GeekSugar

Best Picks: Walmart's Black Friday Door-Buster Deals

Emily Co — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:51:03 PST

Walmart's Black Friday event is one of the most anticipated sales during the holiday season. The retailer just came out with its Black Friday ads on Wednesday, and I've carefully gone through them to find items that will give you the best bang for your buck. I compared the discount prices to current prices of the items that I found online through sites like Amazon.com.

After combing through the ads, I realized that quite a number of the items aren't really on sale. Some cost the same as the original, such as the Kindle gadgets, and some cost even more than their original prices. Remember there are three different sales going on at different times. At 10 p.m. on Thursday toys and other items will go on sale; electronics will go on sale at 12 a.m.; and the 8 a.m. sale on Friday will have tires and other electronics.

Read on for the best bargains.

Walmart Offers Major Gaming Deals on Black Friday

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:36:58 PST

Some Black Friday deals can be underwhelming - how many $5 USB drives do we need? - but the sale Walmart just revealed for games and gaming equipment may just be enough to lure us out on Thanksgiving night. From 10 p.m. on Thursday night through all day Friday, Nov. 25, Walmart stores are offering huge door-buster sales to feed our video game hunger.

PlayStation 3 bundles and Xbox 360 with Kinect bundles are priced at $200 each, and the Xbox set comes with a $50 Walmart gift card. The standalone Kinect and game bundle is $100, as well as the blue Wii console. The games themselves are where we get to the good stuff. Recently released titles like Batman: Arkham City, Just Dance 3, and Battlefield 3 will retail for $28. Other games like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Dance Central 2 are slated for an even lower price - $15.

Are you planning to shop early or stand in line this year to get these deals?

Hard Candy May Branch Out Into Clothing

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:24:49 PDT

Many clothing lines eventually expand their brands into makeup and perfume, but it's unusual to see a makeup brand start designing clothes. That's what Walmart appears to be doing with Hard Candy, the beloved '90s makeup brand that it brought back to mass distribution in 2009. Walmart spokespeople won't confirm (or deny) the reports to WWD, but such an expansion would be a unique experiment in reverse engineering.

I think I'd be on board with a Benefit accessories line (charm bracelets and cute printed silk scarves, maybe?) or some hoodies and cute sneakers from DuWop, but that's because they already have cool packaging and a fashion-forward aesthetic. Hard Candy, on the other hand, was only recently resurrected, and it's not clear whether the brand image it used to have is even intact. Do you think this will work for them, and would you even like a fashion line made by your favorite makeup brand?

A Streaming Media Customer's Guide

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:36:23 PDT

Walmart announced today its streaming media service, VUDU. The company bought VUDU in 2010 and has finally integrated the HD digital media rental company into the Walmart website.

The service is accessible through the VUDU page on Walmart's website or from VUDU-enabled devices like certain HDTVs, Blu-ray players, or PlayStation 3. Customers do not sign up for a subscription, but rather pay per film viewing. Rentals begin at $3, with new releases starting at $4 and higher for HD-quality streams; many movies can be purchased for unlimited viewing for $15.

With companies like Walmart racing to produce popular streaming video service, customers have a wide range of products and pricing plans to choose from, including the following:

Netflix - With access via gaming consoles, TVs, iPhones, and Android smartphones in addition to computers, the popular classic doesn't look to be going anywhere despite the competition and controversial new pricing structure.
Hulu Plus - The $8 monthly subscription fee for Hulu Plus allows access to the most current episodes of TV shows and has an even larger catalog of movies available than its free Hulu counterpart. Available via iOS, Android, select gaming consoles, Samsung TVs and computer systems.
Blockbuster Total Access - Pricing models give customers the option to rent DVDs for home delivery with a subscription plan for $10 or $15, choose to rent DVD without subscriptions, or stream films online on demand.

For those who love the freedom of choice, check out more streaming options after the break.

Do You Prefer the Beach or the Pool?

Sponsor — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:03:02 PDT

Summer is the time to get outdoors and get active with your family! So we're posing the age-old question: which do you prefer, the beach or the pool? While the pool offers backyard convenience, the ocean always seems to be that perfect picturesque setting for a hot Summer day. Whatever your preference, you know that you have to be prepared with all the Summer essentials, and Walmart is your one-stop shop to get everything you'll need for the pool, beach, and beyond. Sun care is essential, and Walmart has got you covered for an easy shopping experience - everything you'll need for fun in the sun, all under one roof. But we want to hear from you, so go ahead and cast your vote below!

Will You Be Taking a Vacation This Summer?

Sponsor — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:00:03 PDT

Summer is a great time to pick up the family and get away. Whether it’s an exotic beach vacation or just a road trip to a lake, there’s no better time to plan a trip. However, the notion of a staycation, making your own home the destination for all your Summer fun, is one of the hottest new trends. But whether you’re planning a family vacation away from home or prepping for some good old backyard fun, Walmart is the place to stock up on all Summer essentials. You'll get the products you love at prices that won't break the bank. With low-price guarantees on all your family’s Summer sun care, you’ll find everything to keep them protected, so they can have fun outdoors. So, tell us whether or not you’ll be taking a vacation this Summer.

Walmart Testing Online Food Store, Walmart to Go

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:49:06 PDT

In an attempt to compete with large online grocers, like Fresh Direct and Amazon Fresh, Walmart is testing its own online grocery delivery service. The tests are taking place in San Jose, CA, and include everything from fresh produce and seafood to frozen food and over-the-counter pharmacy. Our friends at Slashfood have got more details on Walmart to Go, so head on over to learn about the pricing and specifics of Walmart's newest project.

What Do You Think of Buying Groceries Online?

Emily Co — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:21:29 PDT

Walmart is currently experimenting with an online grocery delivery service called Walmart to Go in San Jose, CA., which offers next-day deliveries for your grocery order, reports the New York Times. The delivery fees for this service starts at $5, and the goods delivered "lean toward prepackaged goods." There are also certain restrictions - meats are currently only available in precut portions, and fruits like lemons and oranges can only be bought in bags, rather than individually. Still, some may say the convenience of online grocery shopping far outweighs these limitations.

What do you think of online supermarket shopping, would you do it if this service was available in your area?

Discount Retailers Faceoff: Target Prices Beat Walmart

Emily Co — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:30:31 PST

We generally associate Walmart as the ultimate retail store for bargains, but Target prices are actually lower than Walmart's, CNN reports. Although the difference doesn't seem to be all that much, it might matter to frugal shoppers who are counting pennies.

In fact, the surveys that observed the price disparity noted that this year's January and February prices for Target items have been slightly cheaper than Walmart's, which traditionally has not been the case. And if you add in Target REDcard's five percent member discount, you'll be saving even more - the gap between the Target and Walmart prices increases to almost six percent.

Are you surprised by the results? Which discount retailer do you prefer: Walmart or Target?

Source: Flickr User j.reed

Where to Buy an iPad 2 on Launch Day

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:42:37 PST

Let the iPad 2 madness begin! Apple's second-generation tablet goes on sale next Friday, and if you think you'll have to queue up in long lines at the Apple store, think again - there are a number of locations that will be selling the iPad 2 on launch day. Get the entire list below!

Sam's Club and Walmart - According to a tip, 9 to 5 Mac has learned that the iPad 2 will be sold both at Sam's Club and Walmart locations on March 11.
Best Buy - Already advertising on its website, you can pick up an iPad 2 at Best Buy on launch day.
Apple Stores - If you want the full Apple experience on iPad 2 day, you should head to an Apple store, where there's sure to be a lot of pomp and circumstance.

No word yet on if AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores will be carrying the iPad 2 at launch, but we'll update this post as we learn more!