retailers are slashing prices on = everything from=20 high-definition TVs to pocket camcorders.
=E2=80=9C[Consumers are] seeing these wonderful prices based on = electronics retailers=20 being scared out of their wits that they=E2=80=99ll be stuck with the = products,=E2=80=9D says=20 Roger Kay, founder and president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a=20 technology research firm. Sluggish sales have already forced several = consumer=20 electronics chains, including Tweeter, Circuit City and Sharper Image, = to seek=20 bankruptcy protection. Hoping to escape a similar fate, retailers are = slashing=20 prices to levels they hope consumers won=E2=80=99t be able to resist, = says Kay.
The most compelling discounts are on big-ticket items, in particular=20
high-definition TVs and Blu-ray players, says Danielle Levitas, senior =
consumer=20
analyst at research firm IDC. The average price of an LCD TV, for =
example, was=20
$874 in the third quarter of this year, down from $892 a year earlier, =
according=20
to the NPD Group=E2=80=99s retail tracking service. For plasma TVs, =
prices have fallen=20
by more than $250 to an average $1,318 from $1,584. However, it's not =
just fancy=20
flat screens that consumers will save on. With the exception of
Here are five ways to nab the best gadget deals this holiday = season.
Shop the discount electronics sites
Not surprisingly, the best deals on gadgets and other electronics can =
be=20
found on the Internet. Certainly, popular retailers like
Newegg, for example, offers a Samsung 50-inch plasma HDTV
Save even more through promotional deals
Microsoft (
Using Live Search we found a Sharp Aquos 37-inch LCD TV for $699.99 =
from=20
TigerDirect.com. After the 5% cash back from Live Search, the TV cost =
just
In an even better twist, consumers can get upwards of 25% cash back =
when they=20
search for an item using Live.com and buy it through
Comparison shop
Serious bargain hunters should start every product search with sites =
like
Go coupon-"clipping"
FatWallet, =
At CouponCabin we found a
Closeout sales
Electronics merchants that have declared bankruptcy protection (like =
Circuit=20
City) or are closing for good (like Tweeter) offer tempting closeout =
sales.=20
While it=E2=80=99s fine to scour the "everything-must-go" shelves, be =
aware that those=20
items might be tricky to return or exchange if for some reason =
you=E2=80=99re=20
dissatisfied with the product. Ask the store=E2=80=99s staff what the =
return policy is.=20
And, obviously, be sure your shiny new plasma TV comes with a =
manufacturer=E2=80=99s=20
warranty. Here are more tips on
| Retailer | Item | Price | Discount |
| Amazon.com | $674.99*, was = $1,007 | 33% | |
| Best Buy | $509.99, was $599.99 | 15% | |
| Circuit City | $799.99, was = $1099.99 | 27% | |
| J&R.com | $179.99, was $349.99 | 48% | |
| NewEgg.com | $179.99, was = $199.99 | 10% | |
| TigerDirect.com | $349.99, was $599.99 | 42% | |
| Walmart | $898, was $998 | 10% |
* With rebate
Find More Articles About: Spending, Technology, Consumer, Holiday, Gadgets, Internet, Bankruptcy=20
Also See:=20
- 5=20 Ways to Ensure Your Gift Can Be Returned
Trackback URL for this story:=20
http://www.smartmoney.com/tb/Jt.2Bp8dU.3D
What is a Trackback?
It is a way to tell us that =
you have=20
published something that references this story.
How do I send a Trackback?
If you blog or mention =
this=20
story on your website, you can use this Trackback URL to notify us about =
it.=20
Some blogging software programs can help in sending a Trackback to =
us.
Click=20 here to read more about Trackbacks.
User Comments
Advertisements
![3D""=20](3D"http://s9.addthis.com/button1-share.gif")
![3DRSS=20](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/framework/images/rss-text.gif")
![3DDown=20](3D"http://m1.smartmoney.net/framework/images/arrow-down.gif"=20){kind=icon}
-0.23Stock Compare
Customer Service | Magazine Customer Service | Subscribe to SmartMoney Magazine | Your =
Profile | Contact Us
Corrections | Custom=20
Publishing | License Our Content | Media =
Kit | Press Room | =
Events | =
Site Map | Labs | ![3D"RSS]()
smSmallBiz =E2=84=A2 SMARTMONEY =C2=AE Layout and = look and feel of=20 SmartMoney.com and smSmallBiz.com are trademarks of SmartMoney, a joint = venture=20 between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. =C2=A9 = 1995 - 2008=20 SmartMoney. All Rights Reserved. By accessing and using this page, you = agree to=20 our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. All quotes delayed = by 15=20 minutes. Delayed quotes provided byInteractive Data Real-Time Services, Inc.. Historical =
prices=20
and fundamental data provided by Morningstar, Inc. Mutual fund data =
provided by Lipper.=20
Mutual Fund NAVs are as of previous day's close. Earnings estimates =
provided by=20
Zacks =
Investment=20
Research. Insider trading data provided by Thomson=20
Financial. Upgrades and downgrades provided by Briefing.com.
You Are Viewing: SmartMoney.com = =E2=80=94 Investing,=20 Saving and Personal Finance.
smSmallBiz =E2=84=A2 SMARTMONEY =C2=AE Layout and = look and feel of=20 SmartMoney.com and smSmallBiz.com are trademarks of SmartMoney, a joint = venture=20 between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. =C2=A9 = 1995 - 2008=20 SmartMoney. All Rights Reserved. By accessing and using this page, you = agree to=20 our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. All quotes delayed = by 15=20 minutes. Delayed quotes provided by
You Are Viewing: SmartMoney.com = =E2=80=94 Investing,=20 Saving and Personal Finance.
=
Loading...'); //writeLayer("mapText",str2.toString()); writeLayer("mapText",str.toString()); window.status=3Dstr; return true; }=20 function offMap(){ writeLayer("mapText","Sector Detail (mouse over)"); window.status=3D""; return true; }=20 function clickMap(hpParam, toolName){ //popUpTool('/marketmap/'+hpParam, toolName,'yes','yes',0,0); location.href=3D'/marketmap/'+hpParam; return true; } // Show/Hide Applets function visApplets(vis){ if(document.getElementsByTagName){ var el=3Ddocument.getElementsByTagName('applet'); for(var i=3D0;i
Loading ![](3D"/shared/images/loading.gif")
';
stToolTip.style.display=3D'inline';
=
xmlHTTPAsyncRequest('/shared/stocktip.cfm?sym=3D'+stSym,'GET','','stXMLRe=
sponse');
}
}
}=09
function stXMLResponse(){
if (xmlhttp.readyState=3D=3D4 && xmlhttp.status=3D=3D200) {
var resp=3Dxmlhttp.responseText.trim();
if(stSym.length && stCacheOn) stCacheIt(stSym,resp);
stResponse(resp);
stSym=3D"";
}
}
function stResponse(resp){
if(resp.length){
stToolTip.innerHTML=3Dresp;
stToolTip.style.display=3D'inline';
stToolTip.onmouseover=3Dfunction(){stClose=3D0;};
=
stToolTip.onmouseout=3Dfunction(){stClose=3D1;setTimeout('stUndoBox()',10=
);};
}
}
function stUndoBox(){
if(stClose){
stToolTip.innerHTML=3D'';
stToolTip.style.display=3D'none';
}
}
function stCacheIt(a1,a2){
stCache[a1]=3Dnew Array(a1,a2)
if(!stTimerOn){
stTimerOn=3D1;
setTimeout("stTimerOn=3D0;stCache=3Dnew Object()",60000); // cache for =
1 minute
}
}
function args(h,arg){
h=3Dh.toLowerCase();
var v=3D'',aArg=3D'',f=3Dh.indexOf('?');
if(f>0){
aArg=3Dh.slice(f+1).split('&');
for(var i=3D0;i
In my experience it's best to use as many comparison pricing sites as = possible. In addition to the ones you've mentioned, I've had a fair = amount of=20 success this holiday season on another called Sortprice.com and I highly = recommend it:
<a=20 href=3D'http://www.sortprice.com'>www.sortprice.com</a> =