Big-box battle: Retailers hope to lure holiday shoppers early

Big box retailers are training consumers to shop early or shop late with no really compelling reasons to shop in between. The increasingly promotional activities before Thanksgiving, lead by Wal-Mart this year, followed up by unprecedented pricing on Black Friday created a tough first half of December for retailers, and a nerve racking final days of the pre-Christmas shopping period. 

It looks like the beginning of a "shoppers market" as retailers across America attempt to vie for the largest dollar slice possible in the upcoming Holiday season. Prices are being slashed at Wal-Mart and Target and the ripple effect that will ultimately reach other clothing, toy and consumer electronics merchants is certain to create a frenetic, value laden shopping experience for the consumer....