Black Friday 2011: Deals from Walmart, Target, Best Buy and more

While Black Friday is not necessarily the best day of the year to shop, it is still the most ritualistic shopping "holiday" with several stores opening at 12 a.m. Friday (or even earlier) with limited-time deals. An estimated 152 million Americans will be taking part in the retail festivities Friday and during the weekend, up from 138 million last year. If you're thinking of hitting the mall -- instead of watching various TV show marathons like me -- here's a handy list of the who's who of Black Friday and their featured door-busters. Keep in mind that on Black Friday, it's first-come, first-served, so some of these deals will go away once the item is sold out. (Also keep in mind that stores want you to feel pressure to buy. But it's not a good deal if you purchase something you don't need just because the price looks good.)

Walmart

For the first time, Walmart will be kicking off its in-store specials at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving and plans to scatter its offers. The following deals will kick off the event:

• Xbox360 4GB with Kinect Console: $199.96 plus a $50 Walmart gift card
• DVDs starting at $1.96
• 6V or 12V Ride-Ons (e.g., Jeep Wrangler, X Games ATV or Barbie Jeep): $99 each
• Barbie, Disney Princess or Bratz branded Fashion Dolls: $5 each
• Paula Deen 20-Piece Cookware Set: $86.44

Starting at midnight:

• Emerson 32" LCD TV (31.5" diagonal screen size): $188
• LG Blu-ray Player: $49
• Kodak C1450 14 MP Camera: $49
• 8GB iPod Touch: $195
• Samsung 51" Plasma TV (50.7" diagonal screen size): $498

Starting at 8 a.m. Friday:

• Goodyear Tires starting at $59
• Vizio 42" 3D LED Wi-Fi HDTV (42.0" diagonal screen size 1080p): $598
• Buy any smartphone (except Apple iPhone) with a contract and get a $100 Walmart gift card

Macy's

For the first time, stores will open at midnight Thanksgiving. Deals include:

• 50% off Sharper Image iPhone/iPod docking stations
• $19.99 Rampage boots
• Justin Beiber limited-edition holiday fragrance set (includes eau de parfum spray and Bieber's holiday CD)
• With any $65 fragrance purchase, get a free digital camera
  

Best Buy

The following deals start at midnight Thanksgiving:

• Sharp 42" Class LCD 1080p HDTV $199.99
  
• Samsung laptop with Intel Pentium Processor 15.6" Display, 4GB memory $299.99
  
• Toshiba Wi-Fi Ready Blu-Ray Player $39.99
  
• Seasons 1-3 of Mad Men on BluRay - $9 each
• 250GB Xbox 360 console with Fable III and Halo Reach -$200
• MacBook Pros and iMacs - $60 to $200 off

H&M

H&M stores open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. Deals include:

• Dresses and sweaters from $5
• Pants and kids' jackets from $10
• Outerwear from $20

Toys R Us

The toy giant plans to open its doors earlier than competitors, at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving.

• Sylvania 7-inch tablet PC for $79
• 40% off Optimus Prime Transformer for $47.99
• 50% off Leap Pad Leapster systems
• $50 gift card with iPod Touch purchase

Target

All Black Friday deals start at midnight on Thanksgiving.

• Philips 9" Dual-Screen DVD Player $99
• Amazon Kindle 3G $85
  
• Acer 10.1 Netbook for $157
  
• Various movies and TV shows on DVD for $3.99
• Element 40" 60HZ 1080p LCD HDTV for $265
• $40 Target gift card with purchase of 8GB iPod Touch for $195
• $15 Target gift card with purchase of 8GB iPod Nano for $129

Sam's Club

These prices will be valid for members in stores November 25 starting at 5 a.m.

• Microsoft Xbox 360 250GB Holiday Bundle for $199
• Sony PlayStation 3 160GB Entertainment Bundle for $239
• LG 42" 120Hz 1080p LED-Backlit LCD HDTV for $578

Lowe's

The home improvement giant is advertising its Black Friday offers via its "Black Friday Throwdown" on Facebook.

• allen + roth Ladder Shelf for $65
• Skil 10" Miter Saw for $69
• Kobalt 227-Piece Socket Wrench Set for $99.98
• Char-Griller Duo Gas and Charcoal Grill for $199

[noloyalisti]

Ed Schultz on the Ed Show on MSNBC last night made an appeal to buy only American goods if at all possible. If I buy anything this weekend it will be only from small businesses that are local. Even if I have to pay a few bucks more, it is helping my neighbors and my community.

From now on I will try really hard not to shop or otherwise support any companies that are publicly traded. I urge everyone to do the same so we can take America back from the Top 1%. Happy Thanksgiving.

[ccollier376]

I would like to see a segment on buying products MADE IN AMERICA. Instead of showing a table full of gift ideas and good deals made in China or elsewhere around the world by cheap labor, please, please, please develop a segment showing suggested items we can buy that are made by American workers, American manufacturers, and American parts. Even if you can't find such products, suggest buying gift certificates from hair salons, local restaurants, car detailing, cleaning lady for a day, lawn care, etc. etc. etc.

[noloyalisti]

I recommend that no one shops on Black Friday (shouldn't they call this Red Friday because of the debt Americans run up?). If you have to shop shop small business and local. The money stays in your community instead of going overseas to the Top 1%.

You will also save money on gas and will help the economy and hurt the robber banksters who now own most of America. Since consumers run 70% of the economy we have massive power for change.

[kiljare]

Nah, I think I will continue to support the big corporations who employ everyone and give me much better products at much lower prices than any mom & pop store EVER could. These are some really good deal and I know that I will be buying a LOT of stuff that I have wanted for a while, but don't really need. Gotta take advantage while I can.

[noloyalisti]

Thee big corporations are the problem for America with their race-to-the-bottom mentality and killing of the middle class and the poor.

You really hate America, don't you. You must be a Republicon or just another stooge for the Top 1%.

[jomalo1970]

I understand the need to work to support your family, but this is ridiculous. This commercial madness has people sacrificing the very families they are working to support. Of course, you won't find any top level execs or CEOs working Thanksgiving, since they will be spending it with friends and family. But, when asked why they are having their stores open early, they claim that their customers want it that way, and they will do whatever it takes to satisfy their customers. If they were the ones who had to do the actual work, I bet the customer wouldn't be so important anymore.

As for the customers who sacrifice their Thanksgiving to stand in line to save a few dollars, i hope they realize that they are not really doing their loved ones any favors. Most people, when asked, will say that their time with family is more important that any material possessions...but then go spend that precious time standing in a line to give a millionaire CEO some more money so he doesn't have to stand in any line to save a dollar. Does that make any sense? Don't waste your time people...it is far more valuable than money, as ANY CEO will tell you!

[tsigili]

The greed of people on Black Friday, makes Americans look like the worst kind of people.

It is really sad to see people behave that way, over things they don't need at all.

Humans overall are really pathetic.

[noloyalisti]

Everyone should Boycott the big stores on Boycott Black Friday. The on Saturday you can shop because it is Buy Small Business Day. This will go a long way toward mobilizing the 99% and to stop the rape and pillage of the earth.