Techland’s Black Friday 2010 Awards
Best Black Friday Deals Across the Board: Walmart
Walmart comes out swinging every year, and this year’s no exception. With a 32-inch TV for under $200, the Flip MinoHD camcorder at under $100, and a whopping $50 gift card with the purchase of an iPod Touch, Walmart’s your best bet for finding deals. The crowds can get a little unruly, so get those elbows ready.
Best TV Selection: Sears
Sears has an almost overwhelming selection of doorbuster deals on TVs. There’s one available in just about every size, screen technology, and resolution, and there’s a big 4AM to noon window to find the perfect set.
Best Single TV Deal: Target
Target’s pushing a 40-inch 1080p Westinghouse TV out the door for $298. That’s a good enough deal to warrant braving the elements at 4AM.
Underachiever Award: Best Buy
With roughly ten doorbuster deals, including a washer/dryer set, a $60 digital camera, and a handful of $10 Blu-ray movies, Best Buy is looking at a shellacking this year. Just because CompUSA and Circuit City went out of business, doesn’t mean Walmart and Target won’t eat your lunch, Best Buy.
The store’s saving grace this year is a few deals on TVs here and there—a 32-incher for $328, a 24-inch LED-backlit set for $190, and a 42-inch Plasma for $370—but they’ll be available all weekend.
Best Deal from Out of Left Field: $400 iPad at TJ Maxx
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly which TJ Maxx stores are carrying the fabled $400 iPad, but if you happen upon one that has them in stock, buy it.
The “You Guys Know Thanksgiving is a Holiday, Right?” Award: Toys ‘R Us
While Toys ‘R Us didn’t have enough grown-up tech deals to be included in the above round-up, it takes the cake as far as employee scroogery is concerned. Stores open at 10PM Thursday night and run doorbuster deals until 1PM the next day.
Best Bets This Year:
Target, Sears, Walmart
If You Have Time:
Best Buy, Radio Shack, Staples
Not Worth It:
Office Depot, OfficeMax, Kmart
