FutureWire - futurism and emerging technology

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Website Leaks Discounter Deals for the Holidays

One more way in which technology is disrupting retail is evidenced by the website Gottadeal.com, which today leaked what it says is Wal-Mart's planned discounts for the upcoming holiday season. Among the bargains the giant discounter is supposedly planning for Black Friday are an HP Pavilion notebook for $398 (no rebates), a 12-cup coffee maker for $4.24, and an HP Photosmart digital camera for $98.



Gottadeal.com founder Brad Olson says that he got the list from "someone close to the production process for the [store's] ads." Wal-Mart neither confirms nor denies the accuracy of the information, though some observers suggest that posting discounts this early could give Wal-Mart an edge among shoppers who increasingly rely on the Internet to find bargains, and who begin their holiday shopping earlier than ever.

Gottadeal.com also lists discounts from other stores. The site is apparently a victim of its own success; because of the attention it's gained from various media sources, Gottadeal.com has had to temporarily shut down.

UPDATE: As of today (11/3), Gottadeal.com is fully back online, including its Black Friday section.

Source: CNN/Money