Productopia: The ConsumerSearch Blog

Cookin' with Black Friday gas grill deals

Alex Nunez — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:10:07 +0000

For a lot of the country, grilling season's been over for a while. That hasn't stopped Lowe's and Home Depot from advertising a couple of okay-sounding gas grills in their Black Friday circulars. The former is dangling a dirt-cheap Charbroil Quickset while the latter has a more premium-sounding Brinkmann offering at a middle-of-the-road price. Which is a better bet?

Check out our "steamy" video

Christine Frietchen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:10:08 +0000

For a laugh, check out our art-house homage, "Une Affaire Humide." While perhaps a tad unrealistic, it does sort of sum up how we feel about product research. We think that "love what you buy" means getting the right product for you - not the most expensive or flashiest gadget, but the one that fits your needs and your budget. See the short YouTube video here.

Simple, yet versatile: The best Dutch ovens

Sarah Burns — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:08 +0000

With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, many cooks will be breaking out their Dutch ovens. Don't have one? These versatile pots can bake, deep-fry, braise and even boil foods. Many cooks also conveniently use them to whip up soups and stews.

So how do these products differ from stockpots? Popular Dutch oven sizes are in the 5- to 7- quart range, while stockpots are usually 8 or 12 quarts. Unlike stockpots, Dutch ovens can be easily transferred from stovetop to oven, right to the table. Current Dutch ovens consist of uncoated cast iron, enameled cast iron or feature stainless steel construction.

Staples and OfficeMax have some great printer deals this Black Friday

Molly McLaughlin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:01 +0000

Yes, printers are practical gift, but some people like practical gifts - especially if you set up the printer too. Discounted printers abound at Staples, OfficeMax, Best Buy and Wal-mart - but some are better deals than others. Whether you're in the market for an inkjet printer, laser printer or multifunction printer, there's savings to be had - and this year, it's either at Staples or OfficeMax. Here are our picks for the best printer deals, based on the reviews we've analyzed.

Target's Black Friday price on CHI flat iron not so hot

Scott Nyerges — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:39:05 +0000

The CHI 1-inch Flat Iron Straightener ($90 on sale) caught our eye in the Target Black Friday circular, because it's one of the Best Reviewed products named in the ConsumerSearch report on flat irons. It's a favorite of professional reviewers, earning kudos from ConsumerReports.org, Cosmo Girl magazine and Pursebuzz.com.

Target and Wal-Mart go head to head with $3 and $4 appliances

Sage McHugh — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:02 +0000

At an eyebrow-raising price of $3 apiece, Chefmate kitchen appliances are among the cheapest doorbusters we've seen in Target's leaked Black Friday circular. The $3 Chefmate specials include a 12-cup coffeemaker, toaster, slow cooker and sandwich maker.

Walmart has a similar Black Friday doorbuster: your choice of $4 appliances, including a mini chopper, a 2-quart slow cooker and a hand mixer.

Theoretically, you could equip your whole kitchen for $17. These gadgets are priced as impulse buys, but we couldn't find reviews for any of them, and several of the pieces aren't very practical.

A pocket full of pocket-sized camcorders

Scott Nyerges — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:30:03 +0000

Given the popularity of mini camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip Mino (*Est. $130) and Pure Digital Flip UltraHD (*Est. $160), it shouldn't be a surprise that many retailers are featuring at least one similar model in their Black Friday circulars. Target, Kmart, Kohl's, Radio Shack, Best Buy and J.C. Penney are all hawking mini camcorders, yet none of these retailers are selling the same one.

Not very holiday-ish, but there are some decent deals on fridges this Black Friday

Christine Frietchen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:02 +0000

Shopping for major appliances doesn't sound that Christmas-y, but if your refrigerator is on its last legs, we spotted some good discounts at Sears, Best Buy and Home Depot. All three are advertising French-door refrigerators as part of their Black Friday sales, with sale prices ranging from $798 to $1,399, but not all of them are good bets.

Will smartphones kill the GPS?

Tara Tuckwiller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:20:01 +0000

More and more people are skipping car GPS receivers, The New York Times reports, and getting turn-by-turn directions from smartphones instead.

"More than 40 percent of all smartphone owners use their mobile devices to get turn-by-turn directions, according to data from Compete, a Web analytics firm," reports the Times' Jenna Wortham. "For iPhone users, the figure is even higher, eclipsing 80 percent."

And while smartphone sales keep rising, GPS device sales have plummeted, the Times says. Smartphones now look and perform a lot like traditional car GPS units, thanks to apps from major GPS makers. The Navigon Mobile Navigator (*Est. $90) and TomTom for iPhone (*Est. $100) both get good reviews, as do some cheaper apps like the MotionX GPS Drive by Fullpower (*Est. $3 per month or $25 per year).

Wal-Mart's Black Friday deals trump pretty much everyone else's

Christine Frietchen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:01:41 +0000

Wal-Mart's leaked Black Friday circular is now posted -- and if you've been following this stuff, you'll see it's chock full of deals that trump pretty much everyone else so far. We'll be posting more in the coming days, but here's a quick preview...

Epson's PictureMate Charm tops among snapshot printers

Molly McLaughlin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:00:01 +0000

If you're interested in printing 4-by-6-inch photos at home, a dedicated photo-printer is the way to go. Photo printers are great for printing shots during a party and make a great gift. The Epson PictureMate series of inkjet snapshot printers consistently earn top ratings in reviews. The line's newest addition, the PictureMate Charm (*Est. $150), offers even better photo quality than its predecessors, the Dash (*Est. $140) and the Zoom (*Est. $200).

The Canon Selphy CP780 (*Est. $90) is a good budget photo printer, though you'll pay a bit more for paper and ink. Reviewers generally rate it just behind Epson's PictureMate models. The Selphy CP780 and its siblings use dye-sublimation technology, which results in prints that have no pixelation and are more saturated than those seen from inkjets.

Cheap laptops pinch pennies, not performance

Carl Laron — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:30:01 +0000

While they're still not the best choices for heavy-duty gamers or number crunchers, the rest of us will almost certainly find the perfect notebook among those in the latest generation of cheap laptops. Some budget picks are as small and light as a netbook on the outside, but inside contain the heart and power of a fully-capable laptop.

Others are less fun to lug around, but are admirable performers if you need a desktop replacement. Some add features, such as a 3D display (with stereoscopic glasses) or a touch-screen that's useful and fun, that are heretofore unheard of in a sub-$800 notebook computer. Some cheap laptops deliver as much as 10 hours of battery life. All use Windows 7. You can learn more in our newly-updated report on cheap laptops.

Lukewarm digital camera deals at Target and Staples

Molly McLaughlin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:13:43 +0000

The Nikon Coolpix L20 digital camera is a hot ticket for black friday 2009. We've already seen it in leaked circulars from Sears and OfficeMax, and now Target's recently leaked flyer is showing the L20 for $88. Target's price sits between those of Sears ($100) and OfficeMax ($80), both of which were deemed by us to be "no deals." While spending less than $100 for a digital camera is tempting - the L20 isn't even really worth that low price. As we've reported, the Nikon Coolpix L20 gets mixed professional reviews and many users reviews report blurry images and other issues. We recommend going with the Canon PowerShot SD480 (*Est. $105) if you're on a budget. See our cheap-digital camera report. for more best-reviewed (and affordable) cameras.

Beware gift-card gotchas

Christine Frietchen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:28:19 +0000

Buying a gift card is simple, but not all cards are alike. Store-issued cards generally don't have any associated fees or expiration dates. But bank-issued cards, such as the Discover gift card or Visa gift card have fees and expiration dates that can turn a good gift sour.

Your best bets are flexible store cards that are good at several different retailers like the Gap GiftCard, which can be used to shop at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Piperlime.com. And among bank-issued cards, the American Express gift card is the best pick; the company recently dropped maintenance fees entirely. Our updated gift card report has the scoop on buying and using gift cards, plus best-bet picks.

Black Friday could be good for car deals, too

Alex Nunez — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:30:15 +0000

Maybe you're not looking for a sweet deal on a stand mixer or an electric razor this Black Friday. Perhaps you have a more substantial purchase in mind. You know, even bigger than, say, a new flat-panel TV. Suppose you decide to avoid the mall entirely and instead head to one of your local car dealers. Are there deals to be had on Black Friday? According to a report by CNNMoney.com, the answer is yes.

Need directions? Garmin still leads the way

Alex Nunez — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:06:54 +0000

Once again, the experts agree: If you're going to stick a portable GPS device to your car's windshield, your best bet is to go with a Garmin. The manufacturer's auto GPS units earn consistently high reviews from professionals and owners alike, thanks to their ease of use and attractive features such as free traffic information for the life of the device. The latter even applies to the budget-priced Garmin nuvi 265T (*Est. $185), a Best Reviewed pick in our latest report on portable automotive GPS devices.

Stride right at Sears this Black Friday

Sarah Burns — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:24:06 +0000

Trying to slim down? Stride over to Sears this Black Friday. A recently leaked circular reveals the store will be offering three solid treadmills.

The first: The ProForm XP Crosswalk 580, normally $900, will be on sale for $570. Overall, we found this product gets decent reviews. It has a 2.8-horsepower motor, a 20-by-55-inch walking belt and 12 personal trainer workouts. However, parts and labor are only covered under warranty for 90 days. About 80 percent of owners at Sears.com say they would recommend this treadmill to a friend, but several reviewers say the 580 shakes or buzzes loudly when jogging or walking fast.

Need a new vacuum? Check out these Black Friday deals.

Sarah Burns — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:04 +0000

Need a new vacuum? You'll encounter a bevvy of dirt-busting options this Black Friday. Kohl's will be offering the widest selection this year. A little preview:

The Hoover Wind Tunnel Cyclonic vacuum, regularly $250, will be knocked down to $150 that day.
Dyson's DC14 All Floors Bagless vacuum, normally $450, will be sold for $320.
The Dyson DC25 All Floors Bagless vacuum, normally $550 will be on sale for $400.
Bissell's Momentum Bagless vacuum, originally $130, will be only $80.
Bissel's Lift Off Multi Cyclonic Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum, normally $220, will be sold for $180.
Shark's UltraLite MultiVac, regularly $140, will be offered for $120.
Hoover's WindTunnel Self-Propelled Bagged Vacuum, normally $240, will be $215.
Bissell's Lift Off Multi Cyclonic vacuum, regularly $220, will be offered at $180.
Hoover's Linx Stick vacuum, regularly $210, will be discounted down to $180.

Plasma TV/Blu-ray bundle a good Black Friday buy at Best Buy

Carl Laron — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:05 +0000

Though a few okay deals can be found, the Black Friday circulars leaked so far haven't held a lot of excitement for those looking to score a home-theater bargain for the holidays. The Best Buy Black Friday circular looks like more of the same for the most part, but one combo deal, a 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50U1 plasma TV and a Panasonic DMP-BD60K Blu-ray player for just under $1,000, made us sit up a little. Taken together, it looks like a little better discount for decent tech than we've seen from many other retailers. Let's dig a little deeper.

Snapfish still the best digital photo printing service

Molly McLaughlin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:20:02 +0000

Almost all digital photo printing websites offer the same basic options: online storage, editing tools, printing services, photo gifts and photo sharing. Photo sharing is an especially helpful feature, as users can upload photos and invite friends and family to view them online. This saves you from e-mailing large batches of image files. Anyone can then order just the prints they want, as well as photo gifts like photo mugs, coasters, magnets or entire photo albums.

Reviews say Snapfish is the best digital photo printing service overall, with the perfect balance of quality and price. Snapfish (*Est. 9 cents per print) gets recommendations from a number of review sites including PCMag.com, BusinessWeek and Which?, a British consumer magazine.

Hot stuff: Toaster ovens do more than toast bread

Sarah Burns — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:00:05 +0000

With bake, toast, broil and convection settings, today's toaster ovens are giving full-size ovens a run for their money. Unlike standard toasters, these small counter top ovens can do more than just toast bread. They can bake cookies, heat up a frozen pizza or even roast a small chicken. However, contrary to popular belief, a toaster ovens can't toast bread as evenly or as quickly as a traditional, slot-style toaster.

Bugging out: What's in your new mattress?

Sarah Burns — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Ah, bed bugs.....Think these tiny bloodsuckers only plague high-rise apartments and hotels? Think again. The truth is, more and more people are getting bed bugs from brand new mattresses. That's right, this seemingly innocent purchase can quickly morph into an unbelievable nightmare.

So, how does this happen? To increase their "sell," many companies now offer to discard a shopper's old mattress when they deliver a new one. What they don't tell you: It's a common practice to toss old mattresses in the back of the truck with brand new ones yet to be delivered, and this can easily spread bed bugs.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

What's on your holiday wish list this year?

Molly McLaughlin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:49:48 +0000

The official start to the holiday shopping season -- Black Friday -- is rapidly approaching and stores are already starting to slash prices. At its recent CES Unveiled event, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) predicted a 3 percent decrease in spending from last year, based on their research. This is due to a number of reasons, including 53 percent of those polled in a recent CEA survey who say they are making less money than they were last year.

Kohl's sub-$100 camera - it's a dealbreaker not a doorbuster

Molly McLaughlin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:43:21 +0000

There will be plenty of deals to be had this holiday season, but the Vivitar digital camera listed in Kohl's leaked Black Friday circular for $60 isn't one of them. The 10-megapixel Vivicam X024 offers 3x optical zoom, a 2.4-inch TFT LCD and video capture. So far, so standard. Here's what's not: the camera can't record sound. That's right, you can only make silent movies.

Vivitar digital cameras are virtually ignored by professional reviewers, and user reviews are scarce, particularly for the X024. We dug deep and found a sprinkling at Amazon.com and Pricegrabber U.K. - the highest rating the X024 receives is two out of four stars. Users complain of quick battery drain and feel duped by the lack of a mic to capture sound, something that's not mentioned anywhere in the product materials or on the Vivitar website.

Tread carefully when choosing a budget sewing machine

Christine Frietchen — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:53:56 +0000

Mechanical sewing machines, which start at about $80, make good starter models for beginners and are fine if you mainly want to do mending projects or make simple Halloween costumes for the kids.

However, the most thorough tests of sewing machines suggest mechanical models aren't quite as easy to use as pricier electronic machines, and reviewers note it sometimes take a lot of trial and error to get the thread tension right. In reading reviews of simple machines in the $80 to $150 price range, that's the single biggest complaint we read -- that poor-performing sewing machines frustrate users with knotted-up bobbin thread and needle jams.

The lesson? Check reviews before buying an inexpensive machine. Fortunately, we identified a couple of standout models in our latest sewing machine report.