Tablet Deals

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Tablet deals are all around you -- if you just know where to look. Major online retailers and coupon sites are the primary sources, and often offer tablet deals for slightly older models.

Finding a tablet deal requires just a hint of effort. Serious bargain hunters check Amazon's outlet or Target's weekly deal page for tablet sales throughout the year. Walmart offers weekly specials that include tablets for reduced prices and free shipping. The OfficeMax site lists tablets deals in addition to weekly ad discounts. Staples features a dedicated deals center where you can search the Technology Deals category for tablet discounts offered in your local area. Best Buy lets you shop for tablet deals in several ways, such as narrowing search criteria by "On Sale" and "Special Offers" on the tablets page. A company spokesman says its list of tablets and sales offers is growing, and customers can also save by making use of financing options, Reward Zone points, and tablet trade-in and Buy Back programs. Online vendor TigerDirect also points discount shoppers to a wide range of tablet deals.

Don't overlook cell phone carriers as a source for tablet deals. You may get a good price if you purchase a phone and tablet together, although the discount may be slim. Verizon recently offered $50 off a 3G or 4G tablet bought in conjunction with a smartphone and a new two-year contract. Periodically check Verizon's deal page for news about similar offers. Sprint sometimes sells certain tablet brands, such as Samsung, with rebates, but otherwise doesn't have a lot of deals for these devices. T-Mobile also seems to focus on discounts for mobile phones over tablets.

When looking for tablet deals on most of the coupons and deals sites, start by browsing the "Electronics" or "Computers" category or search for "tablet"; few of these sites mount dedicated tablet pages. Here are links to search results for tablet deals on BradsDeals, DealNews, and TechBargains -- all good sources for discounts. Tablet deals listed in FatWallet's Electronics section range from hundreds of dollars off to free shipping. On Slickdeals, the best place to check for tablet deals is the "Hot Deals" forum, where other consumers post discounts; these listings widen the pool of deals and include offerings from major retailers and sites like Groupon. With MyCoupons, CouponCraze, CheapUncle, and Deal Catcher, it's best to run a tablet search.

Tablets are on sale all year, but one of the deal moments is Black Friday. Electronics typically are deeply discounted on this post-Thanksgiving shopping day, and tablets are no exception. To get the best head start on grabbing these deals, check out sites such as Amazon's Black Friday deals page. Best Buy also runs a Black Friday Deals page that launches before the big shopping day. An aggregate site like BlackFriday.com will also help you find the best and latest tablet deals from various retailers, both online and in stores. And don't forget about the follow-up deals offered on Cyber Monday by many retailers' online stores.