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Best Buy Black Friday Deals to Avoid

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Black Friday is just like Christmas for businesses in the United States, especially for retailers—like Best Buy. The Minnesota-based corporation's Black Friday ad is 23 pages of big deals with popular brands from Apple electronics to eco-friendly Energy Star appliances. The offerings are enough to make even the staunchest Neo-Luddite drool with techno lust.

However, a closer look at Best Buy's Black Friday specials reveals that some of its dream items may be the stuff of smoke and mirrors. Here are a few of the deals you should avoid at Best Buy's Black Friday.

Surface tablet

Best Buy's Black Friday price on the slim computer is $199.99, a savings of $150. Not bad for this highly advertised, much praised tablet, right? Well, yes, if you like old things. The Black Friday special is for last year's model, which saw a slowdown in sales at the beginning of the year.

Also, the RT is hamstrung by limited options for the operating system, unlike its younger brother – the Pro – which runs Windows 8.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR w/18-55mm IS II Lens

The T3 is a wonderful entry-level digital SLR. Best Buy plans to sell the camera – which comes with an 18-55mm lens – for $399.99, a savings of $50. The thing is, Amazon has a regular, non-Black Friday offer of $389.99 on the same camera.

Furthermore, Best Buy's ad juxtaposes the Canon camera right next to the Nikon D3200. The Nikon will be slashed by $300 on Black Friday for a sale price of $499.99. The price includes a secondary lens (55-200mm), a 16GB memory card and a camera bag. The T3 bundle will be $449.99 and includes 16GB memory card and a 75-300mm lens. The difference in bundle prices may not seem like much, but the scale tips in Nikon's favor when considering the D3200 is 24.2 megapixels (T3 is 12.2) and it can record 1080p video (T3 can only muster 720p.)

LG 3.5 cubit foot 9-cycle high-efficiency steam washer

This washer has received great reviews from Best Buy shoppers, earning a nearly perfect 5-star rating. One consumer raved that you can forget about the clothes until it's done. Sadly, the popular washer doesn't earn high marks as a Black Friday deal at Best Buy. The steam machine will be sold for $599, after $300 in savings, on Black Friday. Instead of rushing into Best Buy for this one-day deal, Home Depot is offering a similar deal until Dec. 4 – a big plus for shoppers who don't like standing in long lines in the cold on the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

16GB iPad Air with Wi-Fi

The world has a love affair with Apple, and Best Buy knows it. The electronics store is offering the latest iteration from the tech giant – the iPad Air – for $449.99 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi version.

Target, on the other hand, has a much better deal on its Black Friday iPad offers. The 16GB iPad Air with Wi-Fi will go for $479, with a $100 gift card. But there's more. The gift card will be awarded for the purchase of any iPad, except the Mini.

Final Word

Best Buy has great Black Friday deals, but not necessarily the best. Spending a little time online, such as at Nextag.com, will yield better deals, ensuring that celebrating the yuletide doesn't leave you cash-strapped for New Year's fun.

Discarded electronics photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

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