Amazon readies Black Friday sales

Continues vote-for-discount contest

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 11/19/2007

NOV. 19 | Traditionally geared toward ‘Cyber Monday,’ Amazon.com has jumped into the Black Friday fray and is set to chop prices on a number of items.

Web sites such as Amazon.com have normally rallied around the Monday following Thanksgiving as a key kick-off period for online shoppers to start holiday buying. Shoppers who missed finding desired items in stores on Black Friday go to Web retailers the following Monday, which this year lands on Nov. 26.

Similar to other retailers cashing in on day-after-Thanksgiving sales, Amazon has created a ‘Black Friday’ page that promises deals on thousands of products between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. pacific standard time on Nov. 23.

Wal-Mart and Best Buy offered Black Friday-esque offers for sub-$100 Toshiba HD DVD players on Nov. 2, over two weeks before the actual date on Nov. 23.

Additionally, Amazon is presenting some strong deals now, including selling Toshiba’s third-generation HD-A3 high-definition set-top player for $199, representing $100 off list price. A combination of retailer, manufacturer and studio coupons also attaches 10 free HD DVD titles to the player.

Also, Amazon is promoting a ‘Hot DVD Sale,’ featuring 60% off such TV DVDs as seasons of The Office, House and Psych, plus recent theatricals Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Smokin’ Aces.

All Blu-ray titles are 30% off regular pricing.

Today only, Amazon.com is offering a selection of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment Blu-ray titles for 55% off regular pricing. Featured titles, tagged at about $18, include Speed, Ice Age 2, Rocky and The Devil Wears Prada.

Amazon is continuing its holiday shopping contest, in which consumers vote on the products they’d like to see discounted most. Through Nov. 26, shoppers can vote on various price-slashed products, including next-generation gaming consoles Nintendo Wii for $79, 40GB PlayStation 3 for $139 and the Xbox 360 Arcade for $99. These items are normally priced at $250, $399 and $279, respectively.

Other featured potential deals include the latest Samsung Blu-ray player and highest-end third-generation Toshiba HD DVD player for $149 each (both carry a manufacturers’ price of $499).

Starting Nov. 22, Amazon will begin unveil the top vote-getting deals. Randomly selected voting participants will then secure the chance to purchase the winning products at the discounted price.

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