Issue 47.15
In previous years I have devoted a couple of weeks to upcoming “Black Friday” deals. These are usually steep discounts on electronics that are only available for a couple of hours early on Friday morning the day after Thanksgiving. While those are still out there, they are usually limited quantities (sometimes only 2 or 3) which means you will stand in line for a significant time in the cold for the chance of getting a really good deal. In some cases that is worth it such as the Toshiba 49” LED TV at BestBuy for $150, but most retailers are now opting for a broader approach. They offer significant savings on many different products and do it starting Thanksgiving night and throughout the weekend.
To really get the best deals, you will have to do some research, checking newspaper ads or going online to websites to see what is offered and when the best price will be available. We are going to share a few of these that we are aware of in this article, but most companies try to keep their super items a secret until Wednesday or even Thursday of Thanksgiving week so people will look at their advertising when they are planning their shopping trips. Here is what we have found so far.
TVs – Sceptre 50” LED TV – $329 at Walmart, Element 43” LED TV – $170 at Target, Samsung 60” 4K Ultra HD TV – $800 at BestBuy
Monitors – Samsung 24” LED Monitor – $100 at Staples,
Tablets – RCA 7” tablet 16 Gig – $45 at Walmart, Polaroid 9” tablet with keyboard – $50 at Target, Amazon Fire Tablet Bundle – $55 at Staples
Computers – Microsoft Surface 3 – $400 at BestBuy, Acer Chromebook 11.6” – $99 at BestBuy, Toshiba Laptop 16”, 8 Gig, i3, Win 10 – $300 at Staples, Dell Desktop Computer i5, 8 Gig, Win 10 – $400 at Staples, Asus Laptop Windows 10 – $139 at BestBuy, Dell Laptop i3, 500 Gig, Win 10 – $280 at Staples
Apple Products (Watch, Ipad) – gift cards from $80-$150 plus 20% off iPods at Target and Staples, $100-$125 off at BestBuy (Ipad Air 2), Apple TV – 25% off at Target, Apple iPad mini 16 Gig Wifi -$199 at Walmart, $200 off selected computers at BestBuy
Printers – HP DeskJet 2545 wireless all-in-one printer $20 at BestBuy, Printers at Staples – Brother Wireless Laser printer – $100, Canon wireless laser printer – $70, Samsung Color Laser Printer – $90, Samsung wireless laser printer – $50
Misc. – Xbox One 500 Gig w/ Gears of War – $299 plus $60 gift card at Target, Nikon 20 Megapixel camera w/HD video – $99.99 at Target (L340), Sandisk Flash Drives – 128 Gig $20, 64 Gig $15, 32 Gig $7, 16 Gig $4 at BestBuy, Camera Drone w/ Remote Control – $60 at Kmart and my favorite that everyone should probably buy – APC UPS (Battery Back Up) – $40 at Staples
I can’t guarantee these prices, but I took them from online and leaked ads directly so they should be accurate. Check individual stores for which days and times the prices are lowest. Enjoy the savings and remember – make sure you always have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 33 years, 26 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently works as a computer consultant. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.