OMG!!! As part of its Star Wars Weekend event, Disney is giving fans the chance to receive a 3D-printed Stormtrooper figure of themselves!

The big event runs from May 17 to June 9 and takes place at the D-Tech Me experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney will take the high resolution 3D face scans of each person in attendance and then create the 3D-printed Stormtrooper figuring.

The entire process takes 10-minutes to complete and the high-resolution 3D printer does the rest.

Buyers will have to wait approximately seven to eight weeks to receive their new figuring via domestic shipping.

Also being made available is the option to “cast yourself in Carbonite.” That option inspired by the popular Hans Solo scene from The Empire Strikes Back will allow fans to receive a Carbon-Freeze Me light-up band or a collector button depending on their choice in product.

Disney is charging $99.95 for the Star Wars D-Tech Me experience.

While some Star Wars fans are still skeptical about Disney’s involvement in the Star Wars franchise, it’s this type of cool promotion that makes for an exciting new approach to promoting the long-lived franchise.

With more rumors sure to arrive over the coming months and JJ Abrams stepping in to direct the first new Star Wars movie in years, we can likely expect more publicity stunts for the series in the near future.

Are you excited to see what Abrams and Disney can do with the Star Wars franchise, or would you rather have left the series in the hands of George Lucas and ILM?

Turn Yourself Into A Star Wars Stormtrooper With An Awesome 3D-Printed Figurine is a post from: The Inquisitr

The dreaded April 15 tax deadline is upon us, but that also means its time to receive some tax day freebies from companies all throughout the US.

The team at  Dealnews.com scoured their service to find some of the most yummy and relaxing freebies available to stressed out tax filers.

Tax day freebies include a third-straight year of free food from fast food provider Arby’s. The company will allow customers to choose between a free value-sized order of Curly Friends or a small order of Potato cakes. To take advantage of the offer, you simply use the company’s printable coupon.

Also on the food front is Panda Express, which will actually offer its freebie on April 17, just as it did during last year’s late tax filing period. Panda Express customers can print this coupon or show it off on their mobile phone for a free Samurai Surf & Turf entree.

After you have wolfed down some Arby’s or Panda Express, you can grab some free dessert at Cinnabon where you will receive two Cinnabon Bites at no charge.

Freebies aren’t just about food. The team at Office Depot will give customers a free black and white copy of their tax return (up to 25 pages, single-sided). Office Depot will also dispose of paper documents with up to 5lbs. of free shredding services.

After you finish off your stressful day of tax filing at the last moment, you can get a free printable coupon for a HydroMassage Experience. This particular offer runs from April 15 through April 19.

In an email to The Inquisitr, the Dealnews team provided several more excellent quick Freebies from top retail locations:

• Schlotzsky’s: The Original small sandwich for free with the purchase of a 32-oz. drink and chips (4/15 only)
• 7-Eleven: Medium Slurpee for free when you text “Slurp7″ to “711711″ (ends 4/30)
• The Melting Pot: Buy one portion of cheese fondue, get a second one for free (ends 4/11)
• Subway: Buy one 6″ sandwich before 9 am, get a second one for free (ends 4/30)
• Chili’s: Free appetizer or dessert when you “like” its Facebook page (ends 4/15)

While these deals are all great there is one thing better — doing away with taxes all together.

Will you be taking advantage of any tax day freebies?

Tax Day Freebies: Enjoy These Awesome Treats At No Cost is a post from: The Inquisitr

Walmart has announced plans to extend its Scan & Go iPhone checkout system to more than 200 stores by the end of 2013.

Walmart officials first rolled out the Scan & Go checkout system near its home base in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since first launching, the program has expanded to nearly 70 stores in the United States.

The retail giant plans to keep the system available for iPhone users only at this time. Android support is “expected” in the near future according to a company spokesperson.

The Scan & Go iPhone checkout app is simple to use, buyers just scan the barcodes on items as they shop. Scanned barcodes are then tallied, and a payment is made at a self-checkout lane. Customers can choose to pay with cash or use a credit card.

Unfortunately, Walmart has not yet made plans that would allow Scan & Go checkout to be used with mobile payment systems.

The list of markets to receive the new Walmart payment tech in 2013 so far include Austin, Denver, Phoenix, Omaha, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wyoming, Montana, Seattle, San Jose, and Portland.

Walmart and other retailers are actively seeking new and exciting ways to serve their customers while limiting the number of physical employees at their brick & mortar locations. By putting the check out responsibility in a user’s hand, Walmart can have one employee monitoring a dozen self checkout lanes.

Other possible technologies available to Walmart include the highly touted NFC standard and PayPal payments. Home Depot has rolled out PayPal solutions at  all of its hardware stores nationwide.

The big question now remains whether or not customers will take to the new payment systems en masse. If early testing is any indication, many users actually prefer mobile payments to cash or traditional credit card forms.

Are you willing to scan your own items and make a payment on your way out of your local Walmart?

[Image via trekandshoot / Shutterstock.com]

Walmart Scan & Go iPhone Checkout System Expanding To 200+ Stores is a post from: The Inquisitr

Getting married in 2012 was the second most expensive year for marriage in recorded history. According to a study by TheKnot.com, the average couple spent a whopping $28,427 on their dream wedding.

The study which surveyed 17,500 people showed an increase over the 2011 average of $27,021.

Averages were pushed up by higher spending in large cities. For example, the average wedding budget for a Manhattan couple was $76,686, and, in Chicago, that price was still high at $49,810. Also spending big cash on weddings were New Jersey residents, who blew through $48,496 on average.

Not all states and cities were big spenders. Couples in Alaska spent a rather low $15,504  on their dream weddings.

The study found that all categories of wedding spending increased including flowers, DJ services, photographers, and wedding invites.

While the national average is mind-boggling for frugal spenders, it is still below the 2008 high of $29,334.

The cost of each person’s wedding didn’t include their honeymoon, which can easily add thousands of dollars to the overall cost of getting married.

TheKnot also surveyed same-sex couples for the first time and found that they spent more on their weddings than heterosexual couples. The higher spend among gay couples was despite having fewer guests at their weddings.

In the survey, 26 percent of respondents said they would have spent more if the economy was in better shape. That response is actually a 3 percent decrease over 20011 numbers and an 8 percent decrease over 2009 responses.

On average, each wedding spent $204 per guest, costs that were pushed higher in 2012 thanks to the inclusion of shuttles and buses that ferried guests from their hotel to the wedding ceremony, then to the reception, and finally back to their hotel rooms. Extras in 2012 added $10 to the average cost per guest. More than 25 percent of wedding respondents said they included shuttle or bus service for their special day.

Do you think wedding spending has gotten out of control?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Wedding Costs Skyrocketed In 2012, Averaged $28,427 is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new program being called Google Shopping Express aims to take on Amazon Prime’s shipping service by offering expedited shipping from major retailers throughout the United States.

According to a TechCrunch report, the Google Shopping Express system will cost just $69 or $64 per year, about $10 to $15 less than Amazon Prime, and will offer same day deliver from major retailers. Named as potential partners are Wal-Mart, Target, and Safeway among others.

While Google’s system is cheaper, Amazon Prime also provides movie and TV video streaming to customers at no additional charge. Plus, customers can do all of their shopping in one place instead of through dozens of or even hundreds of retailers.

Google is not confirming the report at this time, noting that there is “nothing to announce” while admitting that Google is always looking to improve its retail services and its shopping partners.

The new service if made available could tie in nicely to Google Shopping and Google Wallet, both of which have been successful vehicles for Google. Using Google Wallet customers already purchase apps, buy movies, and pony up cash for their favorite books.

The 2013 holiday season is expected to see double digit sales growth which could explain why Google would be so eager to launch Google Shopping Express.

The new Google platform would likely be helped along by its recent acquisition of Channel Intelligence, a system that provides data management for online purchases. Google also picked up BufferBox, a system that allows business to drop off packages at specific locations where customers can pick up their goods at a later time.

The report suggests that e-commerce product manager Tom Fallows is leading the Google Shopping Experience team.

Testing is believed to be underway in-house but no official plans for a release or details about how the system would operate have been revealed.

Would you use the Google Shopping Express platform for your shopping needs?

Google ‘Shopping Express’ To Rival Amazon Prime, Offer Same-Day Delivery is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Piers 1 Imports located on Staten Island is facing a substantial fine for exposing workers to unsafe working conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced yesterday that the chain made five safety violations, including two repeats, resulting in a fine of $45,100.

The two repeat violations included obstructing the space in front of electrical panels and failing to provide a clear exit route. The two violations carried a penalty of $28,600. A Pier 1 Imports located in Acton, MA faced similar issues two years ago.

The three remaining violations amounted to a total of $16,500. Pier 1 Imports was cited with failing to properly store materials, keep storage areas free of hazards, and train workers on chemical hazards. These are considered serious violations because they can easily result in the serious injury or death of an employee.

“Pier 1 Imports has demonstrated a disregard for their workers’ safety by failing to correct hazards previously brought to their attention,” Patricia Jones, Director of OSHA’s Avenel, N.J., Area Office, said. “Employers are responsible for ensuring employees have a safe and healthy work environment.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration operates under the US Department of Labor and is tasked with ensuring safe working conditions by setting and enforcing standards. The agency formed in 1971 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Pier 1 Imports is a global importer of home furnishings and decor based in Forth Worth, TX.  The company was founded in 1962 and now employs roughly 17,000 employees across 1,000 Pier 1 locations in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Pier 1 Location Fined For Repeat Safety Violations is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s that time of year when millions of Americans receive their annual tax refunds. While some of those tax payers will put their money away for a rainy day, most will take the money from their tax refund and buy items they want and need.

The team at Deal News conducted some researcher and found that 76 percent of American’s will receive a refund. While the average tax refund is expected to fall by 3.8 percent compared to 2011, that still means millions of taxpayers will have an average of $2,803 back in their pockets.

In 2013, more people will use the money they receive to pay down debt. According to the study, 44 percent of tax refund receivers will pay down debt; that’s an increase of six percent year-over-year. The study also found that 34 percent will save their money for a rainy day, and the remaining 22 percent will spend their hard earned tax refund.

So what exactly do people plan to buy with the $2,803 they hope to receive? Here is the breakdown:

Forty-four percent of buyers will spend their cash on electronics, a five percent increase over 2011 tax rebate numbers. Thirty percent of tax refunds will be spent on travel for a vacation; that number is compared to 26 percent in 2011. The remainder of tax refunds will be spent on home and garden, clothing and accessories, media and entertainment, and 11 percent going towards everyday expenses.

The study further examines how much money the average person plans to spend, how much money they will save, and how much of their rebate will go towards paying down their bills.

Check out the full infographic below:

How Americans Will Spend Their Tax Refunds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Windows 8 Blue rumors say that a new Microsoft Windows 8 upgrade called Windows Blue will be coming out in August of 2013. The upcoming Windows 8 Blue is triggering a fire sale for current generation Windows 8 based PCs and laptops.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Windows Blue is the upcoming upgrade to Windows 8 launching this fall, with a free consumer preview to be available soon. Microsoft is said to be making the Windows Blue upgrade free for current Windows 8 users, but that has not stopped a Windows 8 fire sale from happening now.

InforWorld reports that manufacturers and retailers are trying to clear out their Windows 8 stock in anticipation of the release of Windows 8 Blue. They point out indicators that stores are “swollen with Windows machines” and the best-selling Windows 8 machines from Lenovo are discounted from 30 to 40 percent.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Best Buy is offering a $100 discount on touchscreen laptops and desktops running Windows 8 for the next two weeks:

“[Best Buy reportedly] decided to launch the promotion after recent surveys the company conducted showed the consumers who bought touchscreen Windows 8 devices were significantly happier than those who bought PCs with a typical [non-touch-sensitive] … 74 percent of people who had bought a touchscreen device said they liked Windows 8 ‘somewhat’ or ‘very much.’ About 53 percent of respondents who bought a conventional Windows 8 PC said they liked the operating system.”

When Windows 8 first launched, Microsoft sold a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for only $39.99, but that expired on January 31. For those who bought a Windows 7 machine from June 2, 2012 through January 31, 2013, there still exists the opportunity to upgrade to Window 8 Pro for only $14.99 but that deal expires on February 28. After Thursday, Windows 8 upgrade prices will skyrocket to $119.99 for the regular edition and $199.99 for the Pro version.

Will you be buying a Windows 8 machine when they’re on sale now or wait until Windows Blue is available?

Windows 8 Blue Rumors Trigger Windows 8 Fire Sale With $100 Discounts is a post from: The Inquisitr

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and the team at Discover card has surveyed buyers to determine how much money they will spend on their loved ones.

While 28 percent of people surveyed said they would buy nothing on Valentine’s Day, 45 percent of partners claimed they would buy a small gift worth $1-$25. In comparison, only one percent of survey takers were willing to spend $200 or more on a single gift.

When it comes to buying Valentine’s Day gifts, women and men were nearly even at 28 percent. Fifty percent of female participants said they would spend $1-$25 compared to 39 percent of men who claimed they would spend the same amount of money. Ten percent of men said they would spend $51-$100 while six percent of women said they would spend the same.

When it comes to gifts worth $200 or more, one percent of men said they would spend a large amount of money. Women were not willing to spend $200+ on their partner.

While examining what type of gifts people want, the top answer was a romantic dinner followed by candy, chocolate, and flowers. In third place was music, books, and other electronics. Jewelry and a night on the town round out the top five Valentine’s Day gift requests.

The Discover 2013 Valentine’s Day Shopping Survey was conducted online with 1,000 adult US general population respondents. The survey was conducted by Penn Schoen Berland from January 16 to January 21, 2013.

Check out the full Discover card infographic below to see how your Valentine’s Day gift buying compares to other men and women.

We recently reported on another survey that found women were less interested in chocolate, flowers, and lingerie and more interested in spending time with their loved one.

Valentine’s Day Gift Buying By The Numbers [Infographic] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Playmobil is known world-wide as one of the foremost inventors of elaborate children’s play sets. Their collection of moveable figurines and tiny accessories has helped develop children’s imaginations for nearly forty years. Now, the German toymaker is under fire for one of their newest play sets: “Bank with Safe.”

Anti-gun activists in the U.K. are calling the new play set “horrendous,” saying that it is “stimulating those imaginations in the wrong way.”

The “Bank with Safe” set — sold on Playmobil’s website for $49.99 — includes a blonde bank robber toting a handgun, a red hand bag, and dark sunglasses. The set also includes a banker, ATM machine, and tiny gold bars and cash.

The target audience of the toy are kids ages 4 to 10, so there is no blood or violence. The banker even has a strangely serene look on his face. In the advertisement, the banker is posed holding money out for the robber. The robber waits with the gun pointed at the floor, hand bag outstretched.

No police figurines are included in the set, so the poor banker is on his own. Policemen are available in another City Action set, however. Obviously, in the current climate of continual gun debate, the play set is not sitting well with certain advocacy groups in the U.K., where the toy is currently available in Britain’s Toys ‘R Us stores.

“We don’t want to be encouraging young people to look at these sorts of things. I think it is horrendous that young people are given all these images to shape them,” Danny Bryan, chairman of Communities Against Gun and Knife Crime, claims. “I wonder what is going on. It is sending out the wrong message.”

Yahoo! News cites one commenter, who wrote a letter to Early Learning Centre, a popular toy shop in the U.K. that stocks the set. Paul Green writes, “How does this product reconcile with your published aim to stock ‘toys that help children get off to the best possible start?’ The best possible start in what exactly? Criminal activity? Are you planning on having a play drugs den complete with dirty syringes or a play pub complete with brawling figures with broken beer bottles and fake blood?”

But other parents don’t see the problem. Sara Kent, who lives in California with her husband and daughter, told The Inquisitr that gun violence isn’t something that begins with toys, but with parenting:

“From my personal point of view I see nothing wrong with the toy. It’s our jobs as parents to in still a knowledge of gun safety with our children. In my house my daughter plays with fake swords and guns. If letting her play with toy that involves a gun or any sort of weapon makes her think its okay to harm someone with the real thing, I’d take that as a parenting failure on my part for not telling her what damage the real thing could do!”

Others feel that it’s better to let kids to their own imagining, instead of putting toys in their hands that suggest violence. Tara Yaws, mother to 6-year-old Peyton and 4-year-old Dylan, said she wouldn’t buy the set for her sons. “I don’t like realistic violent play and crime play,” says the mother of three. “I don’t it when they shoot pretend to shoot guns at people. I am still getting used to how boys play and they do play in a much rougher way.”

She adds, “It is a hard spot with their toys, but I suppose you have to choose what you as a parent are comfortable with.”

What do you think about Playmobil’s new “Bank with Safe” set?

Playmobile Bank Robbery Set ‘Horrendous’ Say Anti-Gun Activists is a post from: The Inquisitr

Regular shoppers are looking forward to bringing the J.C. Penney sales back. Almost exactly a year ago, the retail giant tried a bold business strategy where the discounts, coupons, and sales were replaced by “everyday lower prices.” This strategy did not work as intended, and now they’re bringing the J.C. Penney sales back.

The company intends to move away from the marketing phrase “month-long value” because J.C. Penney discovered their customers did not really understood that as being, in actuality, a sale. Customers were used to seeing around 600 sales per year spread among their various departments, and the new way of doing business was just too confusing. Without this clear distinction, many customers chose to abandon J.C. Penney.

J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who took over the helm of the company in late 2011 and is the man behind many of the sweeping updates to the department store chain, told the Associated Press the reasons for bringing the J.C. Penney sales back:

“Our sales have gone backward a little more than we expected, but that doesn’t change the vision or the strategy. We made changes and we learned an incredible amount. That is what’s informing our tactics as we go forward.”

J.C. Penney is expected to report its fourth consecutive quarter of big sales drops and profit losses in the coming month. After losing more than half of its value, Penney stock is trading at around $18 and the company’s credit ratings are in junk status.

USA Today reports that J.C. Penney’s first sale of 2013 will be for Valentine’s Day. In addition, the retailer plans on marking its merchandise with the real prices of competitors in order to let customers know the value they are receiving.

Now that they are bringing the J.C. Penney sales back, will you change your shopping habits?

J.C. Penney Sales Back After Year Of ‘Everyday Low Price’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amazon increased its cash and investment holdings to $9 billion over the 2012 holiday shopping season, according to several industry analysts and investors. Those analysts speculate that Amazon earned its highest revenues to date in December.

According to The Guardian, Wall Street estimates placed Amazon revenues for the past quarter at $22 billion, a 59.3 percent jump from the $13.81 billion the online retailer earned in Q3 2012. The increase is also a 26 percent jump from Amazon’s Q4 2011.

Experts believe that Amazon’s cash reserves and savings now sit between $7 and $9 billion.

Morgan Stanley estimates that Amazon now holds $9 billion in savings with $6.8 billion in cash and the rest held in short-term investments. Brokers at Morningstar place Amazon’s reserves somewhere between $7 billion and $8 billion.

Amazon was expecting huge holiday sales when it took on an additional 50,000 seasonal workers, an increase over its 2011 hiring practices.

Near the end of December, Amazon announced that it had shipped more than 15.6 million products across all of its store categories.

Amazon isn’t only big in the United States. The UK is believed to have contributed $900 million to Amazon’s current cash pile, an amount equal to 10 percent of the company’s reserves.

With huge cash and savings holdings, some analysts warn that Amazon could come under further government scrutiny for its offshore tax havens, which have reduced Amazon’s tax payments.

Amazon has already come under fire in the UK where it has earned £7 billion from customers but paid only £2.3 million since its sales are routed through Luxembourg.

Amazon Pocketed $9 Billion During Holiday Shopping Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

Le Parcel is bringing monthly subscription services to an area where it makes sense, a woman’s monthly cycle. The company offers a home delivery service that provides females with their preferred brand of tampons, pads, and panty liners.

The startup allows buyers to choose their favorite brand of feminine hygiene products, and it then delivers those products along with some chocolates on a monthly basis.

The website currently includes more than 30 different products including tampons, pads, and panty liners. Buyers can choose between top brands including Tampax, Kotex, Always, and Playtex.

Buyers pay $15 per month, and, for that cost, they receive 30 different products, which can be mixed and matched. For example, you can choose 10 Tampax Tampons, throw in 10 Super absorbent Playtex products, and add 10 Always panty liners. By mixing and matching products, females can match their cycle needs with the service’s convenience.

The platform is consumer friendly, allowing females to choose when they need their shipments to arrive in order to receive their product well ahead of their period.

We order DVDs by mail, guys order razors by mail, and we often have auto-bill pay setup for other bills, so why not do the same for products that females actually need.

Here is a video produced by the team at Le Parcel which explains their simple, cost effective female hygiene products platform:

As a guy, I applaud any service that saves me from hearing “honey can you run to the store and buy me some tampons.”

The service has been met with a few harsh reviews in other write-ups, mostly surrounding the price structure and products available; however, it’s still a young service with plenty of time to scale its services and ultimately its pricing.

Interested in this service? Visit LeParcel.com to begin ordering your feminine hygiene products today.

Le Parcel Brings Monthly Delivery Service To Your Monthly Cycle is a post from: The Inquisitr

Design-focused e-commerce website Fab has emerged as a powerhouse in the design sales industry, announced on Monday that it has surpassed 10 million active members. You may recall that Fab announced just 7.5 million members in September 2012.

Speaking to investors the shopping portal announced its increasing numbers with the help of a 103-slide presentation focused on investor relations. Fab has only been operating for 18 months but has already sold 4.3 million products.

If you take the number of products sold by Fab and divide them by its time in existence (June, 2011) you’ll discover that the company is selling 5.4 products per minute.

Over the holiday shopping season Fab impressed buyers and investors by selling through 17.5 products per minute.

In comparison the massive Amazon.com portal sold 300 products per minute at its holiday peak, however Amazon sells a much wider selection of products and employs far more people than Fab.

Fab also revealed that sales were up fivefold in Q4 compared to the prior years same reporting period. The company also revealed that a third of its sales are now internationally based.

In another slide Fab revealed that it now offers 15,000 products, opposed to the 2,000 products it was offering in 2011. Among those products nearly half are home-based products.

Throughout the presentation Fab compared itself to Ikea, one of the company’s that its founders modeled the company after.

Fab plans to continue its expansion into international markets while offering more “Fab-designed” products that can’t be found at other retailers. The company is also placing more of its focus on mobile based purchasing and platform browsing.

Fab Emerges As Design-Focused E-Commerce Powerhouse, Surpasses 10 Million Members is a post from: The Inquisitr

Fab managed to pull 56 percent of its Christmas Day US revenue from mobile apps, a new single-day record for the e-commerce platform with a focus on designer items. The company also announced that its mobile apps accounted for 40 percent of European revenue on Christmas Day, another Fab record.

Fab was hoping to break the 50 percent Christmas day sales point when it redesigned its iOS apps and released them in October. The newly redesigned Fab apps offer a more friendly user interface and social feeds where users can see what their friends are looking at during any given time.

Fab founder Jason Goldberg had predicted that his company would surpass 50 percent of overall revenue via mobile by the end of 2012.

The company has managed to pull off an amazing 2012, attracting 7.5 million users in 26 countries. On Cyber Monday, Fab managed to pull in $1.3 million in sales, a year-over-year increase of 3.5 times. Cyber Monday also marked the first time in Fab history that the company surpassed $1 million revenue in a single day.

Mobile payments are becoming more common place both via web platforms and in stores thanks to NFC and other payment types. As Fab continues to grow, we can expect to see many new mobile additions to its platform.

Are you surprised by Fab’s mobile apps success, or is the inevitable increase in mobile sales upon us thanks to users who are more readily accepting mobile payment options?

Fab Generates 56% Of Christmas Day Revenue From Mobile Apps is a post from: The Inquisitr

Post-Christmas sales are always a good time to pick up the things you wanted but didn’t get or need and decided to wait until after the purchasing frenzy to buy.

But post-Christmas sales in 2012 may be aggressive, as retail industry experts say overall retail sales are up a scant one percent over 2011. As shoppers decide where to allocate their precious post-Christmas dollars, retailers look to the after-holiday vibe for new opportunities in sales maximization.

Texas’ Cielo Vista and Sunland Park Mall Marketing Director Cindy Voght told local news station KFOX14 that returns are always a concern for post-Christmas sales, but retailers also receive an opportunity to expand on those transactions:

“Even though we do have customers that are doing returns, they can also take advantage of the sales … At that point they’ve received gift cards for the Christmas and that’s a great chance to take advantage of the sales and stretch the dollars a little bit more.”

MarketWatch explains that post-Christmas sales are just another factor that the industry can consider when determining the overall success of 2012 holiday sales. The site spoke with industry analyst Jennifer Black, who says that many shoppers waited until the final few days to make Christmas purchases and numbers for the 2012 shopping season will ultimately reflect that:

“The procrastinators were out in droves over the weekend as the last-minute shoppers took advantage of last minute-deals, and there were plenty of deals to be had … However, we do feel that consumers were a bit more cautious in their spending versus last year, especially in the luxury arena.”

Christmas sales, it’s like people queuing to get on Noah’s ark. twitter.com/JayDISCOVERED/…

— James. (@JayDISCOVERED) December 26, 2012

According to the news service, ShopperTrak expects that post-Christmas sales on the 26th alone will account for the 5th-busiest day traffic-wise and 7th-busiest day in dollar sales in 2012. If you plan to take advantage of post-Christmas sales, MoneyTalksNews has a list of tips to get the biggest bang for your buck in the final days of 2012.

Here’s an update on today’s best sales, including @madewell1937 @gap @saks and more: lcky.mg/10jinSl

— Lucky Magazine (@LuckyMagazine) December 26, 2012

Retro City Rampage, Hotline Miami and more Steam sales today aol.it/YMEArr

— Joystiq (@joystiq) December 26, 2012

Post Christmas Sales ‘High Stakes’ As Retailers Try To Boost 2012 Ledgers is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Christmas season is a time of holiday cheer, or at least it should be. With recent events and our economy, that cheer has been significantly subdued.

Christmas shoppers were out as usual, packing the shopping centers, but the dollars spent have been more sparing.  Between storms and economy woes, this season has taught us to be a little more careful with hard-earned dollars we might not get back.

Marshal Cohen, chief research analyst at NPD Inc., a market research firm with a network of analysts at shopping centers nationwide, calculates customer traffic over the weekend was the same as it was a year ago, but the dollars were not, says ABC Local.

Cohen says of the situation:

“There was this absence of joy for the holiday. There was no Christmas spirit. There have been just too many distractions.”

A stalemate between US Congress and the White House over the US budget could trigger a series of tax increases and spending cuts starting January 1, making many shoppers wonder if they’ll even have a job next year.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary was bad enough, but combine this with Hurricane Sandy, the impending dockworkers’ strike along the east coast, and the Fiscal Cliff, and you have a genuine maelstrom of potential collapse across the nation.

The Armageddon theorists almost gave us a way out, but that never happened. It is now the 24th of December and we’re still here.

Mall stores tried to boost our confidence and spending by hosting more sales, but, for Wendy McCloskey of Lebanon, Indiana, who went Christmas shopping Sunday at the Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, it wasn’t enough. She commented:

“I was so surprised. I figured they’d have better deals.”

And at The Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, Linda Fitzgerald said she didn’t feel like shopping this Christmas season, facing a sister’s cancer diagnosis alongside worries about the economy and the Connecticut shooting, states USA Today.

Fitzgerald, a 51-year-old nurse from Yonkers shopping with her 17-month-old granddaughter in tow said:

“It’s so hard to put yourself in the mood.”

Perhaps if America can pull itself out of this recession in time, we’ll look back on this Christmas season as a time of financial hardships that taught us to value what we have.

Fiscal Cliff And Disaster Taint The Christmas Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

Many pet owners buy presents for their pets during Christmas time.  But, this year Fido may be getting something better than a new squeaker toy as pet presents are going high tech.

There are many different presents for pet owners to choose from.  Want your dog to have a twitter account?  Mattelmakes Puppy Tweets. Just attach the puppy tweets tag to the dog’s collar. As you dog moves, plays, eats, and barks through the day the motion activity sensor inside the tag is transmitted to a USB receiver on your computer.

Dog owners can also help their dog get in shape with DogPacer’s Mini Treadmill .  Or if you live in a warm climate, Climate Right, sells an air conditioner for dog houses.

If you are looking for a cat present try FroliCat toys. It has a few high tech toys to make kitty happy. The FroliCat Dart uses an automated laser that creates a random path around the room.  It can be set for a certain amount of time allowing the owner to sit back and relax while the laser works for them. They also make the FroiCat Twitch. It automatically twitches and jumps. It can be set for single sessions or multiple sessions throughout the day. For iPad or tablet owners Friskies.com has apps for your cat for ipads and andorid users.

In an interview with Yahoo News, Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association, says technology is affecting every area of pet care including toys, food, and health care. Vetere said:

“There are many advances on the pet rehabilitation side of health care that weren’t even heard of a few years ago. There are also new advances in medication, treatments, and even testing and diagnostic areas. For example, you can send off your pet’s DNA to find out their breed and even give at-home tests to determine if certain diseases are present.”

High Tech Pet Gifts Trending This Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Instagram is all about sharing.

Snapshots of mind-numbingly adorable felines, swirling cups of coffee, and artsy self portraits appear daily on the popular photo-sharing mobile app. Now there are an increasing amount of products being showcased as well.

An article by The New York Times reports that many entrepreneurs are finding Instagram to be a useful business tool. With approximately 100 million current users, the service affords business owners a quick and inexpensive way to expose their products to a mass audience. If they’ve gathered a significant amount of followers to their photo feed the results can be quite profitable.

Most frequently taking advantage of the profit gaining potential are homegrown companies and individuals. Many Instagrammers post photos showcasing items they are selling. These offerings frequently include clothing, jewelry, art prints, dolls, and other handmade trinkets. You’ll also find a large number of vintage items ranging from kitschy baubles to lovely beaded dresses.

The sharing process for sellers is not always easy. The New York Times goes on to say:

“Those who want to sell things on Instagram have to resort to surprisingly low-tech tactics. Instagram does not allow users to add links to their photo posts, so merchants have to list a phone number for placing orders, or hope their followers will type the Web address of their store into a browser.”

According to The Star Tribune, there are also a growing number of businesses that create products displaying your favorite Instagram photos. This group of sellers will place your favorite images on a variety of items from coasters to throw pillows.

You can even get your photo on a cookie by the New York company Baking for Good.

Owner Emily Dubner had this to say about her experience with Instagram:

“It is one of my favorite social media tools. We get the most response and interaction with people on Instagram, and I think that’s what sets it apart from the others.”

Have you used Instagram as a business or shopping tool?

Instragram Shopping: A Great Way To Peddle Your Wares is a post from: The Inquisitr

Consumer Prices Have Fallen For First Time In Six Months is a post from: The Inquisitr

On Friday, Wal-Mart said that it has begun selling Apple’s latest generation of iPhone, the iPhone 5,  at a big discount in thousands of its stores.

According to NBC News, Wal-Mart said that it is selling the 16 GB Apple iPhone 5 for $127. That is a big discount compared to original price of $189.97.

Wal-Mart said that this new discounted price is only valid with a new two-year contract from wireless carriers Verizon, Sprint and AT&T.

Wal-Mart has also stated that it is selling the 16 GB iPhone 4S and the 16 GB iPad with Retina display and Wi-Fi at considerable discounts as well.

The offers will take place in about 3,000 Wal-Mart stores and will be available for 30 days. The specific Wal-Mart stores offering the discounts have yet to be identified.

The discounted iPhones are not available online either.

Apple has always focused on high-priced, premium gadgets and has strictly enforced its prices with retailers and other distributors. However, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said on Friday that the discounts were arranged with Apple.

The Wal-mart spokeswoman Sarah Spencer said:

“We worked together with them on this. They are a great partner.”

Wal-Mart is pricing their discounted iPads starting at $399, down from $499. Also, beginning December 17, Wal-Mart said that it will throw in a $30 iTunes card.

Wal-Mart is selling the discounted 16 GB iPhone 4S for $47, down from an original price of $89.97.

The retailer’s cooperation with Apple is a contrast to its relationship with the world’s largest internet retailer, Amazon.com

In September, Wal-Mart took a gamble and stopped selling Amazon’s Kindle’s e-readers and tablets, betting that customers would be more interested in Apple products.

Wal-Mart Is Offering The iPhone 5 For $127 With Contract is a post from: The Inquisitr

Christmas is right around the corner and millions of shoppers are still searching for just the right gift for the hard-to-buy-for or eclectic loved one on the holiday list. Skip the mundane stores at the local shopping mall and go online to find some Hipster-approved and bizarre oddities sure to cause a smile when unwrapped at the office party of family gathering.

Ear hats are not all the rage yet, but they could be and now you have a chance to get in on the trend early. The little toboggans do exactly what the name implies, they are hats for the top of your ears. The little fabric ear muffs are perfect for hot tub parties on chilly evenings. The Hipstormossan Ear caps are appear to be made for a doll’s head, but will protect adult-size human ears from frostbite, according to Trend Hunter.

Star Wars fans on the Christmas shopping list might adore one of the new Chewbacca coats. The warm and fuzzy outerwear offerings could even double for a Halloween costume next year. The Chewbacca coat comes complete with the ammo-looking strap which is worm by the popular Star Wars character in all of the hit movies.

Searching for the perfect gift for the avid hunter or outdoor adventurer on your holiday shopping list? The camping couch, solar powered charger, and the camo diaper bag for guys are excellent options. The Eastpak Sofa doubles as both an enormous piece of luggage and a comfy seating. The sofa has a multitude of zipper storage pouches to hold all of your small and medium items, Bless This Stuff notes.

Unusual Christmas Gifts That Will Create Big Smiles When Opened is a post from: The Inquisitr

What are in the world are peppermint pigs, you ask?

To the festive residents of upstate New York they are a delightfully quirky part of a holiday tradition that started way back in the 1800s. A smashing part, one might say.

According to The Associated Press, festive holiday goers in Saratoga Springs have a long standing relationship with the amusing candy. Typically weighing around 8 ounces and shaped like a pig, these treats are made of peppermint and are considered to be good luck charms.

Are you ready for the best part? Each little piggy comes with it’s very own metal hammer. The hammer is used to smash the candy into edible and shareable bits.

You might be curious as to how this tradition got started.

Saratoga.com writes that Victorian culture viewed the pig to be a token of good health, fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Similar to the taste and texture of a traditional candy cane and sporting a bright pink color, they were offered by candy makers during the holiday season.

That tradition is being continued to this day by Saratoga Springs candy merchants and residents alike. Don’t worry — you don’t have to live in New York to enjoy a little pig smashing of your very own. You can grace your holiday table with one of theses little guys by ordering one online. Those of you who might like a smaller peppermint intake can also choose the option of the smaller, or piglet, size version.

Would your family get a kick out of the peppermint pig tradition?

Peppermint Pigs: A Smashingly Fun New York Holiday Tradition is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ready to spruce up your love life just in time for the holidays? Amazon on Monday announced major price cuts for the uber-popular 50 Shades Of Grey trilogy. The trilogy, which normally sells for $27.75 via the online portal’s digital books platform, can now be picked up for just $4.99. The offer is for a very limited time and ends at 4 pm ET.

Amazon is limiting the purchase to one per customer, and, given that the paperbacks sell for $47.85 for the full set, the price may be too good to pass up.

The first book in the series has remained on the New York Times best seller list for 38 weeks and has been so popular that Markus Dohle, CEO of publisher Random House, gave every single employee in his company a $5,000 year-end bonus. The book’s author, E.L. James, was believed to be earning $1 million per week at the height of the book’s success.

50 Shades Of Grey follows the sexually explicit relationship between an older businessman and a college student.

The current Amazon pricing is part of the company’s “12 days of deals” promotion that runs from December 3 through December 14. Available during the promotion are various book types including fantasy novels, cookbooks, and other popular works.

By offering books and other products below cost, Amazon has managed to bring in new customers who may have strayed away from online commerce. On the other hand, Amazon has to hope that its “loss leader” products will eventually turn a profit for the online shopping giant in the future.

’50 Shades Of Grey’ Trilogy Drops To $5 On Amazon is a post from: The Inquisitr

Crate And Barrel’s CB2 has pulled a coin purse from its stock after complaints the “Lucky Beggar Wallet” mocked the plight of the poor and homeless.

CB2 is the less expensive, hipper and more urban-oriented version of the brand, much like an Old Navy to a Gap in price point. But the shop came under fire after its “Lucky Beggar Wallet” was deemed insensitive to the homeless, and the brand has apologized and removed the product.

The appearance of the “Lucky Beggar Wallet,” styled to look like a crushed, iconic coffee cup common both in New York coffee shops and among panhandlers in the city, caused outrage in the blogosphere and prompted and eventual apology from Crate And Barrel’s CB2.

Before the item disappeared from CB2′s website, a description for the “Lucky Beggar Wallet” also took a rather hiply-ironic view of the plight of the legion homeless residents of New York City, skimming over their suffering in a blurb that jokes about the cliched sight:

“Street Fare. Inspired by the iconic blue and white coffee cup often seen in the hands of New York City panhandlers, this quirky wallet begs to be seen.”

Laura Clawson of The Daily Kos opined on the “Lucky Beggar Wallet,” writing:

“The thing is, if this wasn’t marketed as a joke on homeless people, it would just be a wallet of a coffee cup … But that apparently just wasn’t cutesy and cutting edge enough, so some genius decided to ensure that the only person to carry the wallet would be, again, an [expletive.]“

Marta Calle, CB2′s President and Chief Merchant, apologized Tuesday for the offensive item, and said:

“We made a bad decision when we purchased this product … We apologize for the product and the insensitive language used in its description. We have pulled the product from our stores and our website. Please accept our apologies for this lapse in judgment.”

By Wednesday, the “Lucky Beggar Wallet” was no longer for sale — and advocates for the homeless say that a record 43,000 New Yorkers alone are currently residing in shelters, not counting the many still on the streets.

CB2 Pulls Purse That Mocks Homeless, Lucky Beggar Wallet Causes Outcry is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re looking for a unique stocking stuffer, how about bacon shaving cream?

Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, the so-called bacontrepreneurs who operate J&D’s foods in Seattle, have produced a limited edition bacon-scented shaving cream. At $14.99, the first batch is already sold out on the company website, but a new batch will be ready to ship in time for Christmas. Apparently there is a limited run of only 2,500 jars.

According to Orange News in the UK, Justin Esch claimed that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day and bacon is the best part of breakfast. Why not smell like it and be the best?”

Here’s how the product is described on the J&D website:

“Nothing is more powerful or captivating than the smell of bacon. It is truly the smell of victory (and breakfast). Now you can work yourself into a rich, bacon lather with J&D’s Bacon Shaving Cream.

“J&D’s Bacon Shaving Cream is a high end, luxurious bacon-scented shaving cream for all skin types. It is best used after a hot shower or before an important date with someone you may want to spend the rest of your life with.”

” … With J&D’s Bacon Shaving Cream, prepare to be loved, admired and possibly be eaten by bears.”

Among its other pork-themed products, the company also makes a bacon-scented coffin. As FNC notes, “what could be better than spending eternity wrapped in your favorite cured meat?

Would you consider shaving with a cream that smelled like bacon? How do you think others would react to a bacon scent?

For Your Christmas List: Bacon Scented Shaving Cream is a post from: The Inquisitr

Worst toy list 2012 features the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH), a Boston consumer advocacy group. According to The Huffington Post, the CCFC has released its worst toy list they called Toys Oppressive And Destructive To Young Children, or TOADY for short.

The TOADY worst toy list is focused on toys that promote staring at a screen. Three out of five of the supposed worst toys incorporate screen or tablet devices.

“Just because we can link a toy to a smartphone doesn’t mean we should,” Dr. Susan Linn CCFC organization director, explaining why they chose some of the toys to add to the 2012 worst toy list. “The toy industry is promoting superficial gadgetry at the expense of children’s creativity.”

Toys can also get onto the CCFC’s TOADY worst toy list by perpetuating gender stereotypes in an un-politically correct fashion. For example, the LEGO Friends Butterfly Beauty Shop was knocked for being “jam-packed with condescending stereotypes.” But not everyone agrees with including LEGO on the list.

“[N]ominating Lego Friends for its gender stereotyping calls into question the premise of the TOADY,” Dell’Antonia of the New York Times writes. “[I]t’s condescending to assume that young girls are any less capable of realizing that their Lego Beauty Shop doesn’t mean they’re only good for curling eyelashes, any more than Captain America suggests that boys are in for a lifetime of muscle flexing.”

The WATCH worst toy list for 2012 is probably far less controversial. Their “10 Worst Toys” list tend to focus on toys that have small parts that are choking hazards for small children. Such toys would include the Magnetic Fishing Game and the Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 Dart Gun.

WATCH also advises consumers with their 2012 worst toy list to watch out for internet purchases. Internet retailers typically do not provide as much product safety information compared to their brick-and-mortar equivalents.

Worst Toy List 2012: CCFC And WATCH Release Consumer Guides is a post from: The Inquisitr

Holiday shoppers flocked to the Apple iPad over the Black Friday weekend, scooping up iPad devices at a faster rate than every other major tablet provider combined.

In a report released by IBM and titled The iPad Factor, the company writes:

“The [Apple] iPad generated more traffic than any other tablet or smartphone, reaching nearly 10 percent of online shopping. This was followed by iPhone at 8.7 percent and [Google] Android 5.5 percent. The iPad dominated tablet traffic at 88.3 percent followed by the Barnes & Noble Nook at 3.1 percent, Amazon Kindle at 2.4 percent and the Samsung Galaxy at 1.8 percent.”

In a report from eBay and PayPal, it was discovered that iPad 2 sales reached 250 units per hour from 12 am to 8 am PT.

A recent Nielsen study found that 48 percent of children ages six to 12 years old asked for an iPad for Christmas. The study also found that 36 percent of those same children wanted an iPod touch while 36 percent asked for an iPad mini and 33 percent requested an iPhone.

While Apple may have dominated the Black Friday weekend, likely thanks to Apple’s Black Friday sale, the company is facing increasing competition from Google, Amazon, Samsung, and various other competitors who are quickly adapting to the tablet market thanks to Google Android. Microsoft has also recently jumped into the consumer tablet game with the release of its Microsoft Surface tablet line of portable devices.

In celebration of the iPad’s massive Black Friday sales numbers, IBM created the following infograpic:

Apple iPad Sales Ruled Black Friday Weekend is a post from: The Inquisitr

A list of gifts for the 12 days of Christmas costs a bit more than the already-expensive single day of Christmas with which most of us are forced to contend, but the lengthy list of 364 items immortalized in the holiday carol has increased in price by around $6,000 from last year.

The 12 days of Christmas cost is tallied each year by PNC Wealth Management, and the firm has crafted a little interactive journey around each of the 12 traditional “gifts” with a game for Christmas shoppers to play and locate each of the items around the globe.

PNC cites a stronger consumer showing for the increase in the Christmas Price Index (CPI) price tag, with Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC Wealth Management, explaining:

“The rise of the PNC CPI is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we’ve had over the past 12 months … Despite some weak spots in the economy, consumer balance sheets are improving along with consumer confidence, which means this may still be a spirited holiday season.”

The tradition of tallying the tab for the 12 days of Christmas began nearly three decades ago, as PNC adds up the cumulative cost of 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, ten lords leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying …

… as well as 5 golden rings:

Rounding out the list are four calling birds, three French Hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. And while all could be had last year for the bargain basement price of just $101,119, 2012′s 12 days of Christmas spree will set you back a far less reasonable $107,300.

Average costs on the list going up are blamed on items including the five gold rings, which jumped more than 16 percent in 2012, and a 5.5 percent increase in the cost of pipers piping and drummers drumming. However, the unskilled maids a-milking receive a wage flat to that in 2011, suggesting perhaps a milkmaid walkout would improve conditions for the eight underappreciated laborers.

Do you price out the 12 days of Christmas using the CPI each year to rationalize your own Christmas spending?

SNL Weekend Update – Stefon Christmas from Deets Duckie on Vimeo.

12 Days Of Christmas Costs $107K In 2012, Up $6K From 2011 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cyber Monday Deals have been revealing themselves for the last month, and, now, with Monday upon us, many experts believe this could be the most trafficked and profitable Cyber Monday to date.

Experts believe Cyber Monday will create the busiest shopping day for the third straight year in a row. According to research firm comScore, Americans are likely to spend around $1.5 billion on Monday, a 20 percent increase over last year’s online sales event.

Cyber Monday Deals include Amazon.com with its 60 percent off deal for the Panasonic VIERA 55-inch TV and Sears’ $430 discount for a washer and dryer that are priced at $399 each. Even Kmart is jumping into the online sales game with 75 percent off diamond earrings.

With more customers then ever before shopping on their tablets, smartphones, and various other devices, Cyber Monday is turning into a powerhouse sales event. Sales are also being helped along as more users adapt to high-speed internet protocols, allowing for more convenient e-commerce.

With stores receiving 40 percent of their annual revenue over the holiday shopping season, the push for amazing Cyber Monday deals is becoming more prevalent.

While online retailers use Cyber Monday Deals to capture a bulk of their holiday sales, those same e-tailers managed to rack up $1.042 billion on Black Friday, a record for the online shopping industry and the first time online retailers surpassed $1 billion on Black Friday.

According to comScore, buyers have spent $13.7 billion online this holiday shopping season, a 16 percent increase over last year.

Do you plan to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals?

Cyber Monday Deals Likely To Cause Biggest Online Sales Day Ever is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday 2012 was a big win for traditional brick and mortar retailers and just as big of a win for online stores. According to comScore, Black Friday online sales topped $1 billion for the first time.

As expected, Amazon.com was the most trafficked online store for Black Friday while Walmart finished in second place followed by Best Buy, Target, and Apple.

Black Friday was preceded this year by a slew of Thanksgiving night offers from Sears, Toys”R”Us, and most notably Walmart. Thirty-five million Americans visited retailer stores and online commerce sites on Thursday, up from 29 million in 2011. Despite fears that Thursday shopping would cut into sales, an estimated 89 million Americans still went out for low priced goods on Black Friday, up 3.1 percent from 2011.

The National Retail Federation reports that the four-day holiday weekend was up by 12.8 percent year-over-year.

While e-commerce websites account for just 10 percent of annual consumer spending, customers are quickly gravitating towards the online shopping medium, taking money out of the pockets of traditional retailers.

Despite a still shaky economy, consumers took to the stores in droves with an estimated 139.4 million adults visiting US stores and websites from Thanksgiving through Sunday.

The National Retail Federation estimated that total spending for the weekend rose to $59.1 billion from $52.4 billion last year.

According to the NRF, if people who shopped on more than one day are added the number is closer to 247 million online and in-store visits.

The survey also found that consumer spending increased from $398 in 2011 to $423 in 2012.

The National Retail Federation conducted its survey from November 23 to November 24 and included 4,005 consumers.

With Cyber Monday on its way, consumers could soon find themselves boosting the US economy even further.

Online Shopping Topped $1 Billion On Black Friday, Year-Over-Year Sales Increased For Traditional Retailers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Germantown, TN — Extreme couponing got extremely violent at a Dollar Tree Store, and it wasn’t even Black Friday.

Two friends tried to buy a bunch of stuff at the store with their coupon collection but the fed-up manager reportedly claimed it was too much to handle and that the duo were harassing her.

The manager refused to honor any more of their coupons, at which point the shoppers pushed record on their cell phones. The manager concluded the transaction by saying “I guess you better make like water and get to running,” according to ABC News. But the disagreement didn’t end there.

Melissa Mozzo-Mart gathered up her coupons and started to leave, when the manager allegedly rushed up behind her and allegedly socked her in the eye as apparently shown in the video below. The manager has been charged with misdemeanor assault according to ABC.

A sign posted in the Dollar Tree store indicates that it does accept coupons. Dollar Tree executives are investigating the incident which occurred the day before Thanksgiving.

Buying large amounts of groceries by clipping coupons has gained prominence in part through the reality show on the TLC network. As Kim LaCapria of The Inquistr has previously discussed, the shows are equal parts inspiring and maddening to shoppers who watch and do wish they could bring home a cart full of deodorant and diapers for negative $1.16, yet resent what seems to be a wasteful obsession that not only sweeps product from store shelves, but also creates a bit of in-line hassle for non-extreme shoppers who just need milk and bread.

But in this incident, Mozzo-Mart’s friend Jennifer Hill simply said “we were trying to save a little money.”

Watch the video of the alleged assault on the extreme couponer by the Dollar Tree store manager:

Extreme Couponer Allegedly Punched In The Face By Store Manager [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

While walkouts were reported in seven states, Walmart’s US chief executive says less than 50 associates participated in the protest.

In a statement, Bill Simon said, “We estimate that less than 50 associates participated in the protest nationwide. In fact, this year, roughly the same number of associates missed their scheduled shift as last year.”

OUR Walmart, an organization backed by the United Food & Commercial Workers union, disagrees with Simon’s estimate. The group said “hundreds and hundreds of workers” walked off the job on Black Friday.

The group said it counted 1,000 protests in 46 states as well as strikes in 100 cities. Walmart said those figures were “greatly exaggerated.”

At a Walmart on Chicago’s South Side, only one employee out of nearly 500 participated in the protest. The lone worker, Tyrone Robinson, said he only earns $8.95 an hour working in the retailer’s produce department, and that his shifts have been cut back to less than 40 hours a week.

Many of the demonstrators were not actually Walmart workers, but supporters of the protest. At a Walmart in Paramount, California, there were about 300 protestors, but it was unclear how many were employees.

The protests didn’t do much to deter shoppers, however. Walmart said it recorded its best Black Friday ever, with nearly 10 million transactions between 8 pm Thursday and 12 am Friday.

Some shoppers were sympathetic to the workers’ plight. Thirty-year-old Joe Tegue said, “We need to put ourselves in their shoes. I probably won’t shop here; I don’t think they should take advantage of workers.”

Rosetta Brown, who has been an employee for 15 years and works at the Sam’s Club in Cicero, Illinois, lamented the treatment of employees in the post-Sam Walton era. Walton opened the first Walmart in 1962 and died 30 years later.

“Sam Walton was a good man … Walmart passed away with him,” she said.

Did you witness any Walmart walkouts on Black Friday?

Walmart Walkout: Low Turnout As Company Records Best Black Friday Ever is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cyber Monday deals 2012; the sales are on now! Brick-and-morter retailers like Walmart typically do not announce their best Cyber Monday deals ahead of time since that would compete with their existing in-store doorbusters. But many online only retailers like Amazon.com have been celebrating a Black November with Cyber Monday deals starting today as a Cyber Weekend. While it is possible that some online retailers may be reserving the best doorbuster online deals for Monday, it is also possible that waiting may not pay off.

In order to track the best Cyber Monday deals of 2012 it is recommended to turn to your smartphone or tablet. Companies like Walmart, Macy’s, and Target have developed special Black Friday and Cyber Monday mobile apps featuring exclusive deals and store maps.

Smart shopper may also want to wait for certain items. As The Inquisitr previously reported, HDTVs are not a good buy during this time of the year. The best time for deals is actually January, right before the Super Bowl. Other good tips are to wait on buying toys until two weeks before Christmas, buy jewelry during the spring and summer, and do not buy seasonal items, or clothing, which are marked up.

I personally found that patience can be a virtue last night on Thanksgiving Day. My wife and I decided at the last minute to check out the early Black Friday sales at Target. The lines were horrendous, stretching across the entire store, and would require hours of waiting. We decided to try and buy some Blu-ray movie deals for family members, but when we used our smartphones to shop online we found we would be saving only one dollar even after shipping costs.  Needless to say, we left Target shortly later.

We were not the only ones to find out that online deals are likely to be much better. According to NBC, IBM Benchmark reported that total online sales for Thanksgiving rose more than 17 percent compared to 2011.

“We’ve absolutely seen this whole weekend turn into one big promotional event,” said Jay Henderson, strategy director for IBM Smarter Commerce. “Black Friday deals are no longer just for the [brick-and-mortar] store, and Cyber Monday deals are no longer just for Monday.”

The Cyber Monday Deals 2012 are expected to break records. Andrew Lipsman, an industry analyst at data tracking firm ComScore, said he expects sales for the one-day Cyber Monday shopping event to be around $1.5 billion this year. That’s up from his calculations of $1.3 billion in 2011. The Adobe Marketing Cloud uses predictive analytics technology and they are predicting Cyber Monday sales for 2012 to reach $2 billion, growing by 18 percent year-over-year.

Cyber Monday Deals 2012: The Sales Are On Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday sales may not feature the best pricing you’ll see all year, an analysis reveals, as shoppers ready to head out earlier than ever on Thanksgiving to snag all the best Black Friday deals.

“Black Friday creep,” as it has been termed, has invaded even the night of Thanksgiving as the bounds of the Christmas shopping season are tested — but after all this hype, many items offered as doorbusters and other pricing incentives may have been quietly cheaper at retailers earlier this year. (And may be later in the 2012 shopping season.)

Black Friday deals are very well advertised, and the relatively new and earlier openings to maximize sales this year have come under fire for eroding what was a traditional, sacrosanct American holiday. A number of shoppers have complained that retail workers are expected to man the Black Friday chaos on Thanksgiving Day itself, in an exercise that may not have all that much of a difference on profits, anyway.

But the analysis also reveals that Black Friday pricing is often higher than non-sale prices. According to UPI, one out of every three Black Friday “steals” you encounter may actually be somewhat of a markup:

“Seattle price-data firm Decide Inc. examined more than 500 “doorbuster” deals advertised in Black Friday circulars by large retailers including Sears, Target and Best Buy and found nearly a third of the discounted products were sold at lower prices earlier in the year, the Journal said …”

“For instance, a KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer is to be sold at Sears Friday for $319.99. But the retailer offered the same mixer for $296 in March, Decide told the Journal.”

The piece notes that companies “don’t generally promise Black Friday prices are the lowest ever,” but with all the Black Friday creep we’re seeing and this uncomfortable drafting of retail workers to be on the clock for what was one of three or four guaranteed family days each year, maybe we all need to get a Black Friday grip.

Black Friday Creep Looms, But Prices May Not Be As Low As They Appear is a post from: The Inquisitr

The holiday season is just around the corner and shoppers are getting ready to splurge on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. But before you start throwing toys into your cart you should probably check out the 27th Annual Trouble in Toyland Survey which names the most dangerous toys of the year.

The survey is released every year by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and includes toys that could be hazardous to kids. This year’s list includes a “potentially dangerous magnet toy, a bowling game that is a choking hazard and a key chain rattle that may be harmful to little ears.”

Nasima Hossain, the public health advocate for the group, said:

“We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe. However, until that’s the case, parents need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for toys.”

The annual report seeks to get dangerous toys off of store shelves. According to PIRG, more than 150 toys have been recalled over the years after being singled out on the Trouble In Toyland survey. This year, however, the group found that toys were safer than ever.

Hossain added:

“The main trend that we saw this year was that we didn’t find as many toxic toys as we thought we would.”

PIRG cited a Dora the Explorer guitar for being too loud, a Morphobot action figure that exceeded legal lead limits, and several small dollar store toys that contained small pieces considered to be choking hazards. The group also warned parents against magnet toys like Buckeyballs saying that there were more than 1700 emergency room visits between 2009 and 2011 due to the ingestion of high-powered magnets.

Despite the Trouble in Toyland report the Toy Industry Association insists that nearly all of the toys being sold this year are safe.

Stacy Leistner, vice president of communications for the association, said:

“Safety is our top priority all year. (The Trouble In Toyland report is a) headlines cry for caution but the fine print clarifies that most of the products on their list actually comply with the strict toy safety standards that are already in place in the U.S. Our companies are manufacturing to current regulations.”

Leistner added that the toy industry has a pretty good track record considering that there are more than 3 billion toys sold every year in the United States.

Trouble In Toyland: Most Dangerous Toys Of 2012 Revealed is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday strategies were once simple — open early on Friday, offer a host of good deals, reap in the profits.

But as shoppers have grown more cautious in the wake of the recession, retailers are changing their approaches, leading to Black Friday in 2012 with a number of different type of sales.

As Forbes noted, the Black Friday strategies run the gamut. At Foot Locker, the most expensive shoes will be unveiled Friday at full price. Crocs is taking the opposite approach, slashing its prices for Black Friday. And while Target is leaning on its in-store merchandise, Walmart has extended its deals to include many on its website as well.

As Forbes notes, the stakes are high for retailers:

“It’s Black Friday, a moment of truth for retailers’ holiday strategizing.

“All are hoping to avoid misfires during a crucial selling season. Last year the two-month period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s accounted for nearly a quarter of annual sales for department stores, discounters and other chains, according to the National Retail Federation.

“Anxious to preserve their sales in a hyper-competitive market, retailers are taking some chances. They face a host of pressures, including changing shopping habits due to technology and an uncertain economic climate, complicated by Washington’s decision-making gridlock and possible new tax increases.”

Perhaps the biggest Black Friday change comes in the schedule itself. Many retailers have extended the sales to Thanksgiving Day itself, leading to what many are referring to as “Black Thursday.”

The strategy, made famous by Walmart‘s decision to open on Thanksgiving evening, is an attempt to gain a larger share of holiday shoppers. As the National Retail Foundation noted, an estimated 147 million Americans will go shopping on Thanksgiving weekend, and Black Friday is the busiest of these days.

Black Friday Strategies Differ As Retailers Look To Attract Consumers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Christmas 2012 is the year of Apple; at least that seems to be the case for children who have consistently ranked Apple products at the top of their wish lists. According to a new Nielsen study, four of the top five requested pieces of electronics are Apple-based.

At the top of the wish list for many children is the Apple iPad, which has been requested by 48 percent of respondents. The only non-Apple device in the top five is the brand new Nintendo Wii U, which 39 percent of respondents said they would like. While the Wii U finishes in second place, it is immediately followed by the iPod Touch (36 percent), iPad Mini (36 percent) and iPhone (33 percent).

Following the slew of Apple products, children seem content with generic devices such as a “computer” or an “e-reader.”

While some analysts have voiced concerns over Apple’s future, its various devices have managed to crop up once again on Christmas wish lists. In the ninth and tenth spots are the Nintendo 3DS/ 3DS XL and Nintendo DS/ DS Lite / DSi / DSi XL.

The newest Nielsen survey showcases the grip modern day electronics have on children’s lives. With Sony’s gaming systems showing up four times in the top 20 list, it’s clear that gaming is still kicking.

The survey doesn’t split the responding demographic into boys and girls or other factors, instead choosing to focus on the overall responses offered by children in general.

Do you think electronics are holding too much control over children’s choices in presents these days?

Apple Dominates Christmas Wish Lists For Children is a post from: The Inquisitr

The RadioShack Black Friday ad has arrived, and this year the company is “double dipping” with its savings. RadioShack recently debuted a $10 for every $50 spent promotion at participating stores and online. Now the company is combining that offer with its Black Friday specials.

BF ad offers for RadioShack start at 12:01 am on Thanksgiving morning (Thursday the 22) with door crasher specials starting at 6 am on Friday morning.

Among the store’s best deals is the Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2MP Digital SLR with 18–55mm Lens. The camera’s $499 price point matches other retailers who plan to offer the same camera. The biggest difference is that customers at RadioShack also receive a free  75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 telephoto zoom and 8GB SanDisk SD card.

On the mobile front, RadioShack is literally giving away the HTC One X for free to customers who are willing to sign a 2-year contract on a new line or upgrade.

Gamers will also have reason to celebrate as the company rolls out a $169.99 price point for the Xbox 360 4GB Slim Console.

If you already own a Sony Playstation 3, you can also pick up a new Sony DualShock Wireless Controller for just $39.99.

If computing is more up your alley, the electronics retailer is also offering a 15.6″ Toshiba Celeron processor with Windows 8 for $299.99. With Windows 8 suffering through horrid reviews, this deal could leave plenty of computers on the shelves for customers to pick up.

Also on the computing side is a Netgear N600 router that is selling for just $59.99.

Customers wanting to simply take advantage of the RadioShack spend $50 and get $10 back deal have until January 5, 2013 to make a purchase.

Be sure to check your Radioshack ad flyer for additional deals on various pieces of electronics.

RadioShack Black Friday Ad 2012: Electronics Your Family Will Love is a post from: The Inquisitr

Do you ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? Some retailers will be using store mannequins to spy on customers this holiday season.

According to the SF Gate, the EyeSee mannequin will be used by several luxury stores to increase sales. Italian manufacturer Almax SpA says that the spy mannequins will help store owners arrange displays, store layouts and promotions to increase sales.

Uché Okonkwo, executive director of consultant Luxe Corp., said:

“Any software that can help profile people while keeping their identities anonymous is fantastic. (It) could really enhance the shopping experience, the product assortment, and help brands better understand their customers.”

Bloomberg reports that the mannequins are equipped with facial recognition technology and will be able to tell the approximate age, gender and race of people who walk by store windows.

So where will these creepy spying mannequins be? Max Catanese, chief executive officer of Almax SpA, said that he couldn’t list his clients. Catanese did say, however, that at least five companies were using a few dozen of his mannequins.

What do you think of the spying mannequins?

Some people have said that the EyeSee mannequins may be breaking privacy rules. Christopher Mesnooh of the Field Fisher Waterhouse law firm in Paris said that these hidden cameras are collecting information about people without consent.

Mesnooh said:

“If you go on Facebook, before you start the registration process, you can see exactly what information they are going to collect and what they’re going to do with it… If you’re walking into a store, where’s the choice?”

Catanese argues that the cameras do not store any images so as long as the retailers have a license for a CCTV they’ll be able to use the EyeSee.

Do you think a mannequin spy is creepy?

Well, it could get worse. Almax is currently testing technology that will give its mannequins ears so that stores can eavesdrop on your conversations.

Store Mannequins To Spy On Shoppers This Holiday Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 2012 Apple Black Friday ad was teased on Monday for both the company’s US and Australian websites.

In its Black Friday ad, Apple writes:

“The one-day Apple shopping event is Friday, 23 November … Get ready to give. Shop online or visit your favorite Apple Retail Store. We’ll help you make the most of the day, no matter how you shop.”

Apple is notorious for refusing to cut prices throughout the year. The only time the company dips below standard pricing is Black Friday. Even then, deals in the past have been marginal, for example, $101 off Mac purchases in the United States. Price cuts for Apple’s iPad devices were also given in 2011 with cuts ranging from $41 to $61.

While Apple’s discounts are not the best in class, they do draw plenty of traffic to the company’s website and retail locations. Many third party company’s also attempt to take advantage of Apple deals in order to purchase devices for less than wholesale prices when available.

Apple has chosen to launch its sales at midnight rather than jumping into the Black Friday sales gimmick at 8 pm as Walmart and other competitors have chosen to do.

While other retail businesses have been quick to release their full ad scans, Apple will likely wait until the last minute before proceeding to let potential buys in on its deals.

With the Apple iPad mini already selling for a $129 premium above its competitors, this might be the perfect opportunity to save some cash on your next Apple tablet purchase.

Apple Black Friday Ad Teased For US And Australia is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cyber Monday is quickly morphing into Cyber Weekend, according to CIO. Marketing departments at major retailers already trying to avoid the usage of “Cyber Monday” by taking the Monday out of Cyber Monday. Walmart announced today that its Cyber Monday sales will kick off on Saturday and is renaming the time between November 24 and December 2 to “Cyber Week.” Because of business decisions like this analysts are predicting that Cyber Mon…er, Weekend sales might increase to as much as $2 billion.

According to a survey by PriceGrabber, when 4,958 U.S. online shoppers were asked which days they plan to shop over the long Thanksgiving weekend, 41 percent chose the online shopping experience of Cyber Monday. That’s up from 37 percent from 2011 and 33 percent in 2010. Cyber Monday daily deals and free shipping, never mind no sales taxes, are a big lure to 84 percent of those surveyed. This can be a huge cost for retailers, especially when it comes to shipping a 55-inch HDTV for free.

“This could be a tough Christmas season for retailers,” said Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group. “Most consumers are going to be watching their spending pretty closely. By upping the ante on Cyber Monday, retailers are looking to get ahead of their competitors.”

As The Inquisitr has already reported, brick-and-mortar retailers like Walmart and Target have already made plans to open for Thanksgiving day Black Friday events. Many people will be opting out and make their holiday shopping completely digital.

“This is the natural progression of retail competition,” said Olds. “First they open earlier and earlier on Friday. Now they’re opening their doors late Thursday. The same thing has to happen for their online portals too … But retailers looking to score big sales had better realize that their Cyber Monday deals will have to be truly serious discounts because consumers will be online comparing what they’re offering instantly.”

For those working on Black Friday in an office environment the day is likely to morph into Cyber Friday, with employees using their office computers to do their shopping.

“Even though Cyber Monday is probably going to eventually turn into Cyber Friday Afternoon, people will still do quite a bit of their holiday shopping from work on Monday,” Olds added. “They’ll compare notes with their co-workers and friends, then attempt to snag some deals on Monday. Plus, retailers who are disappointed with their Cyber Weekend take will probably get even a bit more aggressive on Monday.”

Cyber Monday turning into Cyber Weekend is just another symptom of Black November. So here is a question to you, dear readers: do you consider this progression a spreading greed disease or an invaluable increase in time to shop for good deals?

Cyber Monday Turns Into Cyber Weekend For Holiday Sales is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday style bargains are already available during the QVC electronics sale. The electronics deals include a host of television brands and sizes, cameras, laptops, and gaming devices. The mega sales offer something the techie on your Christmas shopping list is sure to love. Folks who do not want to shiver in long lines outside stores can cozy up to the computer while wearing pajamas and slippers to take advantage of deals on the most popular electronics items. QVC Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will also reportedly offer some awesome deals on electronics.

Laptops and Tablets

The QVC Electronics Holiday Hot List includes a refurbished Samsung 10.1-inch White Galaxy Note Tablet with 16GB for $499.96. During the special online sale, the tablet can purchased for the discounted price and the cost spread out over six payments cycles. AHP DV Series 15.6-inch AMD Quad Core laptop will reportedly be on sale for $749 with a six “Easy Payments” option. A HP DV Series 17.3-inch laptop is also on sale for $799 before the Black Friday 2012 sales begin.

Televisions

A new television always looks nice wrapped up with a big bow under the Christmas tree. QVC is offering a Hair 24-inch TV with a built in DVD player for $257. The discounted television qualifies for a five Easy Payments option. The online retailer is also offering a Samsung 32-inch television with a bonus HDMI cable for $296.96. Cyber hoppers can snag the Samsung TV deal and pay for in six monthly increments.

Gaming

Gifts for gamers can also be found during the QVC sale. The Xbox 360 Slim 4GB console with a Mickey 2 accessories bundle is only $496.96 for a limited time. Budget conscious shoppers can spread the cost of the popular gaming device out over six months.

Pre-Black Friday: QVC Electronics Sale is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Cyber Monday sales from Walmart have been announced for 2012, with deals offering savings of up to $1,000 on popular electronics, video games, and toys. Cyber Monday sales are the shopping alternative for families who prefer to focus on Thanksgiving with the family rather than brave the long lines of Black Friday retailers. Cyber Monday sales are completely online and thus are the shop-from-home alternative that begin on November 26. Cyber Monday sales are also less likely to offer disappointment, since the best Black Friday doorbusters are often available only in limited quantity. This Black Friday doorbusters limitation means that the best deals may be limited to those camping out early for Black Friday.

This year’s Cyber Monday sales at Walmart include a Samsung 55″ 1080p Class LED Smart 3D HDTV for $1498 ($1,000 off), Samsung 50″ Class LED 1080p 60Hz HDTV for $598 ($400 off), Double Power T-711 with WiFi 7″ Tablet for $59, and a Xbox 360 Skylanders Family Fun Bundle for $159 ($100 off).

“We’re making this a holiday to remember with our biggest savings ever for Cyber Monday, expanded free shipping to home on more electronics and toys than ever before, and the option to pay cash for online gifts,” said Joel Anderson, President & CEO of Walmart.com. “Plus, we’re adding new online, mobile and social options that give Walmart customers who ‘get connected’ early, exclusive access to the best deals.”

The sales will begin Saturday, November 24 and run through December 2nd. Shoppers can purchase items online and have them shipped to their local store for free pickup. For those purchasing certain select items and items purchased for more than $45, you can have your Cyber Monday deals shipped directly to your home with free shipping.

This year, Walmart is providing a free free mobile app to keeps shoppers aware of new Cyber Monday sales. The Cyber Monday app even helps shoppers navigate the brick-and-mortar Walmart store locations. If you do not want to use your credit cards, Walmart is offering a pay cash option for families. Walmart customers can purchase their Cyber Monday deals online and pay cash upon picking them up at their local Walmart.

Cyber Monday Sales Walmart Online Announcement For 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

In 2012, Walmart hopes to lure in shoppers with deals starting at 8 pm on Thanksgiving day (Black Thursday?), and other retailers are following in Walmart’s footsteps. While we recently reported on a study that showed only 6 percent of shoppers will head out on Thanksgiving day, a new study has found that nearly 25 percent of shoppers will be at stores before 3 am on Black Friday.

Market researcher firm Lab42 surveyed 500 shoppers and found that the average customer plans to visit major retailers including Walmart, Target, Macy’s, and Kohl’s among others. The firm also found that nearly 25 percent of those shoppers would be in stores by 3 am.

In fact, many shoppers say they will be waiting outside of store doors by midnight to ensure they receive a great place in line and the best deals possible for their holiday shopping goals.

The study also revealed that 42 percent  of shoppers believe the same type of deals will be available in the days leading up to Christmas, which means they are in no rush to buy presents among the company of millions of other crazed shoppers.

The infographic shown below also shows that many buyers plan to spend part of their Christmas buying budget online via Cyber Monday shopping deals that are often better then in-store sales.

A Google survey also revealed that shoppers plan to spend $900 on presents in 2012, up from $854 in 2011.

Want to learn more about the 2012 Black Friday shopping habits of Americans as they head out this coming Friday? Here is the full Lab42 infographic:

25 Percent Of Black Friday Shoppers Starting Before 3 AM [Infographic] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last year, retailers sparked a little controversy when they decided to start their black Friday sales at midnight. Well, the sales have started to creep a little further into Thanksgiving. Some stores will be starting the Christmas shopping season on Thanksgiving day.

Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Sears and KMart have all announced that they will be opening their stars right after Thanksgiving dinner. Target will open its doors at 9 pm on Thanksgiving. The other stores will all open an hour earlier.

Several retail workers have signed petitions to stop Black Friday creep. Wal-Mart employees are even threatening to walk out during Black Friday sales.

Making Change at Walmart Director Dan Schlademan said:

“This essentially cancels Thanksgiving for hundreds of thousands of workers. Lots and lots of Walmart workers are going to be forced to not have Thanksgiving because they’re going to be preparing all day for the busiest shopping day of the year.”

A Target employee started a petition at Change.org asking CEO Gregg W. Steinhafel to cancel “grey Thursday.”

The petition reads:

“It’s one of few days retail employees get to spend with their families, but at this point there’s no time to see family … My issue is that Target and other retailers have done something they have never done before in opening on Thanksgiving. My anger is aimed at the loss of a day that, up until now, was considered important enough for only the most essential services to be open.”

What do you think about the sale hours? Are you going to go shopping right after Thanksgiving dinner? Do you think Black Friday will creep deeper into Thanksgiving next year?

‘Black Friday Creep’ Spurs Petitions, Protests is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday causing HDTV lust for those giant new screens? I know I’m suffering from that particular urge. But it is possible the best HDTV deals might be available now and not on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

According to a study conducted by NerdWallet, Black Friday sale prices have increased from 2011 to 2012. Many of the Black Friday leaked ads have the exact same items from last year. For example, the Black Friday deals from Ikea and Staples are 90 percent the same if you compare the Black Friday ads. The median item price at stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have gone up by 2.2 percent.

To make matters worse, data from consumer-price research firm Decide Inc. shows that many of the holiday’s most popular gifts, including flat-screen HDTVs, are not sold at their lowest price on Black Friday. For example, the Wall Street Journal reported that a Samsung 46-inch LCD television averaged $1,159 in October from 2008 through 2011, but sold for around $1,355 on Black Friday!

I’ll give you an example from my own shopping. BJs plans on selling their LG 55-inch 1080p 120Hz Edge-Lit LED HDTV for $799.99 on Black Friday. Just the other day, I saw an already-expired deal from Frys for the same exact model…but for $698!

So far the only Black Friday HDTV deal that has made me sit up and take notice is a Mitsubishi 73-inch 1080p 120Hz DLP HDTV. The normal price is $1,599.99, but on Black Friday it is half-off for $799.99. Yes, it is a DLP, meaning it will not be ultra-thin like the other HDTVs, but they are no longer the fat man from yester-year. This particular models has a depth of 18 inches and weighs a reasonable 76 pounds (that LG 55-inch weighs 56 pounds and is 13 inches deep). If you expect to buy a similarly sized HDTV screen that uses plasma, LCD, or LED-LCD technology then the price is going to skyrocket to well over $1000.

The final thing to keep in mind is that other people are planning on upgrading their HDTVs this Black Friday. Thus these people will likely be trying to sell their HDTVs right now for amazing deals. On my local craigslist directory I’ve already seen a 60-inch HDTV going for $300.

Good luck on your Black Friday HDTV holiday shopping and keep the true reason for the season in mind when you are standing in long lines!

Black Friday: Best HDTV Deals Might Be Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black Friday 2012 deals on ETSY offer shoppers the chance to find the perfect handmade, personalized, or vintage gift for loved ones on the Christmas shopping list. There is no need to wait until Cyber Monday to score huge deals from the online marketplace for artisans and crafters.

ETSY holiday deals offer items rarely ever found at the local mall. Shoppers can interact with artists and sellers and request special orders on handmade jewelry, décor, and clothing items. Repurposed or upcycled items are always hot sellers on the ETSY marketplace. New visitors to the website will be amazed at how everyday discarded items can be turned into something useful, new, and beautiful.

Handmade Christmas ornaments, sweet treats, pet snacks, and homemade soap are among the best selling items during ETSY’s Black Friday 2012 sale. Bargain hunters searching for a collectable vintage items for someone special will likely not be disappointed while browsing on ETSY. If the needed item cannot be found, it often pays to contact some of the vintage pickers directly and ask them to keep an eye out for the desired hard-to-find piece.

Grandmas who already have everything they need and simply have nowhere to put another pair of slippers are perfect candidates for a personalized gift from an ETSY shop. A plethora of jewelry and photo gifts are available at affordable prices and do not take up much storage space. A birthstone bracelet with engraved names of grandchildren will surely give Grandma something to brag out the next time she lunches with her friends.

Check out The Inquisitr’s Holiday Shopping series to find more Black Friday 2012 deals and brows ad scans from major retailers.

ETSY Black Friday 2012 Deals On Handmade And Vintage Gifts is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Sony Playstation 3 and Sony Vita have been marked down for Black Friday sales nationwide. Sony on Friday revealed pricing bundles for both its handheld gaming system and gaming consoles.

PS Vita buyers will be able to pick up several different bundles for $199.99. Included with those bundles on Black Friday and Saturday only will be the option of  The Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified, and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

From photos, it looks as if The Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation will be delivered via a white PS Vita handheld system while the other bundles will feature the traditional black handheld console setup.

Here is a full run down of the PS Vita bundles from the official Playstation blog:

Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation Bundle

$199.99 for Black Friday
Limited-Edition Crystal White PS Vita Wi-Fi System
Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation game
4GB memory card

Also available is the Lego Batman 2 bundle for Vita buyers:

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Bundle
$199.99 for Black Friday
Crystal Black PS Vita Wi-Fi System
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified Bundle
$199.99 for Black Friday
Crystal Black PS Vita Wi-Fi System
Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified game
4GB memory card

On the Playstation 3 side, Sony is offering a PS3 Black Friday bundle that includes the $199 Ultimate PlayStation 3 Value Bundle, which includes a 250GB PS3 System, 30 Day PlayStation Plus Trial, Uncharted Dual Pack (including Uncharted 1 and Uncharted 2), and inFAMOUS Collection (including inFAMOUS 1 and inFAMOUS 2).

The Sony PS3 Black Friday ad also includes the option to purchase a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller for just $39.99.

Sony warns that its 2012 BF ads all include limited quantities that are first come, first served.

Sony Black Friday Deals: PS3 And Vita Bundles See Price Reductions is a post from: The Inquisitr

Walmart Goodies is a new mail order service the company is unveiling, and the tech arm of the company said Walmart had one goal when developing the new initiative: “Pricing aggressively.”

Walmart Goodies is not the only mail-order service in the game to introduce customers to new foods — but similar services are a significantly higher price point versus Walmart’s $7 all-in deal.

And if Walmart Goodies sounds like it would reflect the company’s more middle of the road fare, it seems to include far more high-end items than one might expect.

The spot below tweeted out by @WalmartLabs on launch shows small-brand savory snacks and colorful French-style macarons, not Totino’s Pizza Rolls and Super Pretzel.

The upscale branding is part of the initiative for Walmart Goodies, WalmartLabs’ VP of products Ravi Raj tells Fast Company. Raj says:

“We don’t want to carry run of the mill products … We want them to evoke a sense of passion and excitement in our customers. The key thing is having that ‘wow’ factor.”

Raj also confirms the packages are valued at a higher retail cost than the $7 price, but says that the company benefits as well through market research made possibly by Walmart Goodies and a pool of captive test shoppers. He explains:

“The whole social aspect of this is critical … This is a two-way dialogue. It isn’t about us sending products and you just getting and eating them.”

Interested in subscribing to Walmart Goodies? WalmartLabs has released the following video explaining how the service works and illustrating sample offerings.

Walmart Goodies Is A New, Super Low Priced Surprise Snack Delivery Service is a post from: The Inquisitr