← SLIDESHOW: What to Look for When Buying Electronics on Black Friday

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By Marcia Wade Talbert | Published November 23, 2010 | Full size is 500 × 320 pixels

Maybe there was a time when you could catch a killer deal on electronics and technology on Black Friday, but nowadays the best promotions are few and far between, says K.T. Bradford, news editor at Laptop magazine. The best discounts, which are advertised to hundreds of thousands of people on the radio, online and on television, are often available for only the first 10 to 200 customers who are willing to stand in line at 2am. The rest of the sale items are often discounts you might be able to find other times throughout the year if you’re a diligent and frugal shopper. “Sometimes the sales just aren’t that deep,” says Bradford. “For me, another $30 off is not worth getting up at 5am.” Even if you come across an amazing price, you might be getting products left over from last years models or new products with older parts. So if you plan to stroll in at 5am and expect to get a deal, be warned. Here’s what you should avoid and how you should plan:

Maybe there was a time when you could catch a killer deal on electronics and…