@Aeroracere: If you wait until mid-late morning, there are plenty of sales to take advantage of (including Black Friday only ones), plenty of store staff to help you, and less of a crowd than a typical weekend. I've gone out with my mother and sister for the last 10 years or so and we always have a pretty stress-free day of shopping (though I refuse to drive...).

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chrisexv6

@Aeroracere:

Agreed!!

Are the deals REALLY worth that much effort? I did the BF thing ONCE and will never do it again.

If I really want something, Ill take a leisurely drive to the store at some sane time during the day. If the item is there, Ill buy it. If not, oh well.

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kaceetheconsumer

@Aeroracere: Yup, that's our strategy too.

Which sucks because that's my birthday weekend so I never get to go out for dinner on my birthday but even then, screw it, I don't want a dinner where I have to wait for ages while cranky shoppers are waiting for a table too.

We like to stock up on groceries in advance and then bunker down and wait for all the crazy people to go do their consumption-overload nonsense. We try to avoid going anywhere for anything between Wednesday evening and Monday morning..

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madanthony

@Aeroracere:

I used to do the Black Friday thing - back about 8 years or so when I started, I could roll up at a store an hour before they opened and be about #30 in line, and walk out with hundreds of dollars of free after rebate stuff. I could hit multiple stores within a couple hours and be home before I normally would wake up.

But in the last few years, the number of people who show up has gone up exponentially. A few years ago I showed up at Circuit City at 11pm for a 5am opening, and was too late to get the $300 laptop. The deals are also not nearly as good as they used to be, and with the number of people you can't really go to more than one store and expect to find anything. Plus, many of the stores I used to go to (Circuit City, CompUSA, OfficeMax) aren't around anymore.

So for the last few years, I've stayed home. I've scored some decent deals online, and haven't had to spend 8 hours in the cold outside.

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Outrun1986

@madanthony: I seriously doubt you could that these days, I haven't seen any free after rebate items at least in the last 3 years. Lines usually start at 2pm or earlier on Thanksgiving day and if your not one of the first 1-2 people there you will not be getting any doorbusters. Most stores only have 1-2 of the doorbuster items available for purchase. The deals have been mediocre at best and if you shop on websites like slickdeals all year long I guarantee you you will think the same. If you find something like that it might be at a site like Amazon.

The doorbusters can be considered mediocre too depending on the product, an HDTV for $100 isn't gonna do you any good if it goes belly up in 6 months and isn't designed to be repaired easily.

Speaking of free items my friend and I found a video game at Amazon called Spectrobes: Origins for the Wii, and it was on lighting deal for 19.99 a copy. However if you ordered 3 copies it came to something like $29 because there was some kind of other promotion I don't remember exactly what it was. Combine that with ECA codes that were still working at the time. The games trade in to Amazon for at least $20 each and the game still retails for 49.99 on most store shelves. Amazon was basically paying him to take the games.

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PsiCop

@Aeroracere: +1 on staying home. It's what I intend to do. Especially since people have been trampled to death over Black Friday deals. Not going there. No way, no how.

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pecan 3.14159265

Stay home and make your own Black Fridays!

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Real Cheese Flavor

@Aeroracere: This.

It's a day off from work for me. The last thing I'm going to do on a day when I can sleep in is get up when it's still dark to go stand in a line.

No sale price is worth that kind of laziness.

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madog

@Aeroracere: I was going to suggest the same thing. I get angry enough as it is on the road where I live, and Black Friday is just a huge pain in my ass.

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friendlynerd

@Aeroracere: I've seen very little that can't be found online at the same or similar prices. Screw black friday.

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inadequatewife

@Aeroracere: My strategy is simple. Stay home, catch up on some programs on the DVR, make a nice dinner, spend time with the family.

Oh, and read Consumerist articles about dumbass shoppers who get trampled by the hordes of people in line for the receipt checker at Walmart.

There is absolutely nothing (not even 99 cent ipods) that justify waking up at 3 am to fight the parking lots, crowds of people, long lines and other ridiculous behavior.

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bwcbwc

@inadequatewife: So go at 3 PM and pick over the leftovers.

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Outrun1986

@Aeroracere: Totally agree, I stay home and shop online for the real deals. The prices are usually cheaper than the stores anyways (note: usually). If there was a price different it probably wouldn't be worth standing out for.

Also I think the expense of medical bills that could possibly occur from being involved in a black friday mob would negate any savings that you would save that day. IMO, its just not worth the risk to save $5.

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DoubleBaconVeggieBurger

@Aeroracere: Nobody shops on Black Friday anymore, it's too crowded. :)

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Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather

@Aeroracere: I haven't bought a christmas/holiday present in years so I say stay home.

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dfens42

@Aeroracere:

You mean I shouldn't go buy a 50 inch flatscreen from WalMart and then have it stolen from me in the parking lot?

Why, I never!

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rbb

@dfens42:

But, it would be great bait if you are into watersports... [consumerist.com]

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aftercancer

@Aeroracere: Staying in works for me. I would love to be able to be a fly on the wall though, especially somewhere like Walmart

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MostlyHarmless

@Aeroracere: Fourthed. For me, theres no sale really thats worth standing out in the cold for hours in the middle of the night, and then fighting and arguing and then standing for hours in the checkout lane WHILE fighting for my safety.

Though the unfortunate part is that there are people who probably need those sales to get what they need.

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Opoponax

@MostlyHarmless: I'm not in the habit of checking out the Black Friday sales, but is anything that anybody \"needs\" ever significantly marked down? I've always assumed the sales were on stuff like media, electronics, toys, gift items, and the like? Those things are awesome and it's great that a lot of people can buy them for their loved ones as holiday gifts, but Christmas shopping is not a \"need\".

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pecan 3.14159265

@Opoponax: But I need DVD box sets. We got the entire box of The Wire for $85 last Christmas season!

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Kaessa

@MostlyHarmless: \"Though the unfortunate part is that there are people who probably need those sales to get what they need. \"

Probably \"want\" rather than \"need\". If you have to get up at 3am and fight the crowds because you \"need\" to save a few bucks, maybe you should reconsider the purchase. ;)

I'll be sleeping in on Black Friday, thanks. :)

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@Aeroracere: But they have House Season 4 on sale at Target for $14! Also, I'm sure someone will have a webcam on sale somewhere, and you all know how much I love webcams. Those that don't, just ask and I'll show you how much.

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coren

@GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee: Back in aught seven, Amazon had webcams for sale with an instant rebate that was supposed to be a mail in rebate, and then offered the mail in to boot. So the item was actually profitable (to the tune of about 20 bucks) to buy.

(and then flip). So stay home! Even when you're being facetious!

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@coren: Back in aught eight, I ordered a webcam on sale for Black Friday/Weekend from Circuit City with a rebate that dropped it to $9.99. I ordered online, and when I went to the store, they didn't have it. They had a \"ready in 30 minutes or we give you $32\" policy, and I called them on it. They said they called me and that was before the 30 minutes, and they have no record of when they called. I whipped out my cell phone showing them the call time and also the order time on the receipt. It was ~40 minutes. So I got the cam ordered to my store from another store, and in the end, got the 79.99 camera for -21.31!

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pecan 3.14159265

@GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee: What?! I will brave Black Friday for House.

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@pecan 3.14159265: Every year they have a House season on sale. Three years ago was Seasons 1+2, last year 3, and this year 4. Best part? They raincheck the DVD's!

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Fanboy1217

@GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee: For me it's Season 3 of psych. My fiance was wondering why i didn't buy it the week it came out. i told her it would just be put on sale later on down the road. i could wait. and i am glad that i did now. i also do this for the simpsons, family guy, and the office. usually the week after christmas they are on sale for 15 or so.

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halcyondays

@Aeroracere: Amen. I can't stand crowds. It's just not worth it to me save a few bucks. I'd rather scour the intertubes for deals.

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@Aeroracere: Seriously. If you need SAFETY strategies to go shopping something is wrong.

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Ugh.
If you're arguing over purchases, don't buy it because you obviously don't need it.
And obviously the chatty girlfriend is just going to keep you from running through the store to get the zhu zhu pets before the other people get them.

See, this is why I hate this time of year. People focused blindly on stuff, instead of their fellow human beings.

6 replies

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kaceetheconsumer

@Oranges w/ Cheese has 2 cats! ahahaha.: What, you mean the Spirit of Christmas isn't about elbowing someone else in the face to save $3 on a crappy toy that your kid is demanding but will only play with for a month if you're lucky?

I saw two moms fighting over a Veggie Tales DVD in Costco once shortly before Christmas. I'm sure baby Jesus smiled on that. Gah.

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subtlefrog

@kaceetheconsumer: Tis the season to be jolly!

Christ on a stick, the more I see about instore Xmas shopping, the more I feel justified in not going near it. Everything Oranges & h3llc4t said - if you have to wear the proper shoes, not chat, and consider protective gear, how is this a pleasant experience?

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@kaceetheconsumer: Wow. That made me a sad panda.

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kaceetheconsumer

@Oranges w/ Cheese has 2 cats! ahahaha.: Heh, we frequently describe ourselves as sad pandas. It works even better if you muffle the statement through your hand. :D

@subtlefrog: Maybe some people use it to fulfill their lifelong dreams of gladiatorial combat?

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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes

@Oranges w/ Cheese has 2 cats! ahahaha.: It seems to me that if shopping becomes dangerous enough that I can't wear a certain type of shoe to walk around and pick things up off a shelf, I probably don't want to get involved. You're picking out sweater sets, not fighting for the Ark of the Covenant.

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The Porkchop Express

@h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes: obviously you haven't seen my Ark of the Covenant sweater!

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@h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes: Seriously. When you have to break out the helmets and leave your purse behind something has gone terribly wrong.

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jaydez

* Pack heat just incase the crowd turns into a crowd of zombies.

* test drive an F-150 SVT Raptor that day (for the whole day) to avoid all traffic and this all road rage.

4 replies

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subtlefrog

@jaydez: Doesn't a BWM SUV drive over small cars as well? Or at least Hyundais...
[consumerist.com]

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bloggerX

@jaydez: I find flamethrowers as an exceptional weapon to use against zombies. It throws them off track of you, they bump into each other, making easier on your weapons ammo.

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drjayphd

@bloggerX: Nooooooo. All that does is set them on fire, not stop them. Don't worry about the ammo; it's far more effective to double-tap.

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ArcanaJ

@jaydez: You forgot about the industrial first aid kit and the pack full of sammiches. This is WAR soldier!

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Also you should add :
*Light votive candle for Jdimytai Damour

5 replies

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com

@GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee: Hmm. We need a variation of Afro Man stating that Black Friday is closed. Which is what this reminded me of, for some reason.

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madog

@GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee: Thats almost as racist as my local Vons selling Jesus candles in the Hispanic foods section, but just as funny to me.

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@madog: It's not really racist. He was trampled to death on Black Friday by people rabid for a sale. I also included the link to the original post, and you can read the comments to see peoples views/other examples of the artists work. I like this comment, as it seemed very well thought out and said: [consumerist.com]

And as to the candles, many of them are sold by Goya, and occupy shelf space that Goya buys/stocks themselves. So that's why they would be in that aisle.

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admiral_stabbin

@madog: Oh, I guess I never realized that was racist. One of the grocery store chains around here has been selling such candles in the Hispanic food section for years.

I guess I can be kind of dense. A sign that reads, \"Hey whitey, get your Ritz Bitz Crackers over here! -->\" seems a tad more racist. I still wouldn't be offended though...I like Ritz Bitz.

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cash_da_pibble

@madog:
The link for the name makes it much less racist, my good man.

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almightytora

* Wait until Cyber Monday. The online deals are sometimes better than the stores' offers.

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shepd

If you're up North, and I'm not just suggesting Canada, but Norther US States too, wearing something other than boots and a thick coat in line is a dumb thing to do. Don't wear sneakers unless that cheap TV is worth your toes.

4 replies

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Kuchen

@shepd: Pshaw. Minnesotans don't put on their winter coats until it's in the teens. And you don't need boots until it's well below zero.

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El_Red

@shepd: Canada does not have a Black Friday. So we just watch the madness from a safe distance...

But we do have Boxing Day on 26th December (similar sales craziness). Even colder and snowier then. I guess, this is why no one lines up at 3am.

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LeChiffre

@El_Red: Well,,,here in Michigan; aka Metro Detroit, we all know what's going to happen. (1) Big momma will get stomped on waiting for the glass doors of Wal-Mart to open (2) Someone will pull out a gun because someone took the last ?, (3) and a plethora of used diapers will end up in the parking lot. I'm moving to Canada one day and I've hear Toronto is awesome.

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Etoiles

@shepd: I dunno, up in MA / New England, Thanksgiving can be anything from 25-and-snowing to inexplicably-70. If it's the latter, stick with the sneakers. ;)

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SatisfriedCrustomer

Carry some play $20 dollar bills with you - if necessary, drop a few on the floor to distract the crowd while you grab the last item on the shelf.

6 replies

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HogwartsAlum

@SatisfriedCrustomer: Oh that made me laugh. Thanks for that.

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pb5000

@SatisfriedCrustomer: I get the joke, but can't help to thing that the savings would be worth the lost $20's to get it.

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halcyondays

@SatisfriedCrustomer: +1

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Elginista

@halcyondays: Heck, $1 bills might work in a bargain-mad crowd.

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pecan 3.14159265

@SatisfriedCrustomer: If you live where there are a lot of retirees who go out for Black Friday, you could probably drop Werther's candies too, and it'll work just the same.

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lannister80

@pecan 3.14159265: My New Pep Pep also dispenses hard candy!

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bravo369

I just don't understand black friday. I researched my purchases and I know what tv I want and what Washer & dryer I want. I look at the black friday ads and is it ever listed? no. it's all the year old crap that probably should already be priced at what they are listing it at since it's the old models. i guess if you just want to TV then go ahead but I figure that if I'm already spending that much money, I might as well wait a little longer and get the one I want with the features i want.

2 replies

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Ragman

@bravo369: I've noticed the electronics I've been interested in for BFs have a tendency to hit that price point a year or so later.

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WonderKatGoBoom

@bravo369: Agreed. Evidence seems to suggest that a lot of Black Friday shoppers don't budget/internet shop throughout the year- if they did, they'd know that it just might not be worth it.

I'm five feet tall and under a buck. It'd be wreckless of me to go to the mall on Black Friday.

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Fanboy1217

2:00 wait in line @ Old Navy
3:00 Free Lego Rock Band with $20 purchase @ Old Navy
4:00 Wait @ Target
5:00 Season 3 of Psych $12.99 and other items
6:00 ?
7:00 Cracker Barrel for Breakfast

Nothing at Best Buy really wowed me this year.
My aunt normally shops at the mall stores and i take care of the perimeter stores. after that i can go home and relax. Black friday is more about shopping for me than anyone else. Never would i go to walmart on black friday. i went in one 3 hours after they opened and it looked like a bull in a china shop. Keep in mind it's one of the nicer walmarts (Orland Park, IL).

3 replies

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H3ion

@Fanboy1217: Nicer-Walmart. Interesting juxtaposition. Like Jumbo-Shrimp or Internal Revenue-Service.

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pecan 3.14159265

@Fanboy1217: I loved season 3 of Psych. Hilarity, pure hilarity. You could probably use @CouponBot for Old Navy, but you're out of luck unless you go to Old Target too.

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Fanboy1217

@pecan 3.14159265: my strategy for old navy for gifts are the fleece blankets, but those won't be on sale for $5 until saturday. fleece tops are the way to go for other people. i usually go for the smaller items that are in the paper that no one else is really looking at. i am always wary of expensive black friday deals.

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Daggertrout

Ask Troy Hurturbise if you can raid his closet.

\">

3 replies

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RandomHookup

@Daggertrout: Troy's suit is only appropriate for grizzlies -- not frenzied shoppers in Bayonne.

I think I saw Troy at the Ig Nobels years ago. I know they venerate him there.

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lemur

@Daggertrout: Yep, full body armor is a must. A helmet too...

And then the fashion accessory which will set you apart from the rest of the crowd: water wings. Because you never know what could happen.

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Daggertrout

Whoops.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

I've never done the crazy get-up-early-black friday thing. Due to my size I would surely be trampled.

I have however gone out later in the day with family to Frys (they come from Florida, they're nerds, thats where they like to go.) and it really wasn't bad at all. It's almost enjoyable and some of the deals are still left.

The crazy early stuff won't ever happen for me, but I look at it like skydiving: exciting and risky but I won't ever do it.

2 replies

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LeChiffre

t@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: Frys? LOL. Isn't that Chicago? A buddy of mine goes there and goes hog-wild buying computer equipment. Best deals on the planet he says.

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subtlefrog

@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: I don't see the point of getting up super early anyway. I'd rather sleep, then have time the next day to spend with Daisydog and BF, then have friends over. Most of my friends are grad students - which means we're all transplants. Virtually no one has family in the area. We all hang out on holidays. It's nice.

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El_Fez

My strategy? stay the hell away! Get some sleep! Enjoy your time with the family on Thanksgiving and eat some more pie. DONT stand out in the cold in the middle of the night like a dufus.

Simple, no?

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Fanboy1217

Lisa: Boycott Funzo! He's a toy-killing machine!
Ned: [chuckles] That shy little imp?
Funzo: [in display window, produces a flower] I have a flower for vous.
Crowd: Aw....
Carl: Aw, man, I gotta get me one of those.
Lenny: Hey, I'm not waitin' 'til the store opens! [smashes door window with
giant candy cane]
Moe: Ow who wears golf cleats to the store.

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Outrun1986

I've never done black friday and I don't see how it is worth it for anyone. Its so cold up here in NY and you have to stand in line for hours just to get a marginally good deal on a product that is probably a piece of crap.

If you do get trampled or injured or whatnot then I think the medical bills and lost time at work not to mention the inconvienience of being injured would negate any type of savings that you would get on that day. You never know when the trampling or injury could happen to you, if you are caught in a mob even if you never intended to be caught you could just be the unlucky person. Its just not worth it.

I shop online year round and get better products for better prices than what is available on BF.

I am of course talking about the mad rush for the 1-2 of each item doorbusters that the stores have, not for normal shopping later on. I have found in previous years that the stores are dead after about 2-3pm on BF because everyone is tired out from the morning. Go at night and its the deadest shopping day of the whole year. Thanksgiving is about spending time with family not killing each other for some toy or for spending it waiting in line for some item.

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Rick Dobbs

People are going to be looking harder than ever for deals this year and retailers know it, Black Friday is going to be nuts.

My tips:
- I've seen some lines go around the store. Bringing someone to go stand in line while you take turns shopping helps a lot. Especially places like Kohl's and Wal-Mart that have slow checkout processes. You can get right in line and still have time for you to both look for the things you want.

- Make sure you get all the flyers and don't go to a store that really only has one thing you want (unless it's a BIG thing like a $19 plasma TV or something).

- In relation to the last one, don't expect to get the $19 plasma, you probably won't. Going to a store for just the one item like that is going to leave you feeling disappointed.

- Snacks in my wife's purse have saved the day many times. Bring enough for the poor suckers standing in line around you too, they probably didn't think of it.

- BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO IN TO A STORE AS IT OPENS. No one should die just because you want a bargain. This isn't funny because it's true and has happened.

- Don't be a dick.

3 replies

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MinorAnnoyance

@Rick Dobbs: A good way to keep from being a dick is to stay the hell home. There are too many other ways to do your holiday shopping than to risk life and limb in a thundering stampede of troglodytes s that is deliberately orchestrated by marketing and advertising douches.

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NatalieErin

@Rick Dobbs: Some people could stand to follow that last one year round.

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Covertghost

@Rick Dobbs: Black Friday sales this year are shittier than most I remember...

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Opoponax

My plan?

Stay the frak home. Seriously. Nobody needs cheap plastic garbage from China so bad that I should have to spend hours fighting off mobs in a big box store to acquire it for them.

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TheLemon

Don't forget to protect against identity theft. Watch out for card skimmers.

Yeah, I'm staying home.

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coren

I've relegated myself to online sales and hitting the stores towards the end of the day for the oddity sales. Snagged a 24 inch monitor for 250 (which was a steal, and included a ten dollar coupon they shouldn't have honored) two years ago and got a pair of webcams that Amazon paid me to take away on the same day. Lots of good computer parts too.

But none of it did I wait in line or sacrifice part of my Thanksgiving for a deal. Doubt that's changing this year.

(Also if you watch sales they have better ones leading up to and directly after Black Friday)

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mbd

I do all my holiday shopping in January or February before. The stores are not crowded, and everything is on sale. For me, who I give gifts too does not change much from year to year, so I have not problem storing away the gifts till December. I occasionally pick up an extra or unexpected gift in December, but only if it is something I come across in my travels. I would never go out specifically gift shopping during this time of year.

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Eldritch

I have to work on Black Friday and it's just as horrific from behind the counter. Seriously, sometimes I think they should give us hazard pay. Last year, someone tried to punch out one of my associates because we had just sold the last Rachael Ray cookbook that had been on sale for 50% off.

Everyone shopping on Black Friday, please remember to be nice to the poor sods who are working that day!

2 replies

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XTC46

@Eldritch: I love working black friday. My favortie day of the year when I worked for CompUSA was getting to work a 24 hour shift on black friday (9pm to 9pm typically). I was comissioned based, and was typically one of the only ones in the store that was (I worked for business sales, and we got comission, retail did not) and the rest of the business guys were off for the holiday. So I would sell tons of stuff, we got 5 catered meals on black friday, we got holiday pay, and over time pay typically, and its fun and exciting.

I would make tons on that day, and could usually do double my monthly quote in a single day, I miss it.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

@Eldritch: Yes, I completely agree.

Unfortunately Mr. Aroo is one of those poor sods as well, but fortunately people don't tend to get violent over sheet music.

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ElizabethD

Black Friday chez nous: Get up late. Get doughboys from Iggy's for breakfast with nice hot coffee. Watch TV. Read newspapers. Soup for lunch. Spend time with two kids who live out of town. Don't shop for Christmas presents. Yay!

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JulesNoctambule

My plan is as follows:

1. Stay home.
2. Shop [www.etsy.com] for presents.
3. Eat pie.

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sean98125

I will celebrate Black Friday by playing the mall level on Left 4 Dead 2.

2 replies

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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes

@sean98125: @lucky929: I like the cut of both of your jibs.

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lucky929

@sean98125: probably less scary than going to the real mall, and a hell of a lot safer. Maybe I'll watch Dawn of the Dead.

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menty666

Let's just say that scalding hot cup of coffee I'm carrying isn't to drink. I'm getting that one tv on sale for $200.00!!

Kidding...kidding. Honestly, sales have been so off for stores that you may as well wait for the desperation sales the week before Christmas and take your time. Maybe even haggle a better deal out of the manager who's nearing the end of the month and hasn't made his numbers. Tis the season for manipulation *sigh*

2 replies

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Outrun1986

@menty666: I cannot help but think of the story a couple years ago of the person who bought coffee for the fellow shoppers in line but put laxative in the coffee... Needless to say he got the doorbusters instead of those who drank the coffee. Either that or the person made up one heck of a story!

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menty666

@Outrun1986: oooh, that's horrible. Funny, but horrible :)

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pb5000

This makes me happy that the majority of my shopping is already done.

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flugennock

I have an even better strategy: Stay the hell home.

Seriously. Stay home. Drink some beers. Call out for a pizza. Watch an old movie or two. Screw it.

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janbutty

Hold out for Cyber Monday - a lot less pushing, shoving and standing in line

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MinorAnnoyance

My \"strategy\"...? I do NOT leave the house to venture into the downtown or commercial districts from Thanksgiving day until the first week in January. I have never been involved in a \"Black Friday\" sheep stampede and I never intend to be and anybody who voluntarily submits themselves to the kind of crap that goes on every holiday season these days is just asking for it.

When are people going to get up on their hind legs and stop letting marketers and advertising DBs lead them around by the nose?

Bah! Humbug!

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Outrun1986

@MinorAnnoyance: Unfortunately it will never stop as long as people keep going out and waiting in line for doorbusters, and IMO the deals are not even that good. Its not like they are giving stuff like laptops away for free. There will always be stupid people who fall prey to the marketers regardless. Last year again in my opinion was the culmination of all of it when the person died at Walmart, but yet retailers refuse to end this madness simply because its good publicity.

BF is one of the most profitable days of the year for the retailers and I don't buy the retailers crying wolf because sales are down 1%, over here people buy everything and anything on BF even if its NOT on sale and all those items people are buying are marked up plenty enough to make the retailer profit even after a 50% off sale. A lot of people use it simply because its an excuse to go shopping and to buy a lot of crap that you don't really need.

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I will celebrate by sleeping in with my boyfriend! Hooray!

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RandomHookup

@Oranges w/ Cheese has 2 cats! ahahaha.: As will I...I hope your boyfriend doesn't mind.

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axiomatic

Is there a way to have the CEO's of AIG and Ticketmaster do my black friday shopping for me? Those two CEO's could do for some trampling.

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JRock

Slickdeals.net. It's like Black Friday year-round! ...well, as long as the deal doesn't expire within the first five minutes of it being posted, but then that's a lot like Black Friday anyway, right?

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discounteggroll

I am afraid to see the stats of taser sales leading up to black friday.

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RandomHookup

If you are going to shop on Black Friday for super deals, head for the places that won't have as much traffic but still may have some deals -- drug stores, hardware stores, grocery stores. If they are doing promotions for 1st xxx shoppers, you might still get them just by showing up at opening.

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EdnaLegume

Can't say I've ever been out on Black Friday. I do enjoy getting up early and getting online. I curl up on the couch, get my coffee and some variety of sugary confection and turn on the news. I then laugh heartily at the poor schmucks beating the crap out of each other for a few deals. No deal is worth my braving that mess.

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Ragman

Kohl's is supposed to have Nerf 50% off. Have to check the website to see what they carry. So far that's the only thing that might get me out of the house. I didn't see anything on Best Buy I really wanted. Maybe Fry's will have something.

DVD deals have sucked a$$ for the past couple of years. Frys needs to get off it and put the past couple of seasons of 24 and the Lost series on $20 sale.

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LastError

How about what to do AFTER you buy all that stuff.

First, put down the cellphone and pay attention to your surroundings. The calls can wait. Take your stuff back to your car in a zig-zag pattern so somebody following you has no idea where you are going. Once you get it back to your car and do NOT immediately drive home. Instead, make sure you are not being followed. The only better deals than Black Friday and the ones where they steal it for free, so don't be that one. Don't allow yourself to be followed right home.

If in doubt, drive to the local police or fire house and wait. Lights off.

When you get home, be discreet carrying in your haul. Carry in from inside a garage if you have one. If not, use black trash bags for disguise. Lock your car and your house between trips back and forth and have someone helping you by watching your back. If an item is too big to hide, wait until night, turn off all the house lights, hide it in a blanket and carry it in then. It does no good to leave the house lights on so anyone can see what you are trying to do in secret. Turn off the lights, use curtains, etc.

After Christmas or the great unwrapping, DO NOT put all your empty boxes out for trash pickup. Nothing screams \"Home Invasion!\" like the box from a new TV or video game. So take the boxes and cut them at the seams and turn them inside out, slice them into shreds and put in trash bags or take to a cardboard recycling bin, or take them to work and deposit in the dumpster.

The same goes for the packaging from any expensive item any time of the year. Use common sense and be careful. Even if you WANT to outdo the neighbors which the pricey toys you just got, the end of your driveway should never look like a catalog page of what you just bought. Burglars cruise around looking for that, 'shop' from the comfort of their cars, and will happily take it from you.

If trash day is a long way off, take the garbage to the dump yourself or just keep it in the house until the proper day.

You can call this being paranoid but get robbed, home-invaded and assaulted and suddenly it's common sense stuff you should have done. So why not just do it?

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Outrun1986

@LastError: I don't think the box from a single item would do it like a single game console (Xbox 360 is only $199 now) but if you have something more expensive like a $2000 TV you might want to be a little more careful what you do with the box and if you have a large pile of those things like a new TV, laptop and a game console definitely be careful. Its common to see a single box around here but a pile of them or even from expensive children's toys which could signify that you have money and that its a good house to rob. Its not common to see the box from a $2000 TV around here so that is definitely something to be careful about.

If you can't dispose of the box you can always try putting it at the end of an alley or street where it would be ambiguous as to who owned the box.

Though if you have boxes for game consoles the smart thing to do is to save them or sell them on ebay, there are people out there who will pay money for just a box (either to play a dirty trick on someone or just because they want it for their collection). If you decide to sell your system later on it will be worth a lot more if you have the original box.

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barb95

I will spend my black Friday packing. I'm flying to Hawaii on the Saturday after Thanksgiving! Whoot!

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H3ion

Well if I can't carry a handbag or wear stiletto heels, there's not much sense in my going out now, is there? The prices will be the same on Blue Saturday and may be even lower by the time you get to \"How the hell are we going to move this merchandise out of the store?\" December 24.

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alshultz

I'll spend over 8,000 days of my life sleeping. If waking up at 3am means I can get a 32inch HDTV for $250 I'll do it

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LeChiffre

My Christmas season is the same every year; my family and nephews never have any money to buy me anything, but I'll show up just the same with $50 gift cards, or whatever, because it's the right thing to do because I make good money, went to college, got me a good career, etc. Of course, they're still \"waiting\" for that lotto tic to strike 'em rich.

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drjayphd

You forgot the most important step: if you have to cross parking lots on medians, watch out for trees.

(This message brought to you by my cornea and a full bottle of Percocet. THAT weekend was fun.)