Black Friday 2008
 

I found this article...thought it might be useful to some.

Thanks for the article! Black Friday is a huge day for me. I go out with a group, and it's our one "girls day" a year, so it's always fun!

I avoid shopping on busy days so... I generally don't shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas, unless its online.

I LOVE Black Friday and have been going for the past 3 years with a friend - its like tradition now. The lines at Best Buy ALWAYS suck. I always go to Circuit City, Target, Kohl's, and Walmart. Then I throw in any other stores that have specific things on sale that I am looking for. This year I want to look for a digital camcorder though, so I might have to go to Best Buy... which I am not looking forward to! I might have to add Babies R Us this year too.. :lol:

I avoid Black Friday like the plague.

Amazon.com is my friend. :)

This year it's going to be a lot of books from Amazon, and a lot of iTunes gift cards since 3 people I know broke down and got iPods this fall. :)

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I've never really shopped on black Fridays due to it being very busy and crowded , but i might consider it this year if i find a baby sitter :-D

I can't believe that's next month already!

I did Black Friday once-1996 a month after we were married. I bought a low price TV for my husband at Caldor(anyone remember that store?). It was a mess and stressful, people followed me to the car to "help" me get the TV into the car just so they could have my shopping cart. Never again.

This year I'll be 8 mos. pregnant...but it is so much fun that I think I still might go. My girlfriends and I get together after everyone's Thanksgiving festivities are over and plan our morning. Sometimes there are different priorities and we might meet later in the morning.

Last year, it really wasn't that bad. I think the key is to stay away from certain stores. Target and Best Buy are always crazy...so we avoid them. Last year, we hit Walmart for kids toys and a few electronics, JC Penney for towels and linens (it was awesome! - this year I'm going for organic cotton towels), Sears for small appliances, Macy's, Old Navy and a few local stores. When I came home, I shopped Amazon.com for the deals there.

It really wasn't that chaotic though - my DH and I went out later in the day and found that it was busier around noon than it was in the Early morning.

I would sooner shoot myself in the foot than go to Walmart on a *regular* day ... on Black Friday?? Good grief. I'd be suicidal if I had to go to Walmart on Black Friday. You're a brave woman.

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Actually, Walmart is pretty good at getting their lines MOVING. Best Buy, IMO, is not. It takes way longer to check out at Best Buy than at Walmart!

If you live in an expensive area, Walmarts are horrible because they don't allow many. Not that my parents live in a poor city but they have 4 walmarts in their city. All the walmarts (well minus 1) are very easy, well kept, etc. I live in a county that will only allow 1 walmart for the entire county. It is dirty, hectic and makes me feel like I can't breathe. Sometimes, during the week, its not bad but weekends are horrible.

haha! I feel the same way...on a normal day, waiting in line for a half hour isn't unheard of. We avoid it like the plague. BF is one of the few times of year that I'll actually go to a Wal-Mart. Target has been progressively worse crowd and line wise each year.

The thing about Wal-Mart and Black Friday is they are anticipating a million people and every single register lane was open. The store by us is open 24 hours, but they do not "unveil" the Black Friday deals until 5 a.m. Most of the people there were buying electronics - which had to be checked out in electronics. The line there was enormous. Since we were only buying toys and a few other things, we could go to the front of the store, which was empty! We were in and out in 20 minutes.

Oh man. I am not willing to deal with Best Buy crowds to save a few bucks.

Last year on BF there were 3 arrests at Best Buy for assault. I wonder if that camera or TV was really worth it.

Lunacy.

After working retail on Black Friday, I can't even stand the thought of being in a store on that day! I worked in a mall bookstore right after college - Black Friday was CRAZY! Online shopping at amazon sounds good :)

Great article, thanks! Last year I did about 90% of my shopping at Amazon. Worked wonderfully! I'll be looking out for that cheap shipping and discounts.

We've gone out on BF every year since we've been married, this year will make #6. We avoid Best Buy and Target. Rarely does Wal Mart have anything we're interested in (no kids). We usually go to Circuit City first, then Sears, then any stores that have something specific that we want. We got our TV on BF at Circuit City TWO years ago and its still a very competitive price. They have amazing deals there and the wait to get in and out are nothing like Best Buy.

Which website is good to take a look at for Black Friday sales and deals on certain items???

Stacy - I totally agree about Circuit City. I may brave going there this year to if the deals are right...DH has been hinting towards a HDTV for the bedroom.

SBD - I usually just get the deals in the local paper. I used http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/ website last year for other deals, but I think it is more fun just digging through the paper. Some ads for BF are released the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, others are released Thanksgiving day. It is hard to tell. Also, each of the stores websites will have information on what sales they will be having.

Thank you! :)

just reading this is starting a panic attack for me. lol. for the first time EVER I don't have to work the day after Thanksgiving. My aunt and cousin want me to go do black friday with them. I've never done it before- I'm terrified. I don't know if I can do it.

And really- it's just STUFF. I don't know how I feel about feeding the corporate machine.... on the other hand it's STUFF I desire... hmmm... we'll see. Maybe i should just take a valium with my thanksgiving dinner. lol.

Lizzie - a lot of coffee helps ;)

Last year I converted my sister in law. She was a staunch "NO" in years past, but last year there were things that she really wanted. She admitted that she had a lot of fun and was the first person in the group to bring it up this year.

I thought you were going to post an article about the stock market crashing on Friday. Lol. I'm a dork!

I've only ever gone shopping on Black Friday twice. Once years ago and last year I got dragged with my Aunt and cousin. I was surprised, it was busy, but not insane like I thought. Target, Kohls and Old Navy were the only stores mentioned that we went to. Then we went to Michaels.

Unless I see some killer deals, we'll probably stay home. This maybe be a digital camera Christmas though, so I might brave some stores.

I make most Christmas gifts and I pick up stocking stuffers here and there for a few months, so I don't usually need to buy much by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.

Zenor - Michaels had some really great deals last year. I bought my Mom a ton of scrapbooking stuff for a great price.

Also, I stocked up on knitting needles and other odds and ends.

Hobby Lobby (if you have one around) has really great stuff as well. I bought my baskets there on BF to make holiday baskets. I think I paid $2.50 a piece.

This year may be a digital camera year for us as well. Try circuit city over Best Buy....they usually have a lot of the same stuff on sale and it is MUCH less packed.

I just discovered Hobby Lobby and that place is awesome! I went looking for 2" rings (I'm making ornaments with them) and Hobby Lobby was the only place I could find them. I <3 a good craft store. :)

Me too!

They also have a buttload of Christmas decorations on sale around that time.

Definitely a store I need to put on my list. Also, since they cater to a rather small crowd and aren't selling televisions, the crowds are very light.

The anxiety of the day and the crowds is so not worth my time, or my sanity!

All this talk of Black Friday makes me wish that I could see some of the ads and start making a list!

For those who are interested in knowing stuff ahead of time, try this

http://bfads.net/

You can sign up to get emails whenever they receive new ad info. I just got my first email of the season a couple days ago. No ads yet, it was just the warm-up letter, sort of, but it was exciting. It won't be long now!

I loooove Black Friday!!! My mom, sister and I did it a couple of years in a row. My boyfriend and I did it last year and it was so much fun! (Mind you, we're near Chicago and last year, in the early morning hours I think it was in the 20's out) If my boyfriend can get off of work, we definitely plan on going this year.

Last year I went out to Walmart at 5am with my sister to get a digital camera. It was crazy! Like someone mentioned, you have to purchase the electronics on sale at the electronics section which is really small and gets crowded really fast. I got my camera without incident, so I was good. I may go out this year with my sister again....

can I just say that I'm so freakin' excited about Black Friday.....

Me, too!

I am really disappointed with most of the ads that have been leaked this year. :(

Where are you finding leaked ads?

Macy's needs to hurry up with theirs. They have a good sale today and tomorrow on comforters sets 200-400 for 60-80. Too bad I couldn't get off work to go snag a few for gifts. I know there won't be any left for Black Friday.

www.bfads.net
blackfriday.gottadeal.com

I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!! Target and Old Navy and Toys R Us are the ones we mainly go to... stay far from Best Buy, as some mentioned they have s--l--o--w lines. I've already got my sitter lined up, so the hubs and I can shop, shop, shop... then get breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.

Have you seen Target's ad this year? Its pretty horrible :(