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Get a Sceptre 42-inch HDTV for $299 shipped

OK, you'll probably have to pony up for sales tax as well, but that's still a great deal on a spacious TV.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read
Walmart

It was almost two years ago to the day that I wrote about a 32-inch TV selling for $299 (a Sceptre, in fact), and what a big deal that was.

Now you can get a significantly larger screen for exactly the same price: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Walmart has the Sceptre X425BV-FHD 42-inch LCD HDTV for $299, plus sales tax where applicable. Shipping is free, or you can opt for free in-store pickup. Either way, you're assured of getting it on or before Dec. 24.

(Note: This deal started yesterday, and I don't know when it's scheduled to expire, so I apologize in advance if it suddenly disappears today. It's been known to happen.)

As you might expect given the price point, this is a lower-end TV, with a 60Hz refresh rate and a standard (i.e., non-LED) LCD. The refresh rate doesn't bother me in the slightest; I actually prefer it to most of the 120Hz and 240Hz models I've seen, which invariably produce that hideous soap-opera effect.

As for the rest of the specs, they're about what you'd expect: three HDMI inputs, a 5ms response time, and, um, a remote. So, yeah, pretty basic. If you want to "smarten" this TV, you'll need to plug in a Roku box, Apple TV, or the like. (Roku deal of the day: the refurbished Roku 2 XS for $59.99 shipped. The same model sells new for $99.99.)

When you're looking at an off-brand TV like this one, it's always a good idea to peruse the user reviews. Fortunately, Walmart has lots of them -- over 400 -- and the vast majority rated the Sceptre four or five stars. The general consensus: this model delivers considerable bang for the buck.

And, hey, it's Walmart, so it's easy enough to return the unit if you're not happy with it. Contrast that with buying from a place that's strictly mail-order, where you're probably on the hook for return shipping. Just saying.

I've had very good luck with off-brand models like this. Your mileage may vary, of course, but if you're looking for a decent-size TV for a crazy-good price, have a look.

Bonus deal: And if you're looking for a decent-size monitor for a crazy-good price, today only, OfficeMax has the AOC E2460SWD 24-inch for $119.99 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable). That's one of the lowest prices I've ever seen for a monitor of this size, meaning it will likely sell out quickly.

Bonus deal No. 2: I continue to be a huge fan of Ebates, which pays you back a percentage of pretty much everything you buy online. And the site is currently offering double cash back from various stores -- including Walmart, which is now at two percent. And you can get 3 percent back on OfficeMax purchases. It may not seem like much, but believe me, it adds up. If you haven't yet signed up for Ebates, you can do so for free right here.

Bonus deal No. 3: Do you own an iPad and dislike pigs? (I know, the two seem to go hand-in-hand.) For a limited time, all the Angry Birds games for iPad (including Star Wars, Seasons, Rio, and Bad Piggies) are on sale for 99 cents each. They're usually $2.99 each.

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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