Black Friday 2010

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a lot of Black Friday deals. Some are incredible, some are funny and a few aren’t deals at all. Here are the 10 worst and weirdest Black Friday 2009 deals. Please note that all pricing listed is what you can expect on Black Friday, not what is currently advertised online or in stores.

10. Like to imbibe during the holiday season but hate watery drinks? We found these Whiskey Stones at Think Geek for just $15.99 (after a $5 off $10 coupon is applied). The stones keep drinks cold and stiff, the way they should be during family gatherings.

9. The Ruger Semi-Automatic Pistol is marked down from $399.99 to $249.99 this Black Friday at Gander Mountain. With a shooting last Black Friday at a California ToysRUs, we’re not sure if this makes you safer or puts you in even more danger!

8. GameStop takes an extra $10-$20 off refurbished gaming systems, making a used PSP just $79.99 (retails new for around $160). This isn’t a bad deal, but it’s Black Friday! We’re going for the big savings on a brand new, under-warranty gaming system!

7. Black Friday is all about mega deals, so we definitely took note of the Mio 4.3″ GPS System for $79.99 at Radio Shack (normally $149.99), but Walmart has a similar TomTom 4.3″ GPS System for $89. Sure, it’s an extra $10, but we’re willing to pay a bit more for a well-known and trusted brand, especially since the model normally retails for as much as $180.

6. We love Overstock, but we think it’s a little odd they didn’t include pricing in their Black Friday 2009 ad. The ad is great for giving you an idea of what will be on sale (items include a Wii, camcorders, lots of toys, a Cole Haan woman’s coat, bedding and even an inversion table), but since most of the competitive doorbuster sales will be going on at stores, we’re not sure if staying home to see what Overstock’s pricing will be is worth the time.

5. Update: We’re sorry to say that we goofed on this one. Target has the Nikon S203, not the S230 as advertised at Walmart. Both cameras are 10MP, however the S230 has a touch screen and a few more operational modes. Either way, if you’re in the market for a solid digital camera, the S203 for $88 (retails for as much as $139.99) at Target is a good deal. The Nikon Coolpix 10mp S230 Digital Camera popped up in a lot of Black Friday ads this year. Walmart has the camera for $139, but Target is selling it in two colors for just $88!

4. The Ace Hardware Black Friday 2009 ad is full of “deals” that are actually mail-in rebate offers. We’re not paying full price for anything on Black Friday, and neither should you.

3. If you’re on the hunt for a deal on an iPod, you may not have to brave the Black Friday crowds at all. Amazon currently has the newest model of the iPod 8GB Nano (5th generation) for $134.99 with free shipping. The same iPod is available on Black Friday at Target for $145 with a free $15 Target giftcard and at BestBuy for $149.99. Even considering the free Target giftcard, the free shipping and limited sales tax makes Amazon a better deal. However, Amazon is literally changing prices on certain items by the minute, so act fast to take advantage of this deal!

2. As we mentioned the other day, Apple’s Black Friday “holiday shopping event” didn’t make the cut last year for great Black Friday deals. We’re hoping they’ll step it up and offer more than free shipping and 5%-10% off select items, but we’re not counting on it. Give the site a check, but don’t jump at the first price drop you see. Many retailers like Target, Toys R Us and Amazon will have better pricing and include bonus offers such as gift cards.

1. Perhaps the worst Black Friday deal goes to BestBuy. BestBuy screwed up the price of a popular refrigerator in their ad and then back-tracked – they won’t honor the price!