Share your Black Friday stories, thoughts, and strategies

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What are your thoughts on Black Friday? Is it the most ridiculous shopping frenzy of the year, or a perfect time to pick up insane savings?

Do you have any tips, stories, or comments about Black Friday?

Share them with us in the comments! You will be automatically entered in our weekly drawing to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. This drawing is over. Congrats to Chief Family Officer for winning. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Here are some tips on beating Black Friday.

Do your research ahead of time

The actual Black Friday print ads from all the major stores have been scanned and made available online. Check out the ads early to get a good idea of what you want to target:

Find price comparison and product reviews here:

Too lazy to do your own research? Check out these blogs and forums for leads on the hottest buys:

Get the following information from stores

  • What's the return policy? Many stores have special policies that apply to Black Friday purchases only.
  • Will they price match against their competitors? If several stores offer price matching for the product you are targeting, go to the store that is selling it at the highest price. Most likely the store with the highest price will have less people and less inventory shortages.
  • Will they price match against their newer prices? Some stores guarantee that if their prices change within 30 days of your purchase, they will match their own lower prices and refund you the difference. This basically means you can start shopping now and take advantage of Black Friday prices today!
  • Are you giving up any warranties or guarantees normally associated with the product? Make sure you are not surprised by any unusual conditions.
  • Get the logistics. Does the store have special rules for lining up? Where are the other branches located at? Are there any limits for hot items like iPhones?

On Black Friday all bets are off. Even retailers who are usually trustworthy can surprise you with very unfriendly rules. Figure them out now.

Use a credit card

Some credit card companies will allow you to:

  • Return items for a full refund if you have a good faith dispute with a merchant.
  • Extend warranties on certain purchases.
  • Obtain insurance on certain purchases.
  • Obtain insurance on certain shipping options.
  • Get special rewards for shopping at specific stores.
  • Obtain more credit for the holiday season (I highly recommend against this unless you intend to pay this off right away, or if you are using the higher credit limit to stack up reward points).

Call you credit card company ahead of time and figure out the policies.

Don't fall for scams

Be aware of the following scams:

  • Bait and switch: Make sure you are getting the model advertised and not a "comparable" model.
  • Package scams: If the item can only be purchased as part of a larger package, be certain the other items are things you really need.
  • Extended warranties: Say no to extended warranties. They are almost always a scam.
  • Refurbished deals: Many stores sell refurbished items "as new." This practice is especially hard to catch during Black Friday when all the packaging are a bit worse for wear due to the shopping frenzy.

Be aware of shortages on popular items

Kim Palmer, one of my favorite consumer rights columnists, recently pointed out that:

If there's something that's special that you want somebody to have, you have to be careful. Retailers haven't ordered as much this year, so inventories won't be as high. I think the first or second time it goes on sale you should get it, because it won't be around if it's a great item. How to shop like an expert: US News & World Report

Kim also has other great consumer tips on how to prevent holiday shopping fraud and the danger of turning kids into shoppers. Make sure you check out her column before braving the holiday shopping frenzy.

Bring your own bags and dollies

Shopping carts and bags will be scarce. Bring hefty trash bags and foldable dollies if necessary.

Bribe an employee

I'm not talking about money because you might get people fired. But other things work just as well. A kind word, a nice smile, or maybe a piece of candy might make the difference between "we're out of stock" and "let me check on that for you in the back.... we might have some left."

Price check with cell phone

Program your phone with these websites handy:

If your phone can't access websites, have a friend stay at home and check prices for you in real time.

Shop in teams

Get more coverage by dividing up the stores among your friends and family. You hit Circuit City and Grandma can take Wal-Mart. However, some stores have limits on how many items one customer can purchase per visit. Make sure the merchandise you are buying are not subject to such limits.

Special tips for online shoppers

  • Sign up for store newsletters. Many of these newsletters will have special coupon codes not available to the public.
  • Cyber Monday starts at November 26, 12:00 am. Make sure you got plenty of sleep on Sunday afternoon so you can shop until you drop.
  • Know your customer status. Some stores offer different deals for new customers only. Before you buy an item, try clearing the cookies and cache in your browser and signing up for another customer account using a different email and billing information. You might just receive a new customer discount.

Do you have any tips, stories, or comments about Black Friday?

Leave a comment and you will be automatically entered in our weekly drawing to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. Deadline to enter is 11/25. Only one entry per person will be counted. This drawing is over. Congrats to Chief Family Officer for winning. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Tagged: Shopping

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Guest's picture
AmandaD

My husband and I usually hit up stores/malls the first shopping day after Christmas. The bargains are usually pretty good and we return as much stuff as we can that first day.

We've also found that some stores will do a price adjustment if you bring in the receipt for items that are on sale after Christmas. For example, last year he bought me clothes from Banana Republic for Christmas. We went into exchange a few sizes & an item or two. Well, everything he had bought me was on sale now. They did a price adjust and we received almost $100 back (which we spent on a few other things that were almost half price now). I think the price adjustment must be within so many days of the original purchase, but since my husband is a late shopper, it works out.

Guest's picture
gt0163c

I've already done my post-Thanksgiving shopping at Target. I found the Black Friday ad online and bought the things (mostly DVDs) that I wanted this weekend. On Friday afternoon, when the stores are back to almost normal, I'll wander in and get a price match at customer service. I've done this on various items the past few years and never had any problems.

Guest's picture
Kate

First, let me just say I love Wisebread! Great blog, keep up the good work.

My favorite (I use this term loosely) 'Black Friday' incident happened about two years ago. I was working at Express (the women's clothing store) as I was home from school on holiday break and had enjoyed working there over the summer. It was about 3 in the afternoon and, as always, a few articles of clothing had run out. When I informed a shopper that we did not have any more of a certain top left--I had checked about 5 times for other shoppers in that hour alone--the woman jumped over the counter, grabbed me by the collar, and smacked me across the face.

Needless to say, this upstanding citizen spent some quality time with the local police. I'm pretty easygoing so I didn't press charges, but that was a life lesson in avoiding the malls (either as a consumer or salesperson) on Black Friday!

Guest's picture
Guest

So, the 'lady' (using the term lightly) slapped you and got away with it. Gives a message that it's ok and no consequences will follow. Maybe 10 days in the slammer would have opened her eyes.
Ed

Guest's picture
Lucille

We did the full on black Friday thing last year, researching, planning and getting up at 4am.

What we found was those doorbuster deals at places like Best Buy, don't even bother. In order to get them you had to be one of the first 3-4 in line. We talked to one of the sales people at Best Buy later in the afternoon. He said that the big deal LCD monitor that was advertised only had something like 15 per store and there was a group of young guys who camped out the day before who got them all. They each grabbed the limit of 5 each. So unless your willing to sleep on a sidewalk overnight in 20 degree weather your probably not going to get some of the hot items.

We had better success with the less in demand deals. We hit Michaels crafts during their early morning hours and got one of those decorative xmas trees in the urn for $19 and some really good deals on other decorations. We also hit Menards (sort of like Home Depot). We loaded up on more decorations on sale and some things we needed for our house, like a fake oriental rug for $20. These were hardly cool purchases or gifts but we ended up with a bunch of things we needed for our house dirt cheap.

I looked at the Kohls black friday ad. It is no better than a typical sale there.

Guest's picture
ryan

if you are shopping for a hot item (XBOX,whatever), take someone with you to stand in line. if you get a good spot, you can sell your spot in line to someone else later. then just have your friend step out of line, they werent buying anything anyways.

some people will pay good money to not have to wait.

Guest's picture

When my cousins and I hit about age 10, my mom and aunts started taking us along for Black Friday. We'd pair up, a kid, an adult and a cell phone. Kids would go stand in the checkout line immediately after getting into a store, while adults would grab items on the shopping list. In and out, and half the stress.

Guest's picture
Mark B

buy.com has already given me free tools using their new google checkout. Free shipping too! They also gave away a free 1 gig flash drive just for being a new customer. its great!

Guest's picture

Have a way to communicate with your shopping buddy, either cell phone or walkie talkie (some stores don't get cell phone service). I've even had someone at home who can look things up on the computer. I also like to check Woot.com in the weeks before Xmas...lots of great deals on mostly electronic products. I just bought a $100 Roomba w/accessories for my dad and some $35 Sansa 2 GB MP3 players as gifts from there.
It also helps, if you live in a big city...travel outside to lesser known examples of your favorite store...you might find shorter lines.

Guest's picture
John Rhodes

My wife and I went out on Black Friday a couple of years ago. Never again. We were on the lookout for a digital camera and a couple of other electronic items. What a mess. We hit the local coffee shop afterwards just to catch our breath.

This year, we're giving away a lot of debit gift cards. The cool thing about the company that is doing the gift cards is that they require the recipients to donate ten percent to a nonprofit organization of their choice (I think the choice of nonprofits is over a million or something).

No more getting up early, no more standing in line at 5am. Thank goodness!

Guest's picture

I can't stand the thought of Black Friday. Getting up at the butt-crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping amidst ridiculous crowds is not my idea of fun. Sure, there may be some great deals, but to me it's just not worth it.

Guest's picture
Guest

well gosh, its because you are smart, healthy and rich ;))))) just teasin, merry christmas!!!

Guest's picture
Guest

lol the butt-crack of dawn you're funny

Guest's picture
Badgerette

A couple of years ago I found a really great black Friday deal & headed to the store about a half an hour before they opened. The line was significant, and I ended up in front of the last door along the store front. At 6Am an employee came out and opened the main door. Immediately there was yelling, people jostling and shoving and name calling. I guess everyone was paying so much attention to the scrum that they didn't notice employees opening other doors. I walked right in, & straight to the back to get what I wanted. Had an employee load it & I was the second person at checkout. Beautiful. When I left people were still streaming slowly through the two main automatic doors, ignoring those pesky doors you have to push on your own. So weird.

Guest's picture

I avoid hot spots like Best Buy and TRU, but the mall is actually rather pleasant at 7 a.m. and there are great deals to be had at places like Macys. I'm out of there by 9:30, when it's starting to get crowded.

Guest's picture

I think I've only hit Black Friday once, and it was at the Ann Taylor outlet at an outlet mall at 6 in the morning. It was pretty much dead in there for the three hours I was there. This year, I'm hitting the Coach outlet for one thing, and then I'm leaving - I'm not even doing it to get "the best deal", I really just want to do it for the fun of getting up early, getting in and getting out. I think the lack of aggression for the sales on my part is what makes it less-stressful.

I have the same problem with Black Friday that I do with eBay: I don't like fighting for the stuff I want. I'm willing to pay a few bucks more to not have to deal with the rigamarole that comes with "agressive deal-getting." I've done all of my Christmas shopping online this year, and don't plan on hitting any retail junkets for the "must-have gift of the season."

Guest's picture
Jennifer

I avoid Black Friday like the plague. I don't think the good deals are worth the crowds. You can't get me anywhere near a mall once the after-Thanksgiving rush starts. I do almost all of my shopping online. You can price-comparison shop and get the best deals without crowds and lines. Free shipping deals are also common during this time of year. The only downside is you have to plan ahead - no last minute shopping.

Guest's picture
Sathias

Last year my girlfriend and I got to the mall at 3am. We were determined not to walk back out without a Nintendo Wii. It had launched the previous Tuesday and was sold out everywhere in our town by 12:01 Tuesday morning. We'd gotten word that both EB and Gamestop in the mall were getting a few in for black Friday but we didn't know how many. We didn't know if we'd even be allowed in the mall at such and early hour but we headed out anyway. The plan was for her (being the best girlfriend any guy could ask for) to wait at Gamestop while I waited at EB. You'd think showing up at the mall at 3am would ensure first spot in either line. I was 4th in line at EB and she was 7th in line at Gamestop. The group in line at EB were a great and sociable bunch. We all chatted and played portable games to pass the time. Still the time crept by slowly. When the guy who was opening the store that morning showed up a camera crew followed along behind him. A local station was covering black Friday at the mall and we were the most obvious symptom of it. Once the store was open we all filed in hoping they'd gotten enough to at least reach our place in line. They got in 8 systems at this store. My vigil had paid off. At Gamestop they'd only gotten 5. I was hoping to pick up two so I could sell one at cost to a friend of mine but was naturally happy to have gotten the one we did.

Guest's picture
Shannon

I plan to sleep late, stay home, and pack up "care packages" for my friends. I can't imagine going out on Black Friday - maybe it's because I depend on public transit to get me around, and maybe it's because I'm in LA, and maybe it's both. But, *shudder* not me, thanks.

Good luck, all you bargain hunters :)

Guest's picture
Aimee

I never would have ever thought I would go shopping on Black Friday until my mother in law talked me into in about 4 years ago. Ever since it has been a tradition of ours to go shopping together on Black Friday (kind of a bonding experience). I am saddened that this year I will not be in any shape to go and fight the crowds as I am 38 weeks pregnant. I will however look forward to next year!

Guest's picture
Cindi Hoppes

I have stopped shopping on the day after Thanksgiving! I found it was like an auction to me. I bought many items that I didn't need to buy just because it was a good deal or I beat someone else to the last item. Thanks, Cindi

Guest's picture
alison

As a veteran black friday shopper, I have been amazed at how big it's gotten. My suggestion would be to AVOID all electronic stores-you have no idea how many people will try to get those deals, and how early they will start lining up. Think of all the time you'd spend in line, is it really worth it? Just go prepared!

Guest's picture
Patti

Don't go...

Guest's picture
lana

I shop all through the year. A lot after Christmas sales, and most of it on Amazon.com. So when Black Friday comes, I spend time with my family and not stressing.

Guest's picture
Eipryl t

My family has made Black Friday part of our Thanksgiving tradition. After we're all stuffed full of turkey, we buy every local newspaper and sit around planning out our BF strategy for the next morning.

Guest's picture
AmyA

I wasted my time last year by going to Walmart at an ungodly hour since they stay open all night. The things I needed from there weren't the ones on the "super special list." I could have gotten them any time that week. Then the super special things didn't get unveiled until a certain time, and by then there were tons of people crowded around the covered displays waiting for them to be opened. I decided to get the heck out of Dodge and went on to the mall to meet my shopping team (my mom and sister.) So my advice, don't go to Walmart unless there is a great deal you really need and you are willing to get in a possible smack-down with other rabid shoppers.

Guest's picture
Susanne

I would have to say since last year was my first Black Friday experience, but I am officially hooked for life! I would say shop early and have many buddies. I actually like to make my list the night before with 2 or 3 family members, we combine lists and then each goes to a store and buys for everybody! It is a great way to divide and conquer. My best tip would be to have a sense of humor about it, many people are angry and tired so just laugh it off and be amazed about how many people are in the stores!! Crazy!! Thanks for the giveaway!

Guest's picture
Susanne

I would have to say since last year was my first Black Friday experience, but I am officially hooked for life! I would say shop early and have many buddies. I actually like to make my list the night before with 2 or 3 family members, we combine lists and then each goes to a store and buys for everybody! It is a great way to divide and conquer. My best tip would be to have a sense of humor about it, many people are angry and tired so just laugh it off and be amazed about how many people are in the stores!! Crazy!! Thanks for the giveaway!

Guest's picture
Jenny M

IF you know some salespeople, ask them where the black friday deals will be so when you go in the store- you can find them right away. This is also a great time to help someone else out by picking a name of the salvation army tree and finding those gifts that they would like, but that is not in their family's budget.

Guest's picture
Jenny M

Dont forget about getting those gifts for those less fortunate. Black Friday is an awesome time to surprise those who may not be expecting anything under the tree this year.

Guest's picture
Sarah

The best advice I can give? Do your research. Know what you want and where to get it. Then, get there early!

Guest's picture
Kristen M.

I forgo the Black Friday shopping madness. My advice is to avoid the craziness (waking up ridiculously early to stand in line ridiculously long) and wait for Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving when several e-stores offer same black friday type deals. If you do insist on shopping on Black Friday, I suggest signing up for one of the many black friday websites to get the advance heads up on what's for sale. Much easier than covering the newspaper ads all over the living room floor.

Guest's picture
Jessica

Stay home...enjoy your family, eat leftovers, watch some football! That is what we plan to do!

Guest's picture
Sarah

While I am not completely against Black Friday, I think the only way to stay sane on that crazy shopping day is to plan to hit only one store. The mobs form early, and by the time you've been to one store it is probably too late to get the good stuff at any others. If you go in with that expectation, it's not too bad, and you'll still the afternoon open for napping.

Guest's picture
MamaChristy

I really think that you need to pick the ONE thing you want the most and go EARLY to be in line for that item. If you can check out the store on Wednesday and ask an employee where it item is going to be stocked, all the better and you don't waste time trying to find the item. i used to do this in the past. Now I'm a stay in bed because most of the deals aren't worth it to me anymore kinda gal.

Guest's picture
rachel

I've only tackled black friday once, but when I did, I was quite successful. I would say my best tip is to go early and be organized. Know where you want to go and what you want to get so you don't waste time. And go early and wait in line for the store to open. There are lots of people you can meet while waiting that will "get your bacK" if you are nice enough.

Guest's picture
NCProsecutor

This is a great article. Thanks!

Guest's picture
Julie Mead

I always go really late. Everyone tries to get there first thing but the stores are always open late (like 10 or 11pm) and the sales are still in effect and NO ONE is ever there! You can get so much more done.

Guest's picture
Rob M

This month online shoppers will be readying themselves for the “Black Friday” sales event carrying itself through the Thanksgiving weekend. As retailers are gearing up to offer amazing discounts in preparation for the holiday season, one e-site , http://blackfriday.dealspl.us/, is in constant motion, extending all it resources with inventive ways to promote great deals for the biggest sales event of the year. Good luck Black Friday shoppers.

Guest's picture
Monique

I think the best advice I could give is to get up early and know what you want. You can't just wander in the store and look around. If you want a something that is on sale go for it and grab more than one. You never know!

Guest's picture
chris

I just don't think that any sale for which you have to stand outside for several hours in the early morning or even the night is not worth it. Time is money. The majority of my shopping is done. I only buy a few nice gifts for the kids (we discussed this last year and they were much happier when Santa only brought them a couple things they really wanted, rather than a lot of "stuff.") and those gifts are already wrapped and stored away. Black Friday over here will be staying at home with the kids, making candy and doing crafts (kits purchased at Michaels with 40 - 50% off coupons). Oh, I can't forget - having a big sale in my ebay store. So, I guess I plan to make money that weekend, rather than spend it!

Guest's picture
Renae

Get there early! Know what you're going in for. Don't dilly dally and shop around for other things because these other things usually aren't a spectacular deal. Get the one or two things you intended to go in for and be done! I know there are good deals on Black Friday, but I prefer to stay home! To me the crowds and chaos aren't worth it.

Guest's picture
MarcT

One tip - stay home, shop online. The stress you save yourself over fighting crowds is worth every dollar more.

Guest's picture
Amber

C'mon - as much as we all cringe at the thought of Black Friday, there is also a sense of eagerness and excitement deep inside us. It's true - we all have a love-hate relationship with Black Friday.

Guest's picture
Brooke

Tip and short story: Remember to bring your wallet with you before you are at the register with all the stuff you want.

Guest's picture
mhnice

shop online!!!! :)

Guest's picture
Deborah

I love shopping on Black Friday. I might not get any extraordinary deals, but it's always fun. Well, except for the time I was caught on the 2nd floor of the mall, unable to move for about 15 minutes because there were so many people. And the floor started shaking.

So now I avoid the mall.

I'm probably going to hit one or two stores early on Friday, and then come home and hit Amazon. I'm more than 80% finished with my Christmas shopping already...but the thrill of the hunt is most of the fun for me.

Guest's picture
Gil

If you're not having fun being out on Black Friday, then just don't do it... are those material items really worth it if you're stressed, you get upset and maybe don't even find what you're looking for? For me, I think it would be most entertaining with a group of friends or family... with a plan... to hit no more than 2 or 3 (but ideal only one) store... and with the feeling of "if it's out, oh well, move on".

Last year we went to CompUSA for something that looked good, but they has so few in stock that we ended up in line with "other" deals we saw. But when it came down to it, the "other" items weren't really worth the wait and went on sale regularly. So we just put the items down and went home to sleep. Hey, that's being frugal, right? But you can't beat the energy of a early morning (or late night) crowd, unless people are mean or get trampled.

Guest's picture
neorn3

Before I had kids I loved Black Friday Shopping, but now I find it best to just avoid it. I can often find better deals by just shopping throughout the year.

Guest's picture
Katie

On Thanksgiving, we always scour the ads to find the best deals--especially the door busters/limited sales. Last year, most of the sales (even the door busters) were available ONLINE (in limited quantities). Some of the sales were even available early, on Thanksgiving Day. So try shopping online before hitting the pavement. It's so much easier--no crowds, no cold, no parking frenzy.

If you must go out, go EARLY and bring at least two other people. That way one person can stay in the car (and circle the parking lot if no spaces are available), the second person can wait in line, and you can dash through the store to find your bargains.

Guest's picture
Marie

As a night owl, I find staying up all night and hitting Black Friday sales works a LOT better for me that trying to get up early and do it. Early does not work for me, but stay up til 6 or 7 or after...No Problem!

Guest's picture
Michael

Generally? I do my holiday shopping early/online/and or from artists/craftsmen. Black Friday? I go catch a movie at a theater a goodly distance from the malls.

Guest's picture
Glen George

How to really save on "Black Friday"? Don't play the game..It's rigged.

Buy Nothing Day is also on 11/23/07 It's a critical moment. The environmental crisis is finally penetrating into mainstream consciousness. Our future hangs in the balance and you can make a difference.

Activists around the world are getting organized. Check out the events in many cities that have already been posted on our Buy Nothing Day forum. This is the perfect moment for you to get involved, either by joining an event, or by starting an action of your own. There are over 100,000 of us, so let's turn this fifteenth annual Buy Nothing Day into an unforgettable blast.

Go to ADBUSTERS.ORG . . . There you'll find videos, poster downloads, ideas for jams, and lots more. Make a personal commitment not only to go on a consumption fast this November 23 (24 in Europe), but to give the one billion affluent people of the first world a resounding wake-up call.

Let's give them a scare this Buy Nothing Day!

Guest's picture
Owen's Mom

Avoid all shopping like the plague!!

Guest's picture

I definitely do research ahead of time - the friend that I go shopping with and I figure out which stores we're going to hit when. And we tag team, if possible - one stands in line while the other shops and then we switch. Many other people are doing it as well, and last year we had fun talking to the other people in line and finding out what they were looking for, what other stores they'd been to, etc.

Guest's picture
selenium7

Who has the time or the energy to deal with the mob? Besides--if I shop online alone, I'm much less likely to break my budget snapping up "hot deals."

I can't fathom how early hours, the huge crowds and surly salespeople don't turn more people off. I don't trust the sales prices much at all and can certainly find the items I want online.

My Christmas shopping usually entails about 1 or 2 hours online at Amazon and maybe one other store and I've never had a problem with any of it. I even get the gift wrap I use for all of it (I don't spend the $5 per package for the store gift wrap).

Guest's picture
Bree

If you go to small, local stores, you can get great deals without fighting the crowds- and you get to support local merchants! A win-win situation!

Guest's picture
Jamie

My mom, sister and I really just hit Black Friday as a bonding experience. We make our plan Thanksgiving night, get up early, hit a coffee shop, and just have fun. We expect to walk a mile from the parking lot to the store and I have my rude person response already prepared.

I also don't get my hopes up about getting a big item. I've already purchased those items that I expect will sell out and be hard to find after Thanksgiving. I would rather pay a little more and not face disappointed faces on Christmas morning!

Having just had my third child in 4 years, I NEED a day of retail therapy... Last year, I just couldn't get into it like usual, which ended up promping me to take a pregnancy test...which is how I found out we were having our new baby!

Guest's picture
Laura K

I go with my best friend and we've been doing it in the Chicago area for over 15 years! We look at the ads first, I will trudge to the local Walgreen's to get the sale ads. Then we make a list. I'll be honest to say that most of my Christmas shopping (tangible items anyway) comes from this day. I find the best deals are then. I buy gift certs for people who I feel I don't know what to get for or they prefer a certificate. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been disappointed the last four years or so with BF- the deals aren't as good as they used to be. Could it be my cynicism? Between the two of us, we know by teaming up, we get the items we want without too much disappointment. Happy Holidays everyone from balmy Chicago!!!!

Guest's picture
Sarah

I just can't bring myself to face the crowds on black Friday! I'll be home sewing and embroidering gifts for my family on that day.

Guest's picture
Nicole

I'm Canadian, and we don't have Black Friday, but it sounds a lot like what happens on Boxing Day here. I avoid it. The sales are hardly ever on things I actually need, and the stress isn't worth it.

Guest's picture
Christina Wheeler

Last year, my Gram dragged me to the mall (a place that I loathe come the holiday season) because Kay-Bee toystore was having a ridiculous sale. We were beat up, exhausted, and plain irritated; and when we finally hit the register, the clerk whispers to us "I've got one last TMX in the back - you want it for that little cutie?" (referring to my two-year old who'd crashed out in my arms about five minutes earlier). Oh - we snatched that sucker up. Bless that man, it was a kindness, and I will never forget it. ('Course if I'd known how creepy that toy was, I might not have been so eager, lol.)

Guest's picture
Guest

i think it is a ridiculous shopping frenzy. i hate to be out that day anywhere near a mall. we usually hit a park for a hike. we're not mall people anyway so its not too hard!

Guest's picture
laura

I usually befriend the salespeople at local walmart, target, etc and then can get them to check what is still available in the back when I come in for the Black Friday sales...

Guest's picture

Last year, the only thing I bought on Black Friday was feminine hygeine. This year, all I plan to buy is dinner for my father and stepmother, whom we'll be visiting because they were not able to attend our wedding this past weekend.

I really prefer to buy gifts online, or from local art markets, and not to buy them on Black Friday.

Guest's picture
JewelsHud

I would say - stay home and shop online - you can save money on gas and avoid spontaneous buying and do some decorating and enjoy some post-thanksgiving R&R! What could be better?

Guest's picture
bebemiqui

I really enjoy Black Friday and actually find it to be a good time for some shopping to myself. I use some online Black Friday sites to plan my route and how much I'll spend a week in advance.

Guest's picture
Becca

I would never stand in line for a sale, no matter how good. But I'm a huge fan on the online Black Friday sales. I got some great deals at CircuitCity.com last year, with free shipping. I'm just starting to do my research now for this year's online shopping. Thanks for all the tips!

Guest's picture

I used to work in a retail store and one year there were lines up the sidewalk to get in. The managers were letting the employees in only if we had our badges. People were trying to grab the badges out of our hands, push there way into the doors as we were let in, etc.

Scared me! I don't shop on black friday if I can help it... not even at a grocery store.

blogged ya: http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/11/tuesday-edition-of-cont...

Guest's picture
sea0tter12

Thanks for all the great links -- this is helpful information to plan our day with!

Guest's picture
Summer

The only advice I can give is stay home! Skip getting up early, fighting crowds, spending hours in annoyance, and spending money. Just stay home, relax, and remembr that thoughts count more than gifts.

Guest's picture
Caryn

I think researching ahead of time what exactly you want to buy is important to ensure that you really are getting a good deal. Most people buy on Black Friday because they think that the best sales are on that day. Sometimes there are better deals online or before/after Black Friday. Go early! Black Friday is always crazy! Try to research as to whether or not the sales will be going on all weekend because Friday tends to be the craziest and perhaps you can avoid some of the major crowds if you wait until Sunday (unless you are trying to buy a product that will sell out).

Guest's picture
Dana

Hmm, how about participating in Buy Nothing Day so you can be kind to the environment, preserve your sanity, and save a few bucks? Try making something so you have a unique and meaningful gift to give. Or if you must buy, then buy handmade to support artists and craftspeople.

Guest's picture
sassyfras

I, too will avoid the madness. My tip is to stay home, count your blessings (again!), and enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers. I will also make plans to do fun, non-shopping things (zoo, anyone?) with my loved ones.

Guest's picture
Kim K

I used to do Black Friday with my Mom when I was younger. I didn't realize how crazy it had gotten in the intervening years, however. A couple of years ago my husband and I went to Fry's to get a camcorder we wanted. The traffic into the place was awful.

Worse, a crazy guy in a pickup truck thought we had cut him off (we hadn't, really, but the lanes merged and we were in front of him) so we pretended to ram us (stopped an inch short but then yelled and honked a bit), then got out and banged on our car with his fists while he yelled at us. When the light up ahead changed he got back in his car and swerved and chased us three blocks--(honking and flashing, etc) before going into the parking lot before us. Needless to say, we tried to park on the other side of the lot and waited in the car a bit to avoid seeing him in the store. It was scary!

Then the line for the registers wound through the store and took 1.5 hours. The whole time I was terrified we'd see the crazy guy and he'd attack us again.

I've never shopped on Black Friday since, and don't intend to! People get crazy!

Guest's picture
Angela C

SLEEP IN! That's my advice. Is the $5.00 savings really worth the chaos????

Guest's picture
debi

Camping at the Corner at Best Buy 2006

The kids and I decided to try and get each of them each an inexpensive laptop for Christmas, at the Black Friday sale at Best Buy. We weren’t sure what time we would have to get there, but we guessed 3AM. And it was raining all day on Thanksgiving, so we thought maybe not so many people would want to go stand in line to save a few dollars on gifts for the relatives. So maybe we had a chance?

We gathered the camping chairs, quilts, warm gloves, a tarp, and loaded up the car. Then the kids went to sleep in the living room, so that I could wake them when I got ready to leave on our trek to the big bad world of shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

It stopped raining about 11:30PM, and I realized that more people might be willing to go freeze in line to get their goodies, than would be willing to go get soaked in line, so I woke up the chillins(they are 15 and 17 years old). They sleep walked out to the car and slid in to their seats, as I propped my eyes open with toothpicks and started to drive to the store, hoping to be one of the first 20 or 30 in line, so we could get a laptop or two.

We pulled into the parking lot, around midnight and I realized that I had seriously misjudged the hardiness of the Connecticut consumer. The Best Buy parking lot seemed surprisingly full of cars. Oops. And the whole front sidewalk area was a campground. Neatly arranged, in a line, leading to the right edge of the storefront, were at least 80 people already there. So I asked for a consensus, do we stay and try, or not, after all America is a democracy. The vote was to stay, so I pulled into a spot, and we pulled out our chairs, blankets, etc….

We set up our camping site just around the front corner of the store, fortunately under a slight overhang. I told the kids to try to get some sleep, despite the parking lot lights, and the festival type atmosphere of the people in the line. It was loud. I pulled my quilt over my head and tried to go to sleep.

Phil got cold and ended up going to sleep in the back seat of the car. Considering that he is the Boy Scout, I thought that was ironic. Juli and I toughed it out, pulling a tarp over us, when it started to rain again, which lasted for about an hour.

People started to talk to each other. People started to help each other out. I gave a sick girl a cough drop, then went to my car and got a pad for her to sit on. Another person let someone else use their chair while they were gone for a short while. People started to watch each other’s spot in line, when they had to leave for a minute. People started to communicate. Things were calm and peaceful, no arguing, no pushing.

We had been told that at 4AM tickets would be handed out that allowed you to purchase the large ticket items, in a first come, first served order. And then the doors would be opened to the store at 5AM. At 3AM the Best Buy employees showed up, and something strange happened. Suddenly all the line shifted forward, towards the front doors, immediately, in the course of seconds. And considering that there were hundreds of people in the line by this time, it was amazing to watch. I was watching it too, since I had stepped out into the plaza parking lot to see if the coffee shop would be opening up any time soon. So I was not in the line when it moved like the wave at a football game. It just condensed from all the way to the back of the building to half that size, leaving all the chairs, blankets, tents, etc, behind. My guess, people were afraid they would loose their place in line, and since the staff was there, everyone just moved forward in mass. But still, it seemed peaceful. I could see how something like that, in a stadium, at a football game, in an enclosed place, could crush people, it was so fast.

Then afterwards, people started asking what happened? And since most people were in groups, one person stayed in line, and the other brought the stuff back to the car, as I did. Our stuff was at least 200 feet away from where we were now standing. For the next hour we stood in line, with blankets wrapped around us, while the police and security told people to stay in line and kept the new people that were arriving, going to the back of the line, which was now 1000 people long. When people tried to cut in line, the people who had been there all night would chant in unison, “Back of line, back of line”. We were all united. You could join us, but you had to join us with our rules, so go to the back.

The kids and I did not end up getting a laptop, just some movies and two spindles of dvds. But I would do it again. I got to meet some interesting people. Two 20 something male friends, out to get a big screen TV. Two sisters, the older one there watching over her 24yo sister, who was there to get a computer for her 6yo son, and an older man that was next to us, who was on his first BF overnight campout. The huge TV was purchased, the son got his laptop, and while the older man did not get all he wanted, he did get some things. And I got to see population dynamics at work. To see how complete strangers interact together and form groups, and work together. And respond to people who try to break the rules that the group has set up. I have a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, so thinking back, that was a most fascinating night.

Next year, I think we will go earlier, maybe 8PM, with tents, sleeping bags, a heater, and a lantern. Maybe I will bring my video camera?

Guest's picture
Guest

No thanks!!!!! I've been there, done that.
I can not STAND the way people act. It makes me sick.
Grabbing, pushing, standing in front of you when you're looking at something on a shelf, fighting just for a CART....
People forget the whole spirit and meaning of Christmas, and they just become a bunch of mindless zombies. "ME ME ME ME ME....GIMME GIMME GIMME"

It's sickening how people get. If there is EVER a crowd for something that can't satisfy ALL the people in line, I will be FAR away from it.

I went to the Grand Opening of my local Walmart last year, in October, just because I was up and out at 7am, but I didn't know that there'd be a long long line there, for those stupid Tickle Me Elmos!
It was like Black Friday, and I left.

Remember Christmas? That loving, joyous, religious holiday we used to have?
Yeah. That one.

Ech!

Guest's picture
Julie

I got sucked into the Black Friday hurrah 2 years ago and don't care if I miss out on the deals in the future. It's not worth me losing sleep to stand in long, long lines wasting time when I could be either sleeping or spending time with my family. I went to an electronics store, mostly for the freebies, but didn't get there early enough--even though I was there a while before the doors opened. I was lucky and found one of the freebies (a laminator) on the floor at the back of the store. But that is the only thing that saved the morning from being a total waste. I don't like crowds anyway. I feel badly for the employees that have to work that day. WHat madness!

Guest's picture
Sundi

Yes, it's an insane, hysterical, crazy day of jostling with stressed out shoppers, and certainly not a neat, urbane shopping experience. And yet there is excitement, energy, and fun in the air, too, and some of deals just can't be beat. I go between asking "Why am I doing this?" and saying "This is awesome!"

Guest's picture
Jenn Kerr

I have never been brave enough to tackle any of the large stores myself, espcially not early in the morning. As a teen I remember going to a place called waccamaw (spelling) that I don't believe is in business any longer. Anyway it's sort of like a mix between Bed Bath & Beyond, Michael's and Sam's. We were in line getting a replacement cookie sheet, and behind our line a fist fight broke out between two little old ladies over the last undented can of tri-flavor popcorn. I've never seen anything like it again. I didn't know whether to laugh or be horrified. I'll never forget it, and from then on I Stay home and shop online!

Guest's picture
Jessica

I get tired of hearing that shopping is a bonding/tradition for people. When did shopping/pure consumption become an activity? A hobby? I dislike how Thanksgiving and the day after and all these holidays have become the opposite of what they are. Instead of being thankful for what we have we stuff our selves to the gills and become greedy monsters. It is depressing.

I will never shop on Black Friday, ever. It is not worth it on so many levels.

Guest's picture
Ginny

I used to go shopping, if you go out to stores go early & know what you are looking for. Now I shop online for all the black friday deals.

Guest's picture
Amber

I love stores that price match on Black Friday, especially 24 hour stores.

My typical morning is to go into my Walmart half an hour before the first store I want deals from opens, and find everything from everyone ELSE'S ads. As long as you steer clear of Walmart's big doorbusters, you're likely to avoid the major part of the crowds.

Five minutes before the other stores open, you mosey on up to the registers, match your items to the ads, and at 5 (usually), wander through the lines while everyone else is frantically trying to grab the three VCR/TV combos (or whatever).

You can always repeat with other walmart locations around town- by this point you will have almost certainly missed the big crowds as they race to another store. I've been doing this for three years now, and it's incredibly relaxing, compared to the 10 years I spent standing outside in the freezing cold. I much prefer my shopping experience now.

Guest's picture
Cheryl

While I do like to go shopping on BF, I would NEVER stand in line at the big box electronics stores for the $300 laptop - no chance in hell I am getting one unless I plan on spending the entire night - not worth it, and it will be on sale again in a few weeks for $499- the higher price is worth it to me to NOT have to camp out and take a chance on getting one. I scan all ads beforehand, and only go to the stores that have the gifts I need for a good price, usually Target and JC Penney..and I can hit them midmorning and still get what I went for.

Guest's picture
The Bargin Shopper

I've got a great black friday story. Last year Wal-Mart was running an ad for big screen projection tvs, only $500. I figured this was a great deal.

I went to the most low budget wal-mart in cincinnati, figuring you cannot pay for tv's with food stamps, so it would not matter what number in line I was. (great idea by the way)

Anyhow, I got there 15 minutes before the doors opened. Only about 50 people in line, nothing like the 300 people still waiting in line at best buy until 8AM.

Then wal mart opened the doors. People yelled, ran and screamed to the top of their lungs. I am a little more calm and actualy held the door for someone and walked like normal people would in a store. After all, I am at the grungist wal mart in all of cincinnati, ALL the tv's cannot be taken within minutes, or could they?

I walked to the tv section and saw about 5 big screen tv's boxed up ready to go, just like i imagined. Except...they had people on top of them, hugging them. I saw a grown man laying on a tv hugging it, as happy as he could be. Think that's sad? Listen to this... there was a little boy on the tv next to him and the adult said to the boy "good job son, wish your sister could have came and got one too".

So now i am angry.

As mentioned best buy was booming, no way i could get in there. I gave up hope and decided to drive home. Then I saw an H.H. Gregg store on the outskirts of the general shopping area. At this point in my life, I heard of Gregg but only from a few tv ads, i've never actually been in their store. To my surprise there was only 5 cars in their parking lot and yes, they where open. I figured i'd stop in to see one of two things

1) How bad this place really is if there are only 5 cars here on black friday

2) Poor advertising by Gregg makes them a great "sleeper" canidate for black friday deals

So I go in and find a simalur 50 inch projection big screen, you know the BIG BULKY BOXED ones that have been around since the early 90's? Yeah, I found one for $900 and figured it was a bad deal since wal-mart had them for $500. Then a Gregg employee asked me to take a look at the new 50 inch flat pannel plasmas they are running sales on. I said "what is a plasma". He explained how it was 1080p or whatever, has all these cool features such as pip, freeze screen and an output that will allow you to hook your 50 inch tv up to your pc (which it is now, cool fuction). So on the walk there I was expecting him to ask me to drop my 401k on this tv... but I saw it...

5 inches thick
50 inches big
CRYSTAL CLEAR

only.....$899.99

Hmmmmm, a cool "futuristic" tv AS big as wal-marts, 5 inchs thick, less than 50 lbs in weight, only $400 more. Yet I told my wife that i'd only spend $500 on black friday. I told the Gregg employee this and he recomended that I should go have breakfast, think it over and come back and decied. So I did, got a few eggs, bacon, etc. Went to Gregg's while people are STILL waiting to get into best buy and jumping on tv's at wal mart. I bought the 50 inch plasma for $899.00 and my family and I LOOOOOOVE IT!!!! It actualy doubles as a computer monitor and tv. Since it has picture in picture and it's freakin huge, I can PIP the football game and still surf the net at the same time, all on 1 big tv. AWESOME GREGG! You cannot find this TV much cheaper now, I believe they have a smilaur one at best buy this year for $800. Mine is samsung, good brand and Gregg even gave me exxtended warrenty for FREE, like $250 value.

Not trying to toot Gregg's horn here (i like circuit city better) but i'd just like to thank that man, his boy and his greedy family for jumping on that piece of junk tv at wal mart because it led me to purchase a quality one at gregg for about the same price if you include free extended warrenty. Happy shopping everyone.

Guest's picture
The Bargin Shopper

I've got a great black friday story. Last year Wal-Mart was running an ad for big screen projection tvs, only $500. I figured this was a great deal.

I went to the most low budget wal-mart in cincinnati, figuring you cannot pay for tv's with food stamps, so it would not matter what number in line I was. (great idea by the way)

Anyhow, I got there 15 minutes before the doors opened. Only about 50 people in line, nothing like the 300 people still waiting in line at best buy until 8AM.

Then wal mart opened the doors. People yelled, ran and screamed to the top of their lungs. I am a little more calm and actualy held the door for someone and walked like normal people would in a store. After all, I am at the grungist wal mart in all of cincinnati, ALL the tv's cannot be taken within minutes, or could they?

I walked to the tv section and saw about 5 big screen tv's boxed up ready to go, just like i imagined. Except...they had people on top of them, hugging them. I saw a grown man laying on a tv hugging it, as happy as he could be. Think that's sad? Listen to this... there was a little boy on the tv next to him and the adult said to the boy "good job son, wish your sister could have came and got one too".

So now i am angry.

As mentioned best buy was booming, no way i could get in there. I gave up hope and decided to drive home. Then I saw an H.H. Gregg store on the outskirts of the general shopping area. At this point in my life, I heard of Gregg but only from a few tv ads, i've never actually been in their store. To my surprise there was only 5 cars in their parking lot and yes, they where open. I figured i'd stop in to see one of two things

1) How bad this place really is if there are only 5 cars here on black friday

2) Poor advertising by Gregg makes them a great "sleeper" canidate for black friday deals

So I go in and find a simalur 50 inch projection big screen, you know the BIG BULKY BOXED ones that have been around since the early 90's? Yeah, I found one for $900 and figured it was a bad deal since wal-mart had them for $500. Then a Gregg employee asked me to take a look at the new 50 inch flat pannel plasmas they are running sales on. I said "what is a plasma". He explained how it was 1080p or whatever, has all these cool features such as pip, freeze screen and an output that will allow you to hook your 50 inch tv up to your pc (which it is now, cool fuction). So on the walk there I was expecting him to ask me to drop my 401k on this tv... but I saw it...

5 inches thick
50 inches big
CRYSTAL CLEAR

only.....$899.99

Hmmmmm, a cool "futuristic" tv AS big as wal-marts, 5 inchs thick, less than 50 lbs in weight, only $400 more. Yet I told my wife that i'd only spend $500 on black friday. I told the Gregg employee this and he recomended that I should go have breakfast, think it over and come back and decied. So I did, got a few eggs, bacon, etc. Went to Gregg's while people are STILL waiting to get into best buy and jumping on tv's at wal mart. I bought the 50 inch plasma for $899.00 and my family and I LOOOOOOVE IT!!!! It actualy doubles as a computer monitor and tv. Since it has picture in picture and it's freakin huge, I can PIP the football game and still surf the net at the same time, all on 1 big tv. AWESOME GREGG! You cannot find this TV much cheaper now, I believe they have a smilaur one at best buy this year for $800. Mine is samsung, good brand and Gregg even gave me exxtended warrenty for FREE, like $250 value.

Not trying to toot Gregg's horn here (i like circuit city better) but i'd just like to thank that man, his boy and his greedy family for jumping on that piece of junk tv at wal mart because it led me to purchase a quality one at gregg for about the same price if you include free extended warrenty. Happy shopping everyone.

Guest's picture

Well, I stayed up and went shopping at 3:30am this morning. The main things I wanted were a new cell phone (Virgin Mobile for $20.00 which is normally $75.00) a printer/copier/fax machine all in one for $25.00 and a new MP3 Player which was 35.00

I stuck it out for the past month or so, needing the printer BADLY because I knew there would be great deals and I saved about 60-75 on that alone.

I did encounter a few unruly people in the store but kept my cool and got what I needed and left. Overall, in my opinion, this black friday was a good one because I got everything I needed and most of what I wanted (could have used a new flat screen tv, but didn't get there in time).

Guest's picture
cathy

On Thanksgiving day I scan the ads in the newpaper for the lostleader deals. This year there weren't any at any of the stores advertising in the paper. That's new this year. I do all the shopping in the family and I am very aware of what the prices are for things. The percent off on items in the ads were nothing that I couldn't get on their typical sales other times of the year. I suppose that if you didn't shop much, you wouldn't know it and think you're getting big savings.
I'm hoping that sales are way down and that there will be better sales to come beforee Christmas.

Guest's picture
melba hanson

i stayed away from the stores yesterday. my son and i went to the movies instead.

Guest's picture
Megan

On Black Friday, I hit the outlet mall at midnight, and then hit Target before 7am. From there, we went to Best Buy and Kohl's. I went into it with the attitude that if I found a bargain, great, but there was nothing that I needed to buy and if I came back with nothing, no harm, no foul.

Especially at the outlet malls, I noticed a lot of people who seemed to be incredibly stressed out. There were people arguing, yelling at each other, shoving through the crowds, etc. I realize that a lot of people were out to get specific items and that many of them were trying to get Christmas gifts, but it seemed like an awful way to spend the day after a holiday during which we give thanks for everything that we do have.

I ended up finding a few great bargains. I was incredibly happy with what I found, and I didn't experience a lot of frustration.

Oh, and the best deal I found? $49 bowls at Williams Sonoma marked down to $5.

Guest's picture
Amy

I've only started the yearly ritual of getting up at ungodly hours and going shopping recently, but for me it's not so much about the sales as it is the time I get to spend with my female family members. I've recently moved back to my hometown and I'm not used to seeing family, I hadn't lived here since I was 4. Now, every Black Friday, I go with my sister, two aunts, cousin, and whoever else may be tagging along that year (all female, usually), and we spend all day together. We go around to different stores, getting free gift cards and doorbuster items. Plus, It doesn't have to a be stressful or chaotic experience. I've never had anyone beat me down for the last box in the store (though I have seen it happen, some people are just crazy.)

My advice would be to:

- Always look at sale papers and decide ahead of time what stores you want to visit. Figure out a time schedule, too. One store may open at 4am and another at 4:30, but unless they're close to each other, you're going to have to know which one you want to be first in line at more.

- Get up early. Yes, it's a major pain, but no matter how early you think you are, at least 30 people will come at the same time as you, and 100 more earlier than you.

- Go with friends or family. Find a store giving out $10 gift cards at the opening. Sometimes no one wants anything from that store, and you can pool the cards and get something that costs $40-50 for free!

- Wear comfy shoes. If you will be trying on clothes, wear jeans and a T-shirt. By the time you go into your 3rd dressing room, you'll be tired of unzipping and unlacing to try on something.

- Go to your favorite store in the mall (clothing, electronics, etc.) and look at the prices. These non-big box stores don't usually advertise their sales as widely, and I found a blue dot sale at my favorite clothing store and nearly wet my pants. $2.99 for shirts normally $30, $4.99 for dresses and skirts that usually go for $45-50! you really do find some gems when you look around.

This year, my sister and I spent under $200 and bought presents for all of our family, and I even bought a new wardrobe for under $40. The sales are sometimes worth it, with the majority of things being half-off or more. It's a GREAT time to find summer clothes, if you're not worried about wearing this year's fashions next year.

Guest's picture

I did the Black Friday thing for the first time this year because my girlfriend and I wanted to get an XBOX360. Thankfully we wanted the Pro (which was on sale), while the Arcade was the one that was widely advertised. The thing I learned is that if you are going to do it and if you have the choice, go to a 24-hour store. We were able to ask someone ahead of time whether they had any in stock and, if we so desired, we could have waited around in the store.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.

Guest's picture
Teresa

I've done the Black Friday thing last year and this year...but probably won't do it again for awhile. The look on my husband's face while we waited in Bath & Body Works for what seemed like forever wasn't worth the amount of money we saved....=)

I got a good deal on a digital frame last year, but there are good deals to be had throughout the year if you are patient and saavy.