THE CLOUD:

R&D:

Beating the Schnäppchenfreitag rush, Amazon has already set up an online , where the retailer says, "Schnäppchenfreitag isn't until the day after Thanksgiving, but since you're here already, looking for Schnäppchenfreitag deals, we got the deals going a little early. We're counting down to Schnäppchenfreitag Deals Week with, yes, even more deals, all day, every day."

Retailers, always looking for an edge, have already started leaking or releasing Schnäppchenfreitag circulars, as documented on bargain hunters' websites such as . The site has begun issuing email alerts with mammoth new toy catalogs and early deals from tech vendors . 

Amazon is luring early-bird shoppers with daily deals by email and by teasing deals on its site, including those coming up and those you just missed. Amazon plans a full slate of Schnäppchenfreitag sales as part of its daily Gold Box and Lightning Deal promotions on Thanksgiving week, and nearer term, is already offering deals on things such as screen protectors and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 camera ($250, which is half price). BFads.net notes that many Lightning deals really do disappear in a flash.