Blog Archives for 2011

Around Black Friday, the term "bait and switch" gets thrown around quite a bit, but let's be clear: There's "Bait and Switch" and then there's "bait and switch." One is a legal definition, prosecutable, and the other is colloquial, used liberally to designate unfair merchant practices. But in the Internet age, do retailers still attempt to use this promotional tactic to draw big crowds for Black Friday sales?

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the future of Apple, Google, and Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

Known for its parks, the two tallest buildings in the world, Prohibition history, its theatre scene, Jazz, and more, Chicago has sights for all kinds of travelers. We've found several deals on flights, hotels, and entertainment to help make a trip to Chi-town as affordable and enjoyable an excursion as possible.

The holidays will soon be upon us, and where you get your toys may not be of that much concern to you, so long as you grab a bargain. However, our Green Dad columnist, Lou Carlozo, believes there are other concerns to keep in mind, like safety and eco-friendliness. So we've rounded up deals on some eco-smart picks that even adults will want to get their hands on, from flying discs to working windmills.

Nearly half of our readers are planning to stay at home on Black Friday, relishing the additional day off spent surfing the web for deals. But just because you're skipping the crazy lines in-store, does that mean you can also skip the early wake-up? Perhaps — but you may be missing out.

Did you know that you can buy everything you'll need to make Thanksgiving dinner on the Internet? Well you can! Check out our Online Thanksgiving Buying Guide, in which we show you how you can shop for the "big day" from the (relative) safety of your own home.

With features (and prices) that span from novice to professional, finding the right digital camera for your photography style can be a little complex. We're here to point out a handful of top digital camera deals, to help you shoot better photos. (See what we did there?)

Black Friday is still two weeks away, but already we've seen sneak peeks into Black Friday sales from a number of merchants. From Lowe's to Amazon and retailers in between, the sales are starting earlier and earlier each year. But are these Pre-Black Friday sales the cream of the crop for the season? We think not!

The dealnews Podcast is broadcasting Episode 184 towards you, so open your ears and let us in! This week, for the first time ever, our panel sits in the same room and records face-to-face-to-face! While staring at each other, we discuss Apple owning up to battery problems, Consumer Reports handing out a "recommends" to the iPhone 4S, Amazon's Kindle Lending Library, the new NOOK Tablet, Verizon doubling its data plans, and more.

It's still early, but already we've seen leaked Black Friday ads from Kohl's, Sears, Lowe's, JCPenney, Macy's, and more. (See that Black Friday tab on the top right? They're all listed there.) To get you started on your quest for rumored and confirmed Black Friday deals, we've rounded up some of the notable discounts from the early-bird ads.

Price matching can give consumers an edge when shopping over the holidays, but not every retailer offers a price match guarantee. Even those who do offer it will adhere to different policies, and some won't honor those policies at all during Black Friday weekend. We've gathered a few tips you should keep in mind when shopping this holiday season, as well as a couple merchants who offer the best policies for Black Friday.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the future of Apple, Google, and Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

You may already be doing the math to see how you can afford some of your most-wanted purchases around Black Friday, and rather than running up a credit card bill, consider making small changes in the day to day. Follow these tips and before you know it, you'll have a fatter wallet to make the most of the deep discounts we're sure to see on Black Friday.

Did you know that some "energy saving devices," are products that just sport a green label in an attempt to get you to cough up the big bucks? Just because an item is deemed "energy saving" doesn't mean the doodad is actually doing any good. Green Dad looks at five gadgets and their potential energy saving capabilities.

November is the start of the holiday shopping season, and while there are plenty of discounts to be had, sooner or later you're bound to find yourself disillusioned with one of your purchases. That's when it pays to know your store's return policy. So before your next purchase, brush up on our return policy cheat sheet for 2011's top 10 most-deal friendly online stores.

The dealnews Podcast is broadcasting Episode 183 into your earholes! This week, the end of Bank of America's debit card fees, Apple iPhone 4S' battery issues, movie rental changes, Amazon's restricted gift card, and more.

We finally made it to November, one of the happiest months for budget-conscious shopping. Many categories hit their lowest points during this month, usually around Black Friday (not surprisingly). But contrary to popular believe, it's not the best time to buy everything, so be sure to read our buying guide for advice on the best and worst things to buy in November.

Rumors began spreading last week that the upcoming Grand Central Terminal Apple Store in New York will be open and ready for business in time for Black Friday. And as exciting as that may be for weary travelers heading home after Thanksgiving, our research indicates that excitable Apple-philes would be wise to skip the grand Black Friday opening — as well as Black Friday sales at any Apple store — and shop at home instead. Watch our video for more!

A recent survey says that fewer people are planning on shopping in-store on Black Friday this year, for a projected turnout that could be the lowest in three years. (According to our own survey, a large percentage of dealnews readers are also hoping to skip in-store sales.) So what's holding everyone back?

A few weeks back, dealnews' Green Dad wrote about ways to prep your living space for the cold that's surely coming. This week, he's got eight ways to get eco-friendly outside the home, doing battle (and having fun) with winter in a way that's not going to wallop Mother Earth. Just because it's white outside doesn't mean you can't stay green on the inside, and reduce that carbon footprint of yours to a size much smaller than a snow boot.

Why not make better use of all that time some people spend stuck in traffic, commuting back and forth to work? We've got the gadgets and deals you need to turn your car into a mobile office. Take work on the road with adapters to charge laptops and the like, create an office ambiance with a portable mini water cooler, and more!

The dealnews Podcast is broadcasting Episode 182 into the atmosphere! This week, our panel reviews "Batman: Arkham City," bank account number portability, Walmart's price-match policy, the Google Music Store's launch despite label involvement, Burger King's all-you-can-eat Whopper deal, and more.

While Apple's MacBook Air has long been the most noteworthy ultraportable laptop available, now comes the ultrabook — Windows' answer to the Air. Both Acer and ASUS have recently released super thin and light models that are vying for the top spot. Here's how they stack up against each other.

Thailand has been bailing out of its rainy season, but the flooding in some areas has been severe, and numerous factories have been shutdown. Considering the country produces 25% of the world's hard drives, some analysts are concerned about a long-term hard drive shortage — which could mean fewer deals for consumers.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the iPad 3? The future of Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

Holidays are often a time in which we unthinkingly spend a lot of money and waste resources. So, with Halloween around the corner, Green Dad has eight tips and deals for an eco-friendly All Hallow's Eve. Save money on costumes, green supplies, and more.

With the right TV, Blu-ray player, and speakers, your living room can rival any movie theater. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn't have to cost you a small fortune. Below we've put together a quick and dirty primer to help you pick the right components for your in-home cineplex.

It's been a busy week for Android. Not only did Motorola inject Google's operating system into its now-resurrected RAZR line, but Samsung also unveiled it's long-awaited Galaxy Nexus — the first phone to run Android Ice Cream Sandwich. But which of these two giants is the real über Android phone? We compared them to find out.

Ever taken an order all the way through checkout, only to discover that the coupon code you have has expired? Ever wondered why the site doesn't just allow you to check the code at the beginning, before you spend precious time entering credit card and shipping information? Ever made the face to the left while shopping online?

We feel your pain. dealnews editors shop a lot, so we've made this list of the most common pitfalls we see on retail sites today.

The dealnews Podcast announces that the pallindromic Episode 181 is ready to be heard by YOU! This week, our panel gets an iPhone 4S hands on, asks, "What up?" with the Blackberry outages, worries about Hulu's future, and more.

At dealnews, every day is like Black Friday — but the Black Friday only happens once a year. And luckily for our deal-savvy readers, this year's sales are going to be sweet! (See: the cookie to the left.) The economic and retail signs in 2011 are indicating that this could be one of the strongest Black Fridays in several years.

The harvest moon is nigh, and the day when our streets will be taken over by zombies, vampires, and ghouls rapidly approaches. Get in the spirit of spooky with a quintessential Halloween decoration: the hand-carved pumpkin. Here are some not-to-miss tips and tools to help bring your orange creature to life.

Think about it: Most of us spend more time at our jobs than with our families or friends. But that doesn't mean work should equal drudgery, or that our office spaces should reflect a no-frills utility. dealnews found these five home office furniture bargains that will show your team how deal hunting is done.

Toys "R" Us recently released its Fabulous 15 list of the hottest toys for the holiday season, and as we approach Black Friday — the biggest shopping event of the year — you may think it's the ideal time to score the best deal possible on these items (while also getting your shopping done early). But slow down! We tracked the deals on last year's Fabulous 15 to see when the toys hit their lowest prices of the season, and you may do well to sit tight for awhile.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the iPhone "5"? The future of Apple, Facebook, and Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

When pumpkins appear on front stoops and the trees turn into a blaze of color, the season is near for a tradition hearkening back to the dawn of man: the hunt. The whole experience, however, can be ruined by making a poor choice on footwear. Who wants to stalk game on sore feet? We've got tips for selecting the proper hunting boots as well as coupons and deals to fit your budget.

With so many inexpensive laptop deals published everyday on dealnews, a reader may be flummoxed as to why anyone should spend $1,000 or more on a notebook. We've created a guide to the premium features that make up that price tag, with reasons for why they might be right for you. And what's more, with Black Friday fast approaching, that high-end laptop might be more affordable than you think.

Sometimes, the daily deals offered by Groupon and Living Social seem like a regular feast of too-good-to-be-true discounts. And according to a recent study regarding service deals, in many cases they might be. If the value of a daily deal is not as great as what's advertised, would you still be interested in buying it?

Polishing a pair of leather shoes isn't just for cowboys and military men. Anyone with a decent pair of dress shoes should add the practice to his repertoire, and we've got the tips and product deals you need to become a regular shiner. With some proper TLC, the dress shoes you get via dealnews will not only be a bargain, but they'll last you for years to come.

Fire up those touchscreens, dealnews readers, and get ready to snag some accessories for your iPad. We've got five great deals for your tablet that range from cases to charging docks. (You get imaginary bonus points if you actually buy these iPad accessories on your iPad.)

BlackBerry outages spread to U.S. shores yesterday, and experts have expressed concern that the interrupted service may be the final straw for wavering customers. We revisit our dealnews data that proves waning interest in the device, and we ask: would you, at this point, buy a BlackBerry?

If you're the type of person who refuses to settle for less than the best when shopping for electronics, then off-brand HDTVs just won't cut it. But that doesn't mean you can't get a deal! Fortunately, we compiled information on the best HDTV models of the past year, with data on what discounted prices you can expect to see.

The dealnews Podcast announces that Episode 180 is ready to be heard by YOU! This week, our panelists eulogize Steve Jobs, offer tips on (finally) buying a smartphone, advise your Kindle purchase, discuss the short-lived Qwikster, get angry at debit card fees, and more.

Happily, camcorders today are light years ahead of those bulky devices from decades past. And instead of heavy machines that require advanced weight training classes to carry, we've rounded up a handful of sleek, lightweight camcorder models to capture your everyday moments at the drop of a hat. (Just remember, the little red light is on for savings.)

Netflix announced today that it no longer plans to split its DVD and streaming services into two separate sites. The company hopes the decision will please its numerous jilted users, but does the news fill you with joy? Take our poll!

There's no stopping the cold of winter, but there are many things we can do to ready our homes for the brutal weather. Green Dad gives us eight eco-friendly tips and nifty products to save you as much as $500 in heating costs this year — which means they're well worth their weight in energy savings.

Pumpkin prices have skyrocketed this year, as crops have been destroyed by bad weather. What is the Halloween hopeful to do if he or she needs a Jack O'Lantern and can't find a gourd for a reasonable price? Our latest feature gives you several creative solutions to this pumpkin-y problem.

Known for its white sand beaches, bright blue waters, and near-perfect weather, the Cancun and Riviera Maya region is the choice for thousands of vacationers year-round. If you're a first-timer or even a seasoned traveler looking for that once-a-year visit, we've found several budget-friendly travel packages and hotels to get you to this hot spot.

Pump up your living room entertainment experience with a deal on a home theater receiver or media player from the likes of Yamaha, Sony, Boxee Box, and more.