Black Friday Deals (2024) - Any Bogleheadish Deals You're Keeping an Eye On?

[travelspot]

Walmart has Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $154 down from $249. Will be in DW’s Christmas stocking this year.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-Pro- ... 5689919121

I believe Amazon is matching the price. $95 savings.

[MGBMartin]

I was able to buy Levi’s cheaper than that when they were on sale at Costco this summer: $29.95 for 505 jeans. I bought two pair (but should’ve bought more). They’re comfortable but don’t last as long as other jeans I’ve owned, like Wrangler jeans.

When I first started buying them in 1969 .. Levis were priced at $5 while Lee and Wranglers were $4. That $5 is now $43 so you paid about 2/3's of the going 1969 price.

I remember buying Levi’s around 1981 for $9.99 from a dept. store on Jefferson Blvd in Dallas.
Interestingly the store was a few doors from the theater they caught up with Lee Harvey Oswald.

[bogling]

Have you found something in 14"?

I went with the ASUS Zenbook with a OLED screen. The specs fit my needs, displaying a large financial spreadsheet in a readable manner on the 14" screen. I would say someone looking at it needs to consider 2 things, the OLED screen likely will affect battery life and it can shoot out some fairly warm air from the left side vent. Beyond that it is a nice build, not Apple MacBook quality but definitely not flimsy either. It seems to be consistently solid reviews and it is from Costco.

Edit: It also has thunderbolt ports.

Did you get the i9 for Costco? That's a lot of power.

https://www.costco.com/asus-zenbook-14% ... 66668.html

I see the i7 is $699 at BBY.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbo ... Id=6568761

Have heard the N100s while not near the processor actually are adequate for general office work, and some builds are quite a value, but interested if anyone has experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5sVSeocG4

[rockstar]

I went with the ASUS Zenbook with a OLED screen. The specs fit my needs, displaying a large financial spreadsheet in a readable manner on the 14" screen. I would say someone looking at it needs to consider 2 things, the OLED screen likely will affect battery life and it can shoot out some fairly warm air from the left side vent. Beyond that it is a nice build, not Apple MacBook quality but definitely not flimsy either. It seems to be consistently solid reviews and it is from Costco.

Edit: It also has thunderbolt ports.

Did you get the i9 for Costco? That's a lot of power.

https://www.costco.com/asus-zenbook-14% ... 66668.html

I see the i7 is $699 at BBY.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbo ... Id=6568761

Have heard the N100s while not near the processor actually are adequate for general office work, and some builds are quite a value, but interested if anyone has experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5sVSeocG4

My router runs a n100. It’s an ASUS mini PC. I haven’t used it as a desktop, but it should be fine. I’d pay up a couple hundred and get a AMD based mini PC if I wanted a desktop PC with limited gaming.

[bogling]

Did you get the i9 for Costco? That's a lot of power.

https://www.costco.com/asus-zenbook-14% ... 66668.html

I see the i7 is $699 at BBY.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbo ... Id=6568761

Have heard the N100s while not near the processor actually are adequate for general office work, and some builds are quite a value, but interested if anyone has experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5sVSeocG4

My router runs a n100. It’s an ASUS mini PC. I haven’t used it as a desktop, but it should be fine. I’d pay up a couple hundred and get a AMD based mini PC if I wanted a desktop PC with limited gaming.

You have a mini pc with N100 processor? Have a desktop that's still plenty fast for current needs with i5-6600K and SSD built up years ago. Was looking at a little 13.5" laptop for like $300 with N100. Sounds like for you N100 works well for basic office tasks, spreadsheets, browsing and streaming things if not a gamer...or you haven't tested using it as a computer?

[Freefun]

I ordered a WiiM Pro audio streamer from Crutchfield at 20% off. If it works out, I plan to buy two more and some speakers.

These are fantastic. I have several with powered speakers.

[Freefun]

I purchased YAC (yet another camera). Not exactly a black Friday deal but on eBay I found a Sony A7II for $450 used. I keep a cheap but decent quality lens on it and at this price I can always keep the camera in the car.

If folks are looking for deals, you might want to check eBay as people sell old stuff to make room for the new stuff lol.

[TheTimeLord]

I went with the ASUS Zenbook with a OLED screen. The specs fit my needs, displaying a large financial spreadsheet in a readable manner on the 14" screen. I would say someone looking at it needs to consider 2 things, the OLED screen likely will affect battery life and it can shoot out some fairly warm air from the left side vent. Beyond that it is a nice build, not Apple MacBook quality but definitely not flimsy either. It seems to be consistently solid reviews and it is from Costco.

Edit: It also has thunderbolt ports.

Did you get the i9 for Costco? That's a lot of power.

https://www.costco.com/asus-zenbook-14% ... 66668.html

I see the i7 is $699 at BBY.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbo ... Id=6568761

Have heard the N100s while not near the processor actually are adequate for general office work, and some builds are quite a value, but interested if anyone has experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5sVSeocG4

Yes, the I9 from Costco. The OLED WQXGA+ (2880 X 1800) 500 Nits (HDR Peak Brightness) 90Hz Touchscreen and the thunderbolt ports are the features that sold me.

[srt7]

Can't wait until we get a break from this black-Friday consumerism in America Should be done in a little over a week!

Then you have the Christmas sales ... New Year's sales ... President's Day sales ... and Black Friday in April or whatever ...

Don't forget the asinine ones like Amazon's "Black Friday in July sale!"

It's getting tiring ...

[rockstar]

My router runs a n100. It’s an ASUS mini PC. I haven’t used it as a desktop, but it should be fine. I’d pay up a couple hundred and get a AMD based mini PC if I wanted a desktop PC with limited gaming.

You have a mini pc with N100 processor? Have a desktop that's still plenty fast for current needs with i5-6600K and SSD built up years ago. Was looking at a little 13.5" laptop for like $300 with N100. Sounds like for you N100 works well for basic office tasks, spreadsheets, browsing and streaming things if not a gamer...or you haven't tested using it as a computer?

I use it as my router for my home network since it has two NICs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C5Q ... UTF8&psc=1

It should be good for a basic stuff. You can get a more powerful Bee-link with an AMD processor for not much more with Black Friday sales.

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-SER5-Gra ... 198&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-U57-Proc ... th=1&psc=1

[InMyDreams]

I need low-tech for all appliances. I have a 7 year old oven with a wonky circuit board and now a 7 year old dishwasher with a circuit board beeping for no reason. Waiting for it to go.

My dishwasher circuit board was doing the same thing until last week when I went to start it and it was deader than a door nail.
So, apparently I’ll be shopping for a new dishwasher for Black Friday.

where do you think you'll buy? what brand?

[runner3081]

Bought a bunch of these Geodore ratcheting screwdriver advent calendar sets from Costco for gifts:

https://www.costco.com/gedore-44pc-tool ... 22180.html

Had to pay the 5% surcharge, not a member, but free shipping.

[lazydavid]

Pulled the trigger yesterday on a Thinkpad P1 Mobile Workstation for our son, who is starting an Engineering program in the fall. I had been eying the i9/4070/32GB/1TB model last week, but the sale netted the i9/4070/64GB/2TB model (normally $700 more) for about $100 less.

Yes it's a bit early, but if the Consumer Technology Association is correct and laptop prices increase by 45% next year, I will have saved an additional $1000 by buying now.

[8foot7]

This is an excellent deal on a small form factor Mac that could easily last you 7 years and even beyond repurposed into other roles (media server, etc.).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLBTPDCS?re ... asin_title

$529 for an M4 chip and 16 GB of RAM is as cheap as you will ever see this. Add a couple of inexpensive external SSDs if you need more storage; don't pay the Apple tax for a different configuration.

[Maverick3320]

The year-long subscription I found last year for $19.99 Peacock renewed today for $90.90. I did a chat with the company and talked them into cancelling the renewal and refunding the charge.

I had already found the identical deal from last year and I will start it tomorrow. DW wouldn't have been happy if she couldn't watch her soap opera, especially since today is our 53rd wedding anniversary. A small price to pay for domestic tranquility.

Next up is our Disney+Hulu renewal. It runs out tomorrow, .99/month for Hulu + $2.00 addon for Disney+, all total w/taxes $3.40/month.

A small amount of time searching can lead to some decent results for streaming.

Broken Man 1999

We got a D+ & HULU & Max deal without ads. It’s why I’m rewatching the Sopranos and going to pick up Shogun over the holidays. I’ll also be able to binge Only Murders. I haven’t had Max for almost two years. So lots of catching up.

I cancel Peacock after the Christmas movies are over.

How much is the Disney/Hulu/Max deal, and where did you find it?

[rockstar]

We got a D+ & HULU & Max deal without ads. It’s why I’m rewatching the Sopranos and going to pick up Shogun over the holidays. I’ll also be able to binge Only Murders. I haven’t had Max for almost two years. So lots of catching up.

I cancel Peacock after the Christmas movies are over.

How much is the Disney/Hulu/Max deal, and where did you find it?

https://www.hulu.com/disney-hulu-max-bundle

[Tundrama]

Yes, if I buy nothing, the Black Friday sales are absolutely fantastic.

[Wannaretireearly]

This bad boy arrives soon:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/650427 ... source=PDP

[yankees60]

Bought a bunch of these Geodore ratcheting screwdriver advent calendar sets from Costco for gifts:

https://www.costco.com/gedore-44pc-tool ... 22180.html

Had to pay the 5% surcharge, not a member, but free shipping.

Then YOU were the one responsible for them currently being "Out of Stock"!

[yankees60]

This bad boy arrives soon:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/650427 ... source=PDP

Looking around that seems to be a true outstanding price. Congratulations for finding it!

[Wannaretireearly]

This bad boy arrives soon:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/650427 ... source=PDP

Looking around that seems to be a true outstanding price. Congratulations for finding it!

Cheers buddy

[RANkiDEr]

Nope nothing.

[runner3081]

Bought a bunch of these Geodore ratcheting screwdriver advent calendar sets from Costco for gifts:

https://www.costco.com/gedore-44pc-tool ... 22180.html

Had to pay the 5% surcharge, not a member, but free shipping.

Then YOU were the one responsible for them currently being "Out of Stock"!

It was on Slickdeals, and yeah, people were buying 20-30 of these.

I only bought 11

[yankees60]

I finally ended the agony after reading 168 posts here on the best way to buy 2024 H&R Block software. Bought at Amazon. Paid a few dollars more than I could have paid at NewEgg.

[nonnie]

I've held off and haven't bought anything except my addiction to Temu pop up birthday cards, $3.50+ or - and a huge hit here in the senior living old folks home.

One more post about the $0.99 Hulu Plus and I may have to give in.

Currently trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to ad free Netflix.

[rockstar]

I've held off and haven't bought anything except my addiction to Temu pop up birthday cards, $3.50+ or - and a huge hit here in the senior living old folks home.

One more post about the $0.99 Hulu Plus and I may have to give in.

Currently trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to ad free Netflix.

Get Paramount+ for two months without adds plus Showtime. It's a good deal.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment ... aming-deal

I started the Gentleman in Moscow.

[nonnie]

I've held off and haven't bought anything except my addiction to Temu pop up birthday cards, $3.50+ or - and a huge hit here in the senior living old folks home.

One more post about the $0.99 Hulu Plus and I may have to give in.

Currently trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to ad free Netflix.

Get Paramount+ for two months without adds plus Showtime. It's a good deal.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment ... aming-deal

I started the Gentleman in Moscow.

Unfortunately I have a year long subscription to Paramount + and Max already.

[snic]

I need low-tech for all appliances. I have a 7 year old oven with a wonky circuit board and now a 7 year old dishwasher with a circuit board beeping for no reason. Waiting for it to go.

My dishwasher circuit board was doing the same thing until last week when I went to start it and it was deader than a door nail.
So, apparently I’ll be shopping for a new dishwasher for Black Friday.

Dishwasher circuit boards are pretty easy to replace yourself (usually). Unscrew the panel, unplug the wires, remove and replace the board, plug the wires in, screw the panel back together. I fixed the latest wonky circuit board in under half an hour. A <$100 investment rather than >$800 and it should be good for a few more years.

[snic]

I finally ended the agony after reading 168 posts here on the best way to buy 2024 H&R Block software. Bought at Amazon. Paid a few dollars more than I could have paid at NewEgg.

That's how I do it every year. Usually I have around $10-15 in Prime "no rush shipping" credits saved up, which can be used towards software purchases. Brings the H&RBlock Deluxe+State cost down considerably. And Amazon's price is usually pretty close to the best available even without applying credits.

[Padlin]

Went to Best Buy Wed to look at a Bose sound bar, original price 899, marked price 749, checked online 719 for Black Friday. Went back this am to get one, online now says Black Friday price is 699. Maybe I should have waited till closing to see what the late Black Friday price would be.

Sounds great with the TV, now I have to figure it how to play my music through it, nothing is simple.

[vbdoug]

I went to Best Buy tonight to try to get a good deal on an iPad. The line was so long I left. I saved about $700.

[elvistcb]

Sony WH-1000XM4 On eBay from long time authorized Sony retailer. Hoping I didn’t make a huge mistake as eBay is eBay. eBay 20% coupon off the already sale price made them $158.40 which is a great deal from $350. Went a long time back and forth deciding Sony vs Bose!

There was a recent $130 Sony sale at a few retailers briefly but likely a price mistake. Which I only missed because I didn’t have “the camel” tracking. I highly recommend using that for things you might buy if a steal. I’ve gotten a few likely pricing mistakes by being on the email alert right away. I think the best was a nice convection oven with rotisserie for $60 or so. It was over $200 and quickly went to $160 after the alert.

[Nicolas]

Apple AirPods Pro 2 — 38% off, $154 at Amazon

[yankees60]

I finally ended the agony after reading 168 posts here on the best way to buy 2024 H&R Block software. Bought at Amazon. Paid a few dollars more than I could have paid at NewEgg.

That's how I do it every year. Usually I have around $10-15 in Prime "no rush shipping" credits saved up, which can be used towards software purchases. Brings the H&RBlock Deluxe+State cost down considerably. And Amazon's price is usually pretty close to the best available even without applying credits.

Where does one find how many credits one has saved up and do they have an expiration date from when you initially acquired each of them?

[yankees60]

I went to Best Buy tonight to try to get a good deal on an iPad. The line was so long I left. I saved about $700.

I saw online a 9th generation for $200 at Best Buy. Which were you buying?

I was close to buying it but I have so many older ones that I never use. Plus, it was not the latest generation (10).

With Apple's aggressive Planned Obsolescence, which I've greatly suffered from, I thought I should only get the latest generation.

[anon_investor]

I am waiting for the annual Amazon TurboTax deal.

[yankees60]

Sony WH-1000XM4 On eBay from long time authorized Sony retailer. Hoping I didn’t make a huge mistake as eBay is eBay. eBay 20% coupon off the already sale price made them $158.40 which is a great deal from $350. Went a long time back and forth deciding Sony vs Bose!

There was a recent $130 Sony sale at a few retailers briefly but likely a price mistake. Which I only missed because I didn’t have “the camel” tracking. I highly recommend using that for things you might buy if a steal. I’ve gotten a few likely pricing mistakes by being on the email alert right away. I think the best was a nice convection oven with rotisserie for $60 or so. It was over $200 and quickly went to $160 after the alert.

They are now $198 at Amazon so you definitely got an excellent price.

[AnnetteLouisan]

Jones Road Mini Miracle Balms (a “no makeup makeup” moisturizing blush / highlighter in different shades, geared toward women over 40) are on sale until Monday. I already have some but am thinking about getting more since they don’t often sell the minis and the full size are too expensive and unwieldy for me. But will probably skip them and wait until the post holiday sales.

Jones Road is the makeup brand founded by Bobbi Brown after she left her eponymous company.

[yankees60]

I've been getting AARP weekly emails for years.

Each of them have many excellent articles for free. There are some that require a membership that I've never been able to access.

I finally joined AARP yesterday with their offer of 5 years for $45 (which gets you a $5 Chewy credit).

I think the offer is still good through December 11th.

[vbdoug]

"I saw online a 9th generation for $200 at Best Buy. Which were you buying?"

The 13in Wi-Fi 128GB space gray MV273LL/A

They have the same model at Costco and I may pick it up there. The line at Best Buy had almost 100 people in it and I just did not have the time or the inclination to spend my evening there.

[snic]

That's how I do it every year. Usually I have around $10-15 in Prime "no rush shipping" credits saved up, which can be used towards software purchases. Brings the H&RBlock Deluxe+State cost down considerably. And Amazon's price is usually pretty close to the best available even without applying credits.

Where does one find how many credits one has saved up and do they have an expiration date from when you initially acquired each of them?

Under "Account", look for "No-Rush rewards summary". The credits do expire a few months after you earn them, and Amazon does not notify you that it is about to happen.
https://www.amazon.com/norushcredits

[snic]

My Black Friday splurge: I had to buy a $3 replacement electric plug so I went to the Ace Hardware website to make sure they had one. They did - as well as a big sale on Milwaukee cordless power tools. I spent $100 on a combination cordless drill and impact driver set. I have their cordless screwdriver, which is excellent, but am still using a corded drill from 30 years ago that is on its last legs.

American Capitalism: converting $3 purchases to $103 purchases, one consumer at a time.

[lazydavid]

With Apple's aggressive Planned Obsolescence, which I've greatly suffered from, I thought I should only get the latest generation.

What aggressive planned obsolescence? The 5th gen (2017) iPad, 1st gen (2015) iPad Pro, 4th gen (2015) iPad Mini, and 2nd gen (2014) iPad Air are all still supported into at least 2025. 10 years of support is an absolute eternity in the tech world.

Someone else did the analysis of every iPad lifecycle (excluding the very first one from 2010 which went EOS in 2.5 years), and came up with these running averages:

• iPad Pro: 8.3 years of support. 7 years of updates
• iPad Air: 9.3 years of support. 6 years of updates
• iPad Mini: 7.5 years of support. 5 years of updates
• base ipad: 5.5 years of support. 5 years of updates

That analysis was done 5 months ago, so add roughly a half-year to all those numbers, since nothing has fallen out of support since then.

[Nicolas]

I suppose there’s no recourse if an Amazon Black Friday item that was bought, received, and installed yesterday gets another $40 reduction for cyber-Monday? I don’t want to return it.

[lazydavid]

I suppose there’s no recourse if an Amazon Black Friday item that was bought, received, and installed yesterday gets another $40 reduction for cyber-Monday? I don’t want to return it.

Amazon doesn't price match, but you could order another one, and request a return of the first order. Then actually return the unopened item from the second order.

[TomatoTomahto]

Most deals don't correlate with Bogleheads...

I think you have Bogleheads confused with Mr. Money Mustache. Bogleheads philosophy is about living below your means, not living as cheaply as possible. Depending on personal circumstances, it’s very possible that someone can live below their means *and* get a great deal on a pond vacuum, whatever that is.

This might belong on the “what frugal thing” thread. When we first bought our house (6 years ago), the pond guys charged something like $3000/year for VIP service. We had never had a pond and didn’t know what we were doing. Pond guys kept raising their prices, to $5000 plus, which would be fine, but the service is not what it was. The details won’t mean anything to people without a koi pond, but we felt that we had learned enough to do it ourselves (well, mostly DW) and we purchased a pond vacuum and some other things. We have a cleaner pond, with healthier koi, and Bob’s Your Uncle.

So, 3 cheers for pond vacuums

[queso]

Bought some Samsung electronics (TV and a monitor). If you order from Samsung direct and have a AAA membership the discounts stack. Here's a link to the AAA entry page - https://discounts.aaa.com/home-business/samsung. Just use the "Shop Samsung Now" button 1/3 of the way down the page and at some point it will prompt you for your AAA membership number. Prob saved around $1800 across both purchases.

[yankees60]

Where does one find how many credits one has saved up and do they have an expiration date from when you initially acquired each of them?

Under "Account", look for "No-Rush rewards summary". The credits do expire a few months after you earn them, and Amazon does not notify you that it is about to happen.
https://www.amazon.com/norushcredits

Thanks. Just went there and my balance is $0.00.

I do generally take the No Rush offers but it does not seem that they are infrequently offered to me.

[yankees60]

My Black Friday splurge: I had to buy a $3 replacement electric plug so I went to the Ace Hardware website to make sure they had one. They did - as well as a big sale on Milwaukee cordless power tools. I spent $100 on a combination cordless drill and impact driver set. I have their cordless screwdriver, which is excellent, but am still using a corded drill from 30 years ago that is on its last legs.

American Capitalism: converting $3 purchases to $103 purchases, one consumer at a time.

"American Capitalism: converting $3 purchases to $103 purchases, one consumer at a time."

Love it!

Many, many decades ago my father's car had an issue with an ashtray. After bringing it in to be looked at ... somehow he ended up with a brand-new car!

[yankees60]

With Apple's aggressive Planned Obsolescence, which I've greatly suffered from, I thought I should only get the latest generation.

What aggressive planned obsolescence? The 5th gen (2017) iPad, 1st gen (2015) iPad Pro, 4th gen (2015) iPad Mini, and 2nd gen (2014) iPad Air are all still supported into at least 2025. 10 years of support is an absolute eternity in the tech world.

Someone else did the analysis of every iPad lifecycle (excluding the very first one from 2010 which went EOS in 2.5 years), and came up with these running averages:

• iPad Pro: 8.3 years of support. 7 years of updates
• iPad Air: 9.3 years of support. 6 years of updates
• iPad Mini: 7.5 years of support. 5 years of updates
• base ipad: 5.5 years of support. 5 years of updates

That analysis was done 5 months ago, so add roughly a half-year to all those numbers, since nothing has fallen out of support since then.

I am too spoiled by Windows computers wherein you are supplied with software that is appropriate for various operating systems you might be running on your computer.

With Apple iPads when a new app comes out you can no longer get the old version app for the older operating system you have on your iPad.