Productopia | Black Friday

So, among the big reputable online stores, who has the best prices? The answer really depends on what you're shopping for -- and don't forget to factor in shipping costs. At ConsumerSearch, we've found the best combination of prices and free shipping at Amazon.com, but it isn't always the cheapest for everything. In an informal head-to-head at the Wall Street Journal, James B. Stewart compares prices at Amazon.com, eBay and Walmart for a number of items, including toys, kitchen appliances and DVDs. The winner here, too is Amazon.com, though eBay finished a close second. Walmart.com lagged far behind.

If you're among those who missed out on Black Friday's Blu-ray player deals, fear not: The cheapest of them all is set for a return engagement. Home Media magazine reports that beginning this Saturday, December 12,  Wal-Mart is again offering the Magnavox NB500 at $78, the same price as on Black Friday, when it was a doorbuster special. The sale is set to run through Dec. 18, or as long as players are available, but you will have to go to the store itself to get one, as the deal is not being offered on line.

Looking for a present for the record collector in your life? Got a ton of albums gathering dust on your shelves. A USB turntable -- one that will allow you to convert those records into MP3 files that you can play on your computer or digital music player -- might be a worthwhile gift this holiday season.

December 20 is this year's drop-dead date for on-time holiday shipping, but if you want to take advantage of free shipping offered by some online retailers, you need to act faster than that. We've looked at this year's free-shipping offers and thrown them into a chart for your reference. In addition, hundreds of retailers are participating in Free Shipping Day on December 17, so if you order on that day, you can take advantage of free shipping and on-time standard delivery. The catch is that you have to order on that day.

Steam mops are a good way to clean tile and vinyl kitchen floors, but the bet models are pricey. Target's leaked Black Friday circular reveals that the store will offer the Bissell Steam Mop Deluxe, normally $100, for only $50 that day. We think this is a good deal, since the regular Bissell Steam Mop is a Best Reviewed item in the most recent ConsumerSearch report on steam mops.

A Cricut is a machine designed to cut out designs and letters in various fonts and sizes. It's ideal for scrapbooking, card making, home decor, paper crafting and more.

Wal-Mart is offering the Cricut Expression Cutter for $188 and it's available in four colors. Since the Expression normally sells for $279, that's a pretty hefty savings.

Thirty consumers review the Cricut Expression at Amazon.com, where it earns a solid four-star rating. The majority of users rave about the machine, praising its efficiency, precise cutting, and versatility with various designs and fabrics. Scrapbook.com, a website for scrapbooking enthusiasts, has 57 reviews of the Expression. There, the machine receives a perfect five-star rating, and users are absolutely thrilled with it.

Considering a tricycle for your little one this holiday season? Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us are offering Black Friday deals on two Radio Flyer models.

The Radio Flyer Big Flyer (shown), normally $50, is marked down to $30 at Wal-Mart. The Radio Flyer Classic 12" Tricycle, originally $70, is on sale for at Toys R Us for $50.

So, which bike is right for your child? You might want to read our report on kids' bikes before purchasing a tricycle at a big-box store. Experts actually recommend buying bicycles at professional bike shops, where knowledgeable employees can find the bike that's right for your child. The bicycles sold at big-box stores tend to be lower in quality and may be set up incorrectly.

Is your loved one trapped with a wired internet connection? If you want to set them free with a  wireless router, don't bother going shopping this Black Friday. While Best Buy, Staples and Wal-mart are offering some deals, according to their leaked Black Friday circulars, these deals are not what they seem.

Best Buy is offering the Linksys WRT160N for about $60. This router gets good reviews from CNET and PCMag.com, as well as positive user feedback. So far, so good. However, this very router is currently selling for about 32 bucks at Amazon.com, and 45 bucks at Staples. Interestingly enough, this Linksys router isn't included in Staples' Black Friday circular. Staples is offering the NetGear WNR1000 RangeMax 150 for $35, and Wal-mart offers a similar model, the Belkin N 150 router, for $30. Sounds good, right?

Wal-Mart's Black Friday circular includes a healthy variety of HDTVs. Videophiles looking for high-performance televisions will likely want to line up elsewhere, but there are a few decent deals to be had for those looking to score a respectable HDTV at an equally respectable price.

We've covered a few Black Friday GPS deals already, but in the time since those initial offerings leaked onto the web, the big guns -- Target and Wal-Mart-- have one-upped pretty much everyone else when it comes to aggressive pricing on portable automotive GPS units. If you've been thinking of picking up a GPS for yourself, or plan to give one as a gift, there are now a couple of clear cut winners to choose from.