During the blackout last summer, the thing I really wished I'd had was a lantern. Also, folks getting ready for the hurricanes, etc., might want to add something like this to their list. I've since bought one, but most I've seen are in the $30-$60 range.
But Rite-Aid has been advertising their Labor Day sale (which goes through Saturday the 11th), and included in the jumble of junk is the Innovage 12-LED lantern for $9.99.
I don't yet have one (I'll get to that in a second), but I've seen it recommended on candlepowerforums as a good value, with guts and output similar to that of other brands of 12-LED, 4 D-cell powered lanterns (Nuwai, etc), which gets about 40 hours of life on highest output and is adjustable to lower levels.

Now, the red herring is that this appears to be a phantom "loss-leader" item. I checked 7 stores in Manhattan and 2 in Brooklyn - no one's seen these, they aren't a regular item, and they all say they only get them sent to them from headquarters, it's not something they can request or fulfill a raincheck on, although two stores did issue me rainchecks.

So, I called up the customer service line(1-800-748-3243) and asked them if this item was actually for sale…when they said yes, I asked at which store in New York City I could buy it, since I'd tried 9 and none had seen them or knew if they'd ever get them. They said they can't track which stores have certain items, but they took my info and told me they'll reroute some from stores where it's in stock and get one to the store nearest me.

Anyway, I thought folks might like to see this sale that seems to have slipped under the radar.
Here's the flier - lantern's in the center $9.99 jumble - it's the item farthest on the right.
Rite Aid ad

If you aren't able to get them from Rite Aid, Overstock.com has the Innovage 12-LED lantern for $19.95 right now, which is still the best price I'd seen for a comparable lantern until the Rite Aid sale.
Take care
Dave

Just an update:
Apparently this Innovage lantern will be on sale this weekend
at Sportmart stores for $9.99. They have retail stores in AZ.,CA.,IL.,Iowa,Ind.,Min,.Ohio, and Wis. - apparently not available at their web site.

And many more lighting options suggested in this CPF forum:
Hurricane lights thread

Happened to drive by Rite-Aid last night, and they were non existent in Mountain View, CA also.
Sport Mart is close by, so I will check them out this weekend.
Thanks for the tip.

Picked up the last (maybe the only?) one at the Rite-Aid in State College, PA.

Not the sturdiest thing in the world, but it puts out a decent amount of light. Made in China.

John

And....Rite Aid has included the lantern on this week's specials, so at least theoretically, it should be available through this weekend, too (Sept. 18th).