Brad

I wouldn't worry too much. This is how they do it every year - they are just spotlighting some early pre-Prime Day deals in this press release, most of which are their own products like the Fire TV-based TVs. It's not reflective of the actual deals to come on Prime Day. I had meetings every day last week with Amazon about PD. They have a lot in store for the sale this year (and BF). Definitely not "pretty meh"...

Prime Day Sale Page: http://www.amazon.com/primeday Press release: https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/mark-your-calendars-prime-day-here-time-holidays-october-13-14

If you want Prime Day news, might want to keep an eye on this page later tonight: https://press.aboutamazon.com/press-releases

2 months until Thanksgiving

Is that in-store only or both stores and online?

Tell him to sneak out some ads for us! haha. Doesn't have to be BF - any info like this is good.

Tangentially related to BF as some/most of these will be on sale and some of Amazon's best selling items during Prime Day and Black Friday "season". Some articles: $49 ball-shaped Echo Dot: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452312/amazon-echo-dot-led-redesign-sphere-features-alexa-price-release-date $29 Fire TV Stick Light & upgraded "regular" Stick: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21453133/amazon-fire-tv-stick-lite-features-price-release-date Ring drone cam for inside your home: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21453709/ring-always-home-cam-indoor-drone-security-camera-price-specs-features-amazon $99 Echo: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452347/amazon-echo-4th-generation-features-price-release-date-alexa Eero mesh WiFi 6 routers: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21451035/amazon-new-eero-mesh-wi-fi-gear-wifi-6-price-release-date New Echo Show 10 with new capabilities: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21454420/amazon-echo-show-10-netflix-smart-speaker Ring alarm and security cameras for vehicles: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21453632/ring-car-alarm-security-camera-connect-tesla-price-specs-features-amazon

Hoping Home Depot continues their online workshops for another month or longer. If you do one, you get a 15% coupon for homedepot.com and of course you can use multiple emails to sign up multiple times. The coupons have been good for a month from the date they email them to you so if you do one in October, that coupon will be good through November and could be used on their BF sales. http://www.homedepot.com/workshops

Walmart Announces Plans to Meet the Changing Needs of Customers this Holiday Shopping Season https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/09/23/walmart-announces-plans-to-meet-the-changing-needs-of-customers-this-holiday-shopping-season

Guessing there will be a press release within a week or so with some deals listed. We typically don't get sent the early list of deals (that we can't really share anyway) until 3-7 days before the sale starts.

Were you able to get a preorder bluebear? Anyone else?

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazons-prime-day-2020-will-start-on-oct-13/

Just as a reference, PS4 came out in November 2013 for $399. A year later, in the various 2014 Black Friday ads, the console was still $399 but depending where you bought it you'd have gotten either a free $50 gift card or 1-2 games included. So if that holds true this time, you won't save that much waiting a year. But by 2015 (2 years later), the PS4 dropped down to $299 in the BF ads and included a game or two. So it seems like 2 years is the magic point where you really save vs buying it on release.

Results of a pretty in-depth poll about holiday shopping this year: https://morningconsult.com/2020/09/17/holiday-shopping-black-friday-pandemic/

yeah no bundle deals likely. there may be bundles (gamestop had some last night) but the overall bundle price was basically the same as buying the individual items. just gamestop trying to force people who want the console to buy accessories and games they didn't otherwise want. guessing the holiday sales will still be pushing current gen bundles for one more year so if you need a ps4 or xbox one it's going to be a great opportunity to get one very cheap.

I'd say mid-October is a good guess

I usually put up some fall stuff right after Labor Day (did last week) and then Christmas right after Halloween. Nearly 2 months for each “season”. If there’s no “real” BF ads to worry about this year and I’m not as busy next month I might put up the Christmas lights earlier while the weather isn’t too bad.

How Retailers Should Prep for a Weird Black Friday https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/how-retailers-should-prep-for-a-weird-black-friday/2020/09/15/5d07bc7a-f758-11ea-85f7-5941188a98cd_story.html

Time for the first Mystery Shirt Prize Pack contest! We'll make this one simple. To be entered to win, reply to this thread with your answer to this question: What traditional aspect(s) of Black Friday do you think you'll miss the most this year? Contest will be open until 11pm ET on Monday, September 28th. I will then randomly choose 5 members who entered and you'll win a Mystery Shirt Prize Pack! Limit of one prize pack per member but if you win you are still welcome to enter future contests for fun. For more info on the Mystery Shirt Prize Packs we're giving away this year, see this thread. Good luck to everyone!

Seems like a lot of people are going to decorate earlier than usual this year due to *gestures broadly* ...everything. What about you GDers? Anyone actually start already? Waiting until after Thanksgiving?

No, just an example

They probably only asked the customers who were actually there Thanksgiving evening haha. "Hey, do you like being here? Sure you do - you're here!"

Add Macy’s to the list: https://www.macysinc.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/1639/macys-thanksgiving-announcement

Shipping out pins this week. Still need to get addresses from laddhorn, LainieB and vstevens111 so if either of you see this, please reply to the PM I sent you

Probably going to film on 2 days and edit them together into one broadcast.