2012 Black Friday Predictions and Store Hours

I know, it is only September, and with all the turmoil in the World and U.S. elections taking center stage, it seems that the upcoming Christmas and Winter Holiday shopping season is not on the radar for most of us right now. However, the economy still needs to keep going, and Black Friday, which marks the official beginning of the make-or-break Holiday Shopping Season for U.S. retailers, will take place on Friday, November 23rd, 2012.

Black Friday sales predictions are already starting, with Black Friday at GottaDeal.com providing an extensive analysis of what to expect this year for several home entertainment and tech product categories.

The consensus is that the best bargains will be on LCD and Plasma TVs, with predicted prices of some 32-inch LCD TVs as low as $149 and 42-inch Plasma TVs going for under $300. Also expect some great bargains on 3D TVs that also include lots of 3D glasses, especially now that passive 3D sets are more abundant and more 3D content is available.

In addition, if you haven't made the jump to Blu-ray, resistance may be futile as some players could be priced as low as $39.99. Also, expect a lot of discounted Blu-ray disc movie that can fill your shopping basket.

Keep in mind that all these predictions, so far, are speculative, and we won't get official word on product offerings and pricing until the Ads get leaked (stay tuned to my site - I will have the info as it comes).

However, with the economy still looking down, and the added uncertainty of the effects of the U.S. election this year, will consumers have the cash, or motivation, to embark on a shopping spree for TVs and other home theater components?

To get your calendars set, here is a sampling of tentative Black Friday opening hours for retailers on Friday, November 23rd, that sell consumer electronics and home theater products:

Best Buy - Midnight/12:00AM
CompUSA - 5:00AM
Fry's Electronics - Midnight/12:00AM
Walmart - 8PM Thanksgiving Nite through Black Friday
HH Gregg - Midnight/12:00AM
K-Mart - 5:00AM (Also open on Thanksgiving Day 6AM - 4PM)
Meijer - 6:00AM
Office Depot - 6:00AM
OfficeMax - 6:00AM
Radio Shack - 6:00AM (updated)
Staples - 6:00AM
Sears - 4:00AM

For information on store opening hours for more general merchandise stores, check out the post at The Black Friday.com

What are your shopping plans for the 2012 Holiday shopping season? Cast your vote in my latest Poll below (You can select more than one choice):

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