Brick and mortar shopaholics have so few places to turn for an adrenaline rush these days thanks to the advent of online shopping, but Black Friday always promises to be a battle that tests even the most seasoned shopper’s will. Anxious consumers line up early outside their retailers of choice and prepare to push, shove, crawl and even trample their way to some of the deepest discounts of the year. It’s no holds barred and things are bound to get dirty, but those who plan to work off their Thanksgiving feasts by throwing elbows and sprinting from store to store had better get their game faces on and go in prepared. Following the break, we lay out all the top tech retailers in the country and link you to the tools you need to map out your plan of attack. Good luck, be safe, and Godspeed.

Best Buy Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 12:00 AM

BJ’s Wholesale Club Black Friday 2011 sale detail

Doors open: 7:00 AM

Costco Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 9:00 AM

GameStop Black Friday 2011 sale detail

Doors open: 12:00 AM

Kmart Black Friday 2011 sale detail

Doors open: 5:00 AM

RadioShack Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors Open: 5:30 AM

Sam’s Club Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

Staples Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 6:00 AM

Target Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 12:00 AM

Walmart Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: 12:00 AM

Bonus

For those who would rather not fight through angry mobs of sale-hungry consumers, feel free to enjoy Amazon’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals from the comfort of your desk or couch.

Amazon Black Friday 2011 sale details

AmazonWireless Black Friday 2011 sale details

Doors open: Always

We just received this image of an internal RadioShack email that clearly shows RadioShack stores are receiving unmarked shipments on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. These deliveries, the note states, “must not be opened for any reason” until stores are told to do so by corporate. RadioShack is instructing employees to place the shipments in a secure location, to mark that the shipments can’t be opened, and it notes that RadioShack will be sending auditors to locations to make sure instructions are followed and the packages have not been tampered with. Any employee found to have disobeyed the company’s instructions will be subject to termination. What’s not clear is why RadioShack would be receiving any Apple-related merchandise early, though it could possibly be iPhone-related accessories and/or sales materials.

According to a RadioShack advertisement spotted by Phandroid, the store could begin shipping the highly anticipated HTC EVO 3D from Sprint on June 24th. The retailer began quietly taking pre-orders on May 17th, which suggests an imminent release, so June 24th certainly seems like it’s in the right ballpark. When it launches, the EVO 3D will be the first 3D smartphone to land on a carrier’s shelves in the United States. We were impressed with the glasses-free 3D display during our hands-on at CTIA earlier this year and we’re definitely excited to get our hands-on a review unit as soon as possible so we can spend more time putting it through its paces.

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RadioShack began taking pre-orders for Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D last week, and now the phone’s price tag may have been confirmed to be $200, or $500 off contract. An apparent leaked advertisement suggests that the device will also come with Green Hornet 3D pre-loaded, and it looks like anyone who trades in an HTC EVO 4G or HTC EVO Shift will be able to knock $100 off the purchase price. Unfortunately there still aren’t any details on a specific launch date, but if you want to get your EVO 3D with a hint of Seth Rogen, you may want to head over to your local RadioShack now.

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We just got off the phone with a number of RadioShack locations, and each one has confirmed that the retailer is now quietly taking pre-orders for Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D. We were told that, interested users should rush to the store as pre-order quantities are very limited. Employees did not confirm when the EVO 3D would be available for pickup, although we suspect it won’t be a very long wait. Best Buy also began taking pre-orders earlier this month, but it too neglected to reveal when the phone would become available. We went hands-on with the EVO 3D during CTIA and were impressed by its glasses-free 3D display. We also loved the solid, albeit beefy, industrial design.

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We just received confirmation that RadioShack has begun accepting pre-orders for RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. You can reserve yours for now $499, and RadioShack says it will be available starting on April 19th. The PlayBook sports a 7-inch touchscreen display with 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. It’s powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, runs RIM’s sleek new QNX operating system designed for tablets, has 1GB of RAM, and offers both a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and a 3-megapixel forward-facing camera for video chat. We’ve had plenty of hands-on time with the PlayBook and are excited by the concept, but we’ll take a much deeper dive once we review the device. If you love what you’ve seen so far, however, feel free to hit the jump for a link to RadioShack’s pre-order page.

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Toys R’ Us may begin selling the iPad 2 next month according to a report from enthusiast site ModMyi. The site’s source provided a leaked screen shot that shows employee training software as well as a secondary product knowledge sheet. Apple’s latest tablet has been wildly popular since its launch on March 11th so this is good news for consumers trying to get their hands on a unit. As of late March, Apple began replenishing the stock in some retail stores, and its online store says that customers still have to wait 2-3 weeks for new orders to ship. The iPad 2 is also available from AT&T, Best Buy, RadioShack, Target, Verizon Wireless and Walmart, among other retailers. Toys R’ Us has not yet officially announced plans to offer the iPad 2.

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Sprint’s new dual-screen Kyocera Echo is now available for pre-order from RadioShack. The Echo sports two different displays for a total 4.7-inches of touchscreen real estate. The Echo’s second screen can be used to run two applications at once, as a full QWERTY keyboard, or to enhance gameplay. The Android 2.2 (Froyo) powered smartphone is also capable of creating a Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows you to share the Echo’s 3G connection with other Wi-Fi enabled devices. The Echo — which costs $199 with a new two-year Sprint contract – will ship from RadioShack on April 17th. For more info on the Echo be sure to check out our hands-on.

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As we confirmed yesterday, Apple’s iPad 2 went on sale in 500 RadioShack locations across the country on Tuesday. Considering the tablet’s limited supply among Apple Store locations and other third-party retailers, however, we wondered how much inventory Apple might be willing to spare for the various RadioShack locations set to offer the device this morning. BGR has confirmed that several RadioShack locations in the New York metropolitan area received single-digit shipments, and every store we spoke to this morning was sold out. More interesting than the low-volume sellouts, perhaps, is the claim by a BGR tipster that the store he visited refused to sell the iPad 2 unless customers also agreed to purchase AppleCare protection plans and an iPad 2 cases along with their tablets. RadioShack salespeople at the New York City location he visited stated that the store was required to sell AppleCare and a case with each iPad 2 for today only. Despite a customer’s position in line, he or she was allegedly not permitted to purchase an iPad without the pricey add-ons.

UPDATE: We have confirmed that it is not RadioShack’s policy to require the purchase of AppleCare or any accessories such as cases with the purchase of an iPad 2.

Thanks, Giancarlo

BGR has confirmed an earlier report claiming that RadioShack will begin carrying the Apple iPad 2 tomorrow in retail locations across the country. According to a company spokesperson, hundreds of RadioShack stores across the country will begin selling Apple’s iPad 2 tablet starting tomorrow. “We are thrilled that iPad 2 will be available at 500 RadioShack locations across the country starting tomorrow, March 29,” the RadioShack spokesperson told BGR in an email. “To find the store nearest you, visit www.radioshack.com.” There is currently no word on how many units each store might receive, but the deal is a good indication that iPad 2 inventory is being replenished following strong demand and sellouts across the U.S. and abroad.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing made this past Friday, RadioShack stated that it will be losing more than 400 kiosks located in Sam’s Club stores across the country. The closures will result from an expiring contract between RadioShack and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., owner of the Sam’s Club chain. Sam’s Club will take over the operation of the kiosks by June 30th, when the contract is set to expire. RadioShack currently sells cell phones and service contracts through the aforementioned kiosks, and it represents a decent chunk of business for the retailer — through the first nine months of 2010, RadioShack reported $20.6 million in profits from its kiosk business. RadioShack plans to increase the number of Target kiosks it operates in an effort to curtail losses, but the company estimates that its kiosk profits will still decline by between $10 million and $15 million in 2011.

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You’re still stuffed from a supersized feast the day before but you manage to pry yourself out of bed hours ahead of sunrise. A quick shower does little to wash off the shame brought on by having ingested five slices of pumpkin pie, but at least it helps to wake you up. As you exit your home and click the unlock button on your car’s key fob, your mind strays as you think of a hundred different reasons to go back inside and get back in bed. But you can’t. Your local retailers are calling to you from afar. The urge to save is too strong.  There is no turning back… It’s Black Friday.

If you plan on going to war this Friday, you had better be armed — and that’s where your pals at BGR come in. In our Black Friday 2010 guide, we lay out your 10 best local deal wielders and give you links to all the ammo you need. This way, instead of flying blind, you can put together a strategy and score all the gadgets you can carry at the deepest discounts of the year. Good luck, be safe, and Godspeed.

BEST BUY Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

BJ’s WHOLESALE CLUB Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 7:00 AM

COSTCO Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 9:00 AM

GAMESTOP Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

KMART Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

RADIOSHACK Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors Open: 5:30 AM

SAM’S CLUB Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

STAPLES Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 6:00 AM

TARGET Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 4:00 AM

WALMART Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: 5:00 AM

Bonus

For those who would rather not fight through angry mobs of sale-hungry consumers, feel free to enjoy Amazon.com’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals from the comfort of your desk or couch.

AMAZON Black Friday 2010 sale details

Doors open: Always

We knew it was coming on the 21st of July, but a fresh press release has delivered T-Mobile Galaxy S fans some good news. You can pre-order yourself a Samsung Galaxy S, known to T-Mobile customers as the Vibrant, starting on July 1st courtesy of Radio Shack. You can hit up The Shack online — at www.radioshack.com/vibrant — or in one of their 4,000 retail locations to reserve yourself Samsung’s flagship Android handset. We’ve got the full press release for you after the bounce.

Samsung Vibrant from T-Mobile USA to Bring Robust Entertainment Experience on a Brilliant Screen T-Mobile’s Latest Android™-Powered Device Offers Exclusive Entertainment Experience, Including James Cameron’s Avatar In a Slim Smartphone Package

BELLEVUE, Wash. and DALLAS, June 29 /PRNewswire/ — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.(1), today announced the Samsung Vibrant™, a Samsung Galaxy S™ device available from T-Mobile.

Through pre-installed applications and pre-loaded content, the Samsung Vibrant’s comprehensive multimedia capabilities combine all your entertainment and communication needs into one device — it’s a television, bookshelf, radio, movie library, gaming system, and of course, a smartphone. The Vibrant comes fully loaded with exclusive entertainment features including “James Cameron’s Avatar” on an included 2GB external memory card and an exclusive collector’s edition of a popular game. The Vibrant also brings the Amazon Kindle for Android™ application with access to more than 600,000 books, MobiTV with live and on-demand TV, and much more.

The Vibrant’s 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display gives customers a vivid, sharp color HD-like viewing experience, whether consumers choose to play a game, watch a movie or read an e-book while on the go. Featuring a slim and sleek design, the Vibrant is one of the most portable and accessible mobile entertainment devices available to U.S. consumers. The speedy Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor and six-axis sensor are optimized for media and gaming, which gives consumers a seamless, immersive experience while reading, watching and playing. The Vibrant is also the latest smartphone in T-Mobile’s lineup that can benefit from enhanced speeds in locations with T-Mobile’s super-fast HSPA+ network.(2)

“By combining best-selling, award-winning content and amazing hardware that brings that content to life, T-Mobile continues to deliver on its commitment to bring innovative mobile entertainment experiences to consumers’ fingertips,” said Paul Cole, vice president, devices and accessories, T-Mobile USA. “We are proud to introduce the Samsung Vibrant as the latest addition to our growing lineup of Android-powered devices.”

“The Samsung Vibrant contains all of the premium core features that the Galaxy S portfolio offers to consumers, including an industry leading display and powerful processor. The Galaxy S devices make the smartphone brilliant,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. “When you combine the Vibrant’s incredible hardware with preloaded content like ‘Avatar,’ along with thousands of applications available on the Android Market, the entertainment and customization possibilities are endless.”

“‘James Cameron’s Avatar’ is in many ways the most innovative film ever produced, and in working with Samsung and T-Mobile we are now able to offer this eye-catching experience to viewers in a new and dynamic environment on the Samsung Vibrant,” said Peter Levinsohn, president of new media and digital distribution for 20th Century FOX Film Company.

The multimedia experience that makes the Samsung Vibrant a great option for entertainment enthusiasts includes the following:

• 20th Century Fox’s “James Cameron’s Avatar,” full-screen movie pre-loaded on the Samsung Vibrant, takes consumers back to Pandora, the fictional world created by James Cameron, in the highest-grossing film in history.
• Amazon Kindle for Android application provides direct access to more than 600,000 books, including a vast majority of The New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases. Before consumers purchase a book, they can read the first chapter for free. They also can read reviews and recommendations from Amazon.com and its customers. With Kindle for Android, customers can sync their reading with their other Kindle devices so they never lose their place or are without their reading.
• MobiTV mobile phone application offers consumers access to live and on-demand TV available in English and Spanish — including more than 35 channels of news, sports and entertainment. Favorite channels such as Bravo, Disney Channel, ESPN, NBC and more are available for Samsung Vibrant consumers to watch at home or away. Plus, when Vibrant consumers subscribe to MobiTV, their first 30 days of service are free.(3)
• Slacker Radio mobile application comes pre-loaded on the Samsung Vibrant, allowing anyone to listen to free personalized radio. Slacker offers more than 120 genre stations and the ability to create your own. With millions of songs from thousands of artists, Slacker is the best way to discover new artists and hear your favorite music.
• Gogo® Inflight Internet service offers a bonus to consumers who purchase the Samsung Vibrant: up to a month of free in-flight Wi-Fi access on their device, with Internet access on more than 3,000 daily flights and growing every day in the continental U.S.(4)
• Samsung Media Hub, expected to be available in the near future, is a full library of video and literary content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment.

The Samsung Vibrant’s assets go beyond its impressive entertainment features. Running Android 2.1, the Samsung Vibrant offers a seven-panel home screen and access to Android Market™ to personalize the device with 65,000 applications, including applications for social networking, gaming, travel and more. Samsung’s Social Hub service helps consumers to easily keep in touch with family and friends through integrated contacts, calendars, social networking sites and group messaging, including the ability to “reply all” for up to 10 contacts. The Vibrant also supports six languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian and Korean.

The Vibrant delivers advanced phone features such as GPS functionality with access to turn-by-turn navigation and Swype® text input for fast, accurate communication. It also features a 5-megapixel camera with digital zoom and autofocus, and a video camera for recording crystal-clear, high-definition (720p) videos and photos for playback on an HD television. With support for up to 32 GB of external memory, the Vibrant provides ample space for consumers’ entertainment favorites. Consumers can customize their Vibrant with two battery cover options in dark blue and lavender that will come packaged exclusively with the T-Mobile device.

Availability

The Samsung Vibrant and its exclusive pre-loaded entertainment content is expected to be available to T-Mobile customers beginning July 21. Customers can visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com for more information. In addition, it is expected that beginning on July 1, customers may pre-order the Samsung Vibrant at any one of more than 4,000 RadioShack® stores. To pre-order, customers must purchase a $50 gift card, which will be applied toward the retail price of the device. Customers can schedule an appointment to pick up and activate their devices at RadioShack stores with anticipated availability starting July 21. Customers who pre-order at RadioShack will receive a $50 gift card by mail after purchasing their phone with qualifying voice and data plan on a two-year contract. The ability to pre-order is also expected to be available online at http://www.radioshack.com/vibrant beginning July 1.

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Folks who pre-ordered an iPhone 4 from Radio Shack may still be feeling the sting of not getting an iPhone after a less-than-expected number of handsets were available. Radio Shack reached out to let us know that it is extending its iPhone 4 launch promotions for an additional month to make up for this disappointment. From now until July 25th, any customer purchasing an iPhone 4 will receive a $20 accessory credit and can participate in the Trade & Save promotion. Trade & Save allows you to trade in an iPhone 3G for a $100 credit or a 3GS for a $200 credit that can be used towards the purchase of an iPhone 4. Lastly, the Shack is also extending its promotional iPhone 4 accessory bundles that contain anything and everything you may need for your new handset. The best news of all, though, is the assurance from Radio Shack that its supply of the iPhone 4 will be replenished as early as this weekend and will continue to be replenished throughout the month of July.

T-Mobile’s retail locations are going to be an absolute mad house this Saturday thanks to the company’s epic one-day sale in which all handsets are free, so it’s a good thing that Radio Shack has announced it will be joining in on the fun as well. On June 19th, over 4,000 Radio Shack locations across the U.S. will be offering all T-Mobile handsets for free on new 2-year agreements. The offer is only valid in-store and add-a-line and flex pay customers won’t be able to take advantage of the offer, but everyone else should be able to and will receive a $35 activation credit to boot.

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