For you armchair shoppers, here's a source for easy gift ideas that will please a whole range of people on your giving list. StubHub, is a large and growing clearing house for sport and event tickets. From Broadway to boxing and everything in between, you'll find tickets for every major spectator event imaginable. One quick look at the StubHub home page will provide a wealth of interesting ideas for gift giving which may not have crossed your mind.

If you're in a bind for unique ideas, you'll find tickets to events such as the Westminster Dog Show, Cirque Du Soleil or any number of rodeos. You can buy tickets for motor-sports, ballet and even Lacrosse. You'll also find all the major sports including NFL, NBA, NHL, as well as most major college venues. If it's tickets that you're in the market for, StubHub is an efficient place to go looking for them.

StubHub was founded in 2000 to give consumers an alternative option for buying and selling tickets. StubHub was created in recognition of the vast need for improvement within the ticket buying and selling marketplace. Often times after tickets were initially sold out through traditional channels, consumers were left at the mercy of a secondary market which was far less concerned about their needs than the strict proposition of gaining a profit. The existing options presented the all too common risks of counterfeiting, fraud, subterfuge and pricing subject to the whims of the seller.

Well, it's just now 5am CST Friday morning -- Black Friday morning. Before I head to some daily chores, I wanted to look at some storefronts on the web -- since there is no way I am going to brave the messes that are surely stacking up outside retail stores all over the place -- and see what bargains were being flashed at the likes of Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon.com and others.

The first bad news of the morning happened when I tried to hit www.walmart.com -- the image to the right is the message I was greeted with when trying to access the website of the world's largest retailer.

This is *not* a good sign for those that were probably wanting to shop from their PJs in the comfort of their own homes rather than drive to a store in the dark *hoping* to get a special bargain by throwing elbows and being pushy (maybe).

Hope this "temporarily available" message doesn't last for long -- because right now, woe is Wal-Mart. Or, at least, its website.

For those of you who have been reading my series on what I call "Black Friday Madness" today, we'll end the series by my asking of the nuts-n-bolts question of the hour -- which retailers do you plan to visit this Friday?

The answers from many millions of shoppers -- if not the majority of them -- will probably be "whoever has the best prices". That's a completely valid reason, I might add. The price-savviest consumers will be perched on a schedule and strategy that places product pricing above all else, retailer be forgotten.

But, based on where the bulk of your holiday shopping may be, there are some who will prefer to be at one retailer first before all else. Most national retailers will open early this Friday -- many at 5am -- to let the hordes of patiently waiting consumers into stores to rid the shelves and back rooms of any bargain that is available.

Yet others will show up at their favorite retailer to get the bargains from a preferred shopping partner rather than going where the absolute lowest-prices products can be found. Where will you be very early Friday morning, and what's at the top of your shopping list? Be careful out there and keep a level head this Friday -- don't let the triptophan mess you up from the day before -- ok?

Happy hunting, pecking, grabbing and swiping.

After eating a good portion of turkey, dressing, potatoes and cranberry sauce tomorrow, millions of us will sit down to a TV full of football (mostly men) while others will rifle through every possible newspaper they can find to circle the bargains they want and organize their next day into one of craziness amid several perfected strategies of store-hopping (mostly women). Notice how the football strategy seems so much more laid-back than black Friday shopping? That's because it is.

The experience millions of shoppers will have this Friday will be nothing short of a lesson in capitalism at its core, where supply and demand meet at a crossroads only to be ran over by the hapless shopper racing to get to the next store to save 30% on this year's choice toy -- or maybe a new plasma TV.

Are you looking forward to the experience that is Black Friday a few days from now? There are some people I know ho actually look forward to this with great anticipation and cannot wait for all the madness. There's nothing like the feeling of getting a perfect bargain -- and it's almost like being on a drug according to some. The exhilaration of getting that perfect bargain is like a bong hit of epic proportions. That seratonin really starts flying through the veins of some shoppers I think.

What's your stance? Do you participate in the Black Friday madness out of shopping necessity or out of the overall experience being uplifting in a strange kind of way?

If you're a web junkie, you've probably already seen websites like www.bfads.net and blackfriday.gottadeal.com which are two of the heavier sites for publishing rumors as well as actual scanned ads from dozens of major nationwide retailers that will really get customers pumped for the largest shopping day of the year -- the day after Thanksgiving.

I know of many people who don't use this day as a gift-giving extravaganza really, but more of a wild personal shopping day in order to get that new computer or television set for the living room. Millions of other shoppers use the day to purchase holiday gifts for giving during the Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa celebrations as well.

But, what about the time you spend wading through legions of advertisements, comparing notes and product prices, drive time to loads of stores, wait time in all the respective lines inside and outside the store, and the complete picture of all the resources you have to pull together to get all those *special* bargains purchased. Was it all really worth it? Was the total picture of money you *saved* larger than all the time and resources you spent to get access to those bargains and then ultimately purchase as many of them as you could?

When time is money, my bet is that the sheer experience of Black Friday shopping makes an analysis of the "time is money" economic concept go right out the window, or windows in this case. How about you -- do you believe that the actual cash (or credit card balance) you save is larger than all the time you spend trying to jump on as many bargains as you can?

When you think of Black Friday sales, traffic, prices, travel, choices and strategy (those are all components), do you ever wonder if all the effort to get those *great* bargains is really worth it? For example, do Black Friday sales cause you to purchase things that seem to be incredible bargains but that may not be the right gifts for the holiday season?

Take solace in the notion that many companies -- manufacturers and retailers -- live for this Friday and even design an entire year's marketing strategy around this single day -- and the ensuing shopping days as well. This is a rather goofy commerce strategy, but it is what it is. "Black Friday" is named due to the fact that these same companies and even retailers may have lost money during the rest of the year ("in the red"), and Black Friday is the day when profits return ("in the black").

It's hard to imagine pieces of the world's largest economy being determined by a single day of commerce, but for years (decades) now, Black Friday has been the linchpin of the entire sales year for many retailers. It's a time when sheer volume (with lower margins) brings in the dollars that makes other higher-margin times of the year seem feeble -- even though the bargains may be complete loss leaders for many retailers. The point? Get shoppers into the store, and let their imaginations run wild -- along with their wallets and purses.

Looking for toy and game bargains come this Friday, aka Black Friday? You've got it with some of the below choices, with many popular toys -- and even some games -- selling for less than $20 this Friday (and most likely Saturday as well). With the recent launch of the Sony Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii gaming consoles, console specials and associated games probably won't be featured heavily (if at all) in Black Friday deals with the launches having happened so recently. So, for less-expensive tastes, how about the below goodies:

Wal-Mart
Candyland Dora the Explorer Edition -- $9
Bratz sleepover doll -- $10
Disney princess director's chair -- $10
Playstation 2 three-game pack assortment -- $10
Cabbage Patch Kids Snuggle Beans assortment -- $10
Hot Wheels 20-car assortment -- $10

Target
Bratz doll -- $10
Cabbage Patch Kids cry and drink baby dolls -- $15
Bratz Babyz bride and groom set -- $15
Barbie mini-kingdom carriage and dolls -- $15
Star Wars transformer -- $15
Yahtzee turbo board game -- $15

Toys R Us
Dave Mirra freestyle BMX (Playstation 2) -- $5
Monster House DVD -- $8
Trivial Pursuit Star Wars Saga edition -- $10
Crayola super coloring kit -- $10
Leapfrog Books rainbow fish book -- $10
Magnetix 100-piece tube game set -- $15

Got gaming on your list? Target will be selling the Nintendo DS Lite for $129.99. Currently, it is listed for $224.99. There will definitely be more high-tech toy specials going round the ads this Friday, so keep your eagle eye out like I know you will. One word -- leave the kids at home with the significant other or a family member for this shopping experience (that goes without saying).

Although TVs are moving from the old tube-style to the new slim-style -- as in LCD and Plasma TVs -- the prices are finally starting to reach a point that the newer (if they can be called that now) and slimmer TVs are very affordable to most of us. In fact, a 20" LCD TV can now be had for about $200 if you look hard and research carefully -- just 10 years ago it was the tube TVs of 20" that were $200. A decade really does make a difference.

Below are some of the best bargains for TVs -- of all sizes and types -- that I found from some of the major retailers. Wal-Mart and Target are in this list -- as they are the largest discount retailers -- and so are Circuit City and Best Buy, the nation's two largest consumer electronics retailers.

Looking for a new TV for the family of for a rather nice holiday gift? If you're brave enough to shove a few elbows this Friday (and Saturday, if anything is left), here are the bargains you'll come across:

Wal-Mart
20" flat-screen TV -- $69
42" Widescreen Plasma HDTV -- $988
32" LCD HDTV -- $598

Target
37" LCD HDTV -- $1097
19" LCD HD-Ready TV -- $179

Best Buy
15" LCD TV -- $130
42" LCD HDTV -- $999

Circuit City
52" Rear-projection HDTV -- $999
40" LCD HDTV -- $999

Among the leaks for TV and DVDs, K-mart's 19" Trutech LCD TV can be had for $179 (regular: $349.99). That is one heckuva bargain at nearly 50% off. So, go snatch up that new TV this Friday so you can relax (heh, that's funny) this holiday season -- possibly in HDTV-style.

Looking for the perfect gift for the husband, dad, or grown son on your list? My advice: Skip the clothing racks and go straight for the hardware aisles. Another tie, sweater or pair of pajamas reeks of domesticity, comfort and a kind of quiet fading into the sunset. Instead, set his pulse to racing with a gift that shows you think he's a real man, a take-charge kind of guy, king of his castle and all that.

Some high-quality tools should do the trick. And, at these prices -- a leaked Sears circular indicates half-off sales for Craftsman tools -- quality tools are a great investment. How about a new socket wrench set, grip sander or miter saw? BFads.com is showing that you can purchase a DeWalt Heavy Duty Grip Sander for $29.99 with rebate at Ace Hardware.

The trick is to get tools that are so cool that he'll be happy to have them even if he never plans on using them. No home should be without a really nice cordless electric drill, for example. Shop at Big Lots on Black Friday and you can pick up a Stanley 150-piece "Fast Change Drill and Drive System" for $39 (listed on Gotta Deal's Black Friday site). Think of that: You get to give to give speed, drilling and driving -- all in one box!

Looking for an inexpensive but functional and possibly fully-loaded laptop or desktop computer this holiday season? Whether it's for the kids or a very nice gift for someone else (maybe even yourself), there will be some incredible bargains this Friday (and Saturday in most cases) at some of the larger retailers of PCs: CompUSA, Best Buy, and Circuit City.

Although some special deals require rebates, cellular activations, and other gimmicks for the lowest "advertised price", the wait may be worth it regardless. That's what Black Friday is for, right? As laptop computers have come down dramatically in price in recent years, this year's Black Friday deals on laptops especially should get millions of bargain hunters salivating like crazy.

With that said, below are some of the deals on laptops and a few desktop PCs as well. Of course, read the fine print once you do see the ads to see how many hoops you have to jump through to get some of these prices -- things like subletting your apartment and selling an ownership stake in all your cars. Just kidding.

CompUSA
Compaq 15.4" widescreen laptop -- $199
eMachines Windows Media Center PC -- $99
HP Media Center laptop with dual-core CPU -- $549

Circuit City
Acer 15.4" laptop with dual-core CPU -- $599
Compaq 15.4" widescreen laptop -- $99

Best Buy
HP 15.4" widescreen laptop with Core Solo CPU -- $379
Compaq desktop PC with 15" LCD monitor -- $399

Wal-Mart
Compaq desktop PC with 17" LCD monitor and printer -- $588
Compaq notebook PC with printer and external speakers -- $698
No mention of a $199 laptop here -- at least, not yet. Stay tuned for Thursday's ads, though. Although a Wal-Mart executive hinted at a $199 Black Friday laptop recently, Wal-Mart may be keeping that under very secret wraps for now.

With Black Friday just a few days away, many of us will be packing our stomachs with plenty of food Thursday and then will be packing stores even fuller come Friday morning as we check out the multitude of bargains that will be available at just about every retail store imaginable.

What are some of the *standout* bargains at some of the bigger retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy. Circuit City, Toys R Us and others? I've been tuned into sites like www.BFads.net and www.GottaDeal.com to see what is lurking for shoppers come Friday morning and beyond -- and there are some deals to be had.

For example, Wal-Mart should be selling a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze2308wm notebook computer for $398, an HP Photosmart E317 digital camera for $98.88, a Lexmark all-in-one printer, scanner and copier for $39.88 and a 12-cup coffeemaker, food chopper or 2 qt. slow cooker for just $4.24. One of those sub-$5 coffee makers may come in handy as you wait... and wait... and wait in checkout lines. Bring your best insulated coffee mug with you, alright?

So, without further ado, I'm going to list the best Black Friday deals, right here on BloggingStocks, from eight of the top retailers in the nation in these three ultra-popular categories: Toys/Games, Computers/Laptop Systems and TVs/Electronics. The retailers that I'll cover will come from the below retailer list. Enjoy!

>> Best Buy
>> Circuit City
>> J.C. Penneys
>> Sears
>> Target
>> Toys R Us
>> Wal-Mart

The Wall Street Journal had a story [subscription required] a month or so ago in which readers complained about the ubiquity of digital cameras, reporting that at weddings, so many of the guests were snapping photos that there were no pictures of people enjoying themselves -- only meta-photos of other cameras. I'm certainly the worst kind of offender; my mom's been known to tell me that it still happened even if I didn't get a picture of it! (My answer: no it didn't!)

Is there a technology backlash? Are consumers deciding to forego the digitalization of every minute of their lives and just frickin' enjoy them for a minute? Ummm, nope. If the leaked sales for Black Friday are any indication, come New Year's Eve, there will be ever more amateurs making high-resolution memories of that New Year's kiss.

I remember it used to be $100 per megapixel, but now you can get massive resolution for a miniature price. But how many megapixels do you (and your gift-ees) need? And can you really get a good 6MP camera for $99? Here are some of the sales we've found for this Friday:

Sears
Polaroid i630 6MP Digital Camera $99
Kodak EasyShare 6.1MP Digital Camera and Printer Dock $329.99
Kodak EasyShare 7.1MP Digital Camera with Printer Dock $244.00 Doorbuster Sale

Wal-Mart
Casio Elixim EX-Z60 Digital Camera $199.88
Kodak Z612 Digital Camera $329.76
Kodak EasyShare C633 Digital Camera and Printer Dock $189.74 Doorbuster Sale

Best Buy
Canon PowerShot 6MP Digital ELPH Camera $219.99
Kodak 5MP Digital Camera $79.99 Doorbuster Sale
Nikon Coolpix 5.1MP Digital Camera $119.99

Plasma HDTVs have always seemed to have had a curious target market. Back in 2000, when the industry was really just beginning to explore the possibilities, I was working with a company that sold used goods on eBay. We did a favor for our dotcom bank, helping the account managers liquidate some assets from a bankrupt fellow startup. The prize was a 60-some" plasma screen, which I very quickly sold to a man in Kentucky for a hefty sum. He drove down to pick it up and I learned he had paid his entire monthly paycheck for the giant toy -- but he still lived with his parents, so where else was he going to spend his web designer salary?

Now that 22-year-old web site designers are no longer making six-figure salaries, HDTV manufacturers have had to change their marketing strategy a bit. Instead of marketing to dotcom CEOs and their overpaid, pixel-hungry staffers, they're now marketing to the regular Joe. This is the one who has just enough room left on his credit card for these plasma HDTVs being offered, according to BFads.com, at $1000 and less. Here are just a few of the reported deals we found:

Wal-Mart
42" Widescreen Plasma HDTV -- $988

Target
37" LCD HDTV -- $1097

Best Buy
42" LCD HDTV -- $999

Circuit City
52" Rear-projection HDTV -- $999
40" LCD HDTV -- $999

Why not start small when you're shopping for your holiday gifts? No, not small in storage capacity or features. Just in size and price. To misquote an old adage, storage capacity will double in amount as it halves in price, and it's never seemed more true than in reviewing the leaked ads for this Black Friday. Who has the best deals on tiny and useful peripherals this weekend? According to our sources at BlackFridayAds.com, these are a few of the highlights:

Storage
Polaroid 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card, $29.99 at Circuit City
PNY Attaché 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive, $14.99 at Best Buy
PNY 1GB Secure Digital Memory Card, $14.99 at Best Buy
SanDisk 2GB SD Memory Card, $29.99 at Best Buy

Peripherals
HP Deskjet 3940 Color Inkjet, $24.99 at Circuit City
Linksys Wireless-N Wireless Router With 4-Port Switch, $129.99 at Best Buy
Motorola Bluetooth Headset, $14.99 at Best Buy

Update November, 2008: WalletPop.com has prepared a gallery of 22 Black Friday deals. Check it out to learn about this year's deals.


With the infamous Black Friday less than a week away, details about special offers from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) are beginning to leak out. Some Black Friday ad websites such as BFAds.net are starting to post sale items from actual ads for this Friday's massive retail sales day.

Wal-Mart's ads are generally so secretive that it can be hard to know what the chain will feature on sale, even as retailers like Target, J.C. Penneys and Kohl's have their Black Friday ads scanned and posted all over the web long before the day arrives.

With Wal-Mart recently dropping hints for a $99 laptop computer and other sale items, the chain said late last week that it will unveil "extraordinary values" on a handful of items on its online store Thanksgiving day, a day before Black Friday. Wal-Mart stated that this strategy is a first in its history.

Wal-Mart said it plans to announce more than 70 "Black Friday" values this Thanksgiving holiday in ad circulars in addition to eight additional items that will be available only at stores from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. this coming Friday. Those "additional items" are probably $14 DVD players, $69 Nintendo DS game systems and $799 plasma TVs -- though these are just my guesses.