Black Friday 2010: One tipster’s top list and and deals for cash-only shoppers

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Looking ahead: The weekend and Monday

Black Friday 2010: One tipster’s top list and deals for cash-only shoppers

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    Walmart, which has already rattled other retailers this year with online free-shipping, is stepping up the pressure with three-day sales built around Black Friday, plus a “price match” pledge.

    Most Walmarts will be open 24 hours on Turkey Day. Among the deals are over 90 DVD titles including Lord of the Rings and Ice Age for $1.96. Customers can shop nearly 150 online-only specials at Walmart.com, such as a RCA 37′ LCD HDTV for $399. And beginning in stores at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, shoppers who move quickly have a shot at a Kodak C183 Digital Camera (14 megapixels) for $59.

    Brad Wilson, of bradsdeals.com, who has helped us through the BF ad jungle, offers his top five best deals this year: (Click here for all 15.)

    1. Chefmate Appliances for $3 at Target. Originally $20 (approx.).
    2. Emerson 32″ LCD HDTV $198 at Walmart. Originally $328.
    3. Westinghouse 40″ LCD TV $298 at Target. Originally $549.99
    4. Nook Wifi eReader for $99.99 at Best Buy. Originally $149.99.
    5. Philips Portable DVD player $49 at Walmart. Originally $69.99.

    Fed up with mounting credit card debt but you still want to shop? Here’s a pitch from eBillme.com for those who prefer to pay cash for online purchases. Buyers shop as normal, but at checkout, the bill is paid from your bank’s online bill pay. And the plan includes cash-back on purchases. Ebill.com also offers Black Friday coupons here.

    Radio Shack is off and running four days early with its BF offerings, including the AUVIO 3.5-inch Pocket TV for $69.99.

    It’s hard to keep tabs on all the online tip sites, but here’s one that’s worth a peek: BlackFriday.com. Click here for their BF offerings by category. The site also offers what it says in a shoppers’ survey of expected hot items this buying season. I don’t know how scientifically rigorous the poll, but here’s what it found:

    Hottest individual product:

    1. Apple iPad
    2. Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect
    3. Apple iPhone
    4. Sony HDTV
    5. Blu-Ray

    Hottest non-gaming toys:

    1. Zhu Zhu pets
    2. Pillow pets (and Pillow pals)
    3. Disney Tangle toys (related to Thanksgiving week movie)
    4. Beyblades
    5. Paper Jamz

    Consumer Reports reminds that it’s easy to get caught up in the hype, so click here for its holiday buying guide, which is updated frequently. Meanwhile, here’s a shortened version of CR’s “savings and sanity” tips for Black Friday:

    • It’s not always worth breaking down the ‘door.’ … But consumers shouldn’t bother to show up unless they are willing to wait on line, sometimes for hours before the store opens, and should be prepared for possible disappointment. There are no guarantees.
    • Sniff out the most appealing specials in advance … Many of the hot specials are already listed on Fatwallet, Walletpop, Gottadeal, and TheBlackFriday.
    • Try to get it for less online.
    • To maximize savings, consumers should ask if the retailer has a low-price guarantee … if the item goes on sale or if it’s offered cheaper elsewhere.
    • Eye return policies carefully. The blanket policy for most products at big-box stores is 90 days, but may be shorter for electronics.

    (Posted by Doug Stanglin)

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