Are retailers getting desperate way too early?

[Maxell]

It seems like many stores are doing "early bird" sales this weekend. I don't recall seeing such holiday desperation so early in the season.

[atomik kinder]

This has already been reported by news agencies. Toys at a lot of the stores have been slashed even earlier and are expecting them to go no lower for Christmas. Sales this Christmas are not expected to be good because of it. I know a couple people who are done with their Christmas shopping already, so no extra money from them.

[tron3]

Probably not a good year in general. Look at the toy companies. They are finding lead in EVERYTHING it seems. I mean, stuff that should never come in contact with lead. My sister said that China wants to poison the brains of young kids to make the US stupid so they remain superior. Only a predjudice mind can truly believe that. If that is true, I want to know!

The toy industry took a lot of hits in recalls this year. Who can blame them if the sale prices are sparse? To my knowledge, I don't even know what the hottest toy is this Christmas. PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 are in demand, but no toy EVER remains the biggest seller two years in a row. Maybe some of those classic 1950's toys, like the Remco sub and some others were always in demand, but always the best seller? I don't think so.

The adoption pace of HDM is quickning, so that should help. But this format war is going to put off a lot of people. With the current blu-ray prices, it could have been a big Christmas. Not so now.

[atomik kinder]

Even Toys R Us is having a "doorbuster" sale this weekend. You never used to see those before Thanksgiving, which is still 3 weeks away.

[bhampton]

I like Black Friday,..

But having done it for about 5 years in a row now,.. it's worth keeping in mind the stuff on sale is the stuff they want out of the store.

If that stuff could sell for more they would sell it for more with the exception of some nice deals thrown in just to try to get people into the stores.

-Brian

[joeorc]

in the US every thing in goods has suffered except for OIL prices.. .no one is realy spending money you are going to see more and more people buy things like sweater's ,hats ,gloves.for gifts this year..the belt is very tight this year...money watch had a special on the trends. if people are buying more along those lines of sweaters, gloves things like that retail is going to take a hit this year. its a prediction but it may happen i hope not..but it may

[tron3]

I have to agree. With the rising cost of home heating, Christmas sales will take a hit. In the end, the children suffer most. Greedy SOB oil companies. Property tax in NJ isn't helping either.

[JTK]

For all kinds of obvious economic reasons, the retailers all know that this holiday season will be rather lukewarm for them, so they've essentially rolled out Black Friday about three weeks early for the most part.

It's funny: For all the conspiracy theories involving oil and such and certain obvious events...you could have fooled me when I see what I'm paying at the gas tank and I see $94 a pop barrels of oil.

[kjack]

Most stores are starting the xmas season right after halloween this year. It's been slowly creeping forward over the years, just more obvious this year.