Shoppers will be jamming the stores, even camping out to snag deals that may only be available for a day, an hour or when supplies run out.
In fact, this year Wal-Mart is offering customers a "one-hour in-stock guarantee" from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night, but only for three items: a 32-inch Emerson high definition TV for $148, an LG Blu-ray player for $38 and an Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi for $399, which is the regular retail price, but you get a $75 Wal-Mart gift card as a bonus.
Wal-Mart said if the items sell out, they'll give customers a voucher and a guarantee they can pick them up before Christmas.
Michael Brim tracks all Black Friday deals on his website bfads.net. One of his top picks is Kmart's sale of a 32-inch LCD TV by Proscan for $97.
For a bigger set at a rock-bottom price, check out the 40-inch Toshiba HD TV for $179.99 at Best Buy. The regular price at the store is $419.99. Also at Best Buy will be a Lenovo laptop for less than $188, which is less than half its retail price.
But if you want a more advanced low-price laptop, Brim recommends one from Dell.
"Our pick, if you can spend $100 more, go and get the Dell 14z 14-inch laptop," Brim said. "It's got a better processor, a little bit more memory."
At $300, that's half-off Dell's regular price and you don't have to wait in line to get one because it's offered online only.
Sams's Club is selling a powerful Dyson upright vacuum for $249, about 1/3 off, but you have to be a member of the warehouse club to get that price.
The new Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone is a hot seller. At Verizon you'll pay $249.99 with a two-year contract, but Sam's Club is selling it for just 96 cents with a two-year Verizon service plan. So, it may be worth paying the $100-a-year membership fee to save about $250.
For an inexpensive stocking stuffer, Big Lots is selling Vivitar mini digital camcorders for less than $12 and Wal-Mart has an assortment of popular DVD movies for $2, like the "Green Lantern."
If your heart is set on one of these top Black Friday deals, be prepared to get their early. Stores like Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us open at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night.
