I'm not a huge fan of Black Friday. I've shopped a couple of times on that day, but I didn't feel like I walked away with a huge number of bargains. On the other hand I do keep an eye out for deals on Cyber Monday. The last few years I found quite a number of good deals from the comfort of my home, while shopping in my pajamas.
We continue our family celebration and celebrate the day by putting up our Christmas tree, relaxing, and doing a puzzle. I think this "Black Friday" hype is pretty sad. So is the "Buy Nothing Day" (I followed the link in a comment above, as I had never heard of it). It is the day after Thanksgiving. Celebrate with gratitude all that you have been blessed with and stop feeding the greedy accumulation monster that seems to be gobbling up all of our common sense.
Bought some neat little toys and gadgets from DealExtreme before... quality's definitely not top-notch, but it's a reliable place to find interesting little toys for low prices.
If there's something already on my CHristmas list on sale, I'll do what I can to get it. I usualy have most of my Christmas shopping done by Black Friday, though.
Even before the tragic events were reported, just the thought of being in a crazy crowd is enough to keep me home. The one thing I do enjoy is looking at the Black Friday ads, though. I've usually already bought all my presents, but it's fun to look for new ideas.
Never. I stay as far away as I can from anything retail that day. I mean - come on - waste my day in all that craziness and stress to save a few bucks on stuff I probably shouldn't be buying anyhow?
No way in hell! I used to work retail and this is the most hated day of the year. Every idiot is out with their attitude in full force for this day. Add to that the fact that this is a big game of "lets get the sheep to spend money" and I will never go close to a store on this day.
The smart folks but things during the year when they are on sale and don't have to deal with all this holiday season hype.
Last year, convinced by a cousin to try it, we went. Y'know, it was pretty fun. People were in a good mood, and we did get some great deals. And then, lunch and a nap. I could be convinced to go again if there are some great deals on something on someone's list . . . but otherwise, probably not. I'm not crazy about crowds.
Firstly I'm a regular customer at DealExtreme (DX) and it's a love/hate relationship. The deals are real and it's not a scam. And I love all the cheap electronic components which are sometime 10x more elsewhere. It's a great shop for DIY'ers.
But if you're going to buy from them, you must keep these points in mind
- Shipping can take forever (due to cheap/free shipping w/w via HK Post who are at time highly unreliable)
- Items may not actually be in stock (they rely on suppliers and re-sellers who may lie about their stock levels. Not DX's fault)
- Items are sometimes fakes (due to same reasons as above but DX will almost always point this out and fix the issue. Note they won't remove the item in question. It's HK and not US)
- Items may be of a lower quality due to failed QC. (I've bought genuine branded items at DX cheap but the quality reflected the price)
If you keep these points in mind, then you will be less disappointed and certainly get a good deal. And remember the old advise, you get what you pay for ;)
We no longer buy gifts in the family, everything must be homemade, recycled, event (like a game, or horseback riding or ice skating) or thrift store. :)
I'm fascinated and frightened all at the same time. Coming from Canada, we didn't have Black Friday but did have Boxing Day on Dec 26, same thing but later in the year and much more tame.
If someone wants to wait in line for days just to buy something because it's on sale, more power to 'em but I'll surf the sales from home and watch the madness on the evening news.
Not only does simple living add to our overall happiness in my opinion, but it's a much easier lifestyle to maintain and enjoy. After all, what's the point in living and having everything at your fingertips if you can't ever take 5 seconds to just breath and enjoy it?
I have purchased many things from DealExtreme. As someone else said, returns are difficult, and sometimes the quality is spotty, but you do get what you are buying. I have purchased several flashlights, from them, as well as a good number of gifts. Shipping seems to take forever, but I haven't had anything happen with my credit card that I wasn't expecting - purchases only. Nothing fraudulent.
While this sounds counter-intuitive to frugal ways.. I am planning to go out and shop-shop-shop on Black Friday!
As a college student living in my first apartment, I've bought a lot of furnishings.Through the past 3 months of school, I've been making a list of things I still really need, from an ironing board to freshen up interviewing clothes to a new pair of gloves. Oven mitts are a prime example of something I didn't think to bring but really need -- I don't know how many pans and pizzas I've nearly dropped while trying to use a dish towel!
There are other items that I've planned to buy, too, such as an external hard drive to back-up my school and business files which just makes sense to buy on sale rather than during the back-to-school hype. (From my unscientific analysis, the Black Friday prices are better brands at cheaper prices than I've seen at techie deal sites.)
Even if some of the smaller items aren't on super-hot sale, I'm planning to utilize the X off a $XXX purchase coupons especially to purchase things that rarely go on sale and don't have manufacturers coupons. I'm also going home for Thanksgiving, which makes getting to/from any store so much easier. Were I not planning to shop on Black Friday, I'd probably end up making a mass-purchase at a big retailer anyway, making Black Friday more of an opportunity than a gimmick for me.
Finally, since my sleep schedule is um, shall we say, more flexible than that of my parents, my fiance and I are planning to try to hit the door-buster deals at some of the big-box retailers to get items like a DVR and a LCD monitor that my parents were already planning to give as gifts.
All-in-All, November 27 itself will probably put quite a bit of wear-and-tear on my Visa, although I've been saving gift cards for the occasion to maximize their potential buying-power. I have been planning purchases for the past 6 months so I will be coming out ahead -- and able to pay the balance in full!
I absolutely avoid it - I'm pretty terrified of the stampeders, and of trying to make it through the crazy traffic. I do most of my holiday shopping online - often I can find better deals, and I can do it in my pj's at one in the morning if I want :)
I started doing black friday shopping a few years ago for my kids. I find it a great time for me to get out of the house, BY MYSELF, to shop. True, sometimes I end up getting things I could probably do without, but I also find some awesome deals for family presents. I also stock up on extra birthday presents for all those birthday parties throughout the school year.
I think the trick is to make a list and try to stick to it as much as possible. Think about your purchase before hand. Would you still buy this if it was not on sale? If not, then you probably can do without it. I always stay away from those 3, 5 and $10 DVD's. If I'm not searching for a specific DVD, I don't even look at them. Three dollars here, five dollars there adds up quickly!
Set a budget and try, try, try to stick to it!
The bottom line is... Black Friday is for die-hard shoppers. If you don't like to shop, it's not for you. But if you do, there are great deals to be had if you plan your trip beforehand.
I've never shopped in store on Black Friday myself, but I do check out the Thanksgiving sales online. Instead, I'll be working at my retail job on Black Friday for the second year in a row. (Have to be into work at five! The crowd sometimes begins gathering before that even.)
Every people is waiting for Black Friday 2009 and this year,people will crazy for shopping and make more shopping on this year.
It is cheap. Worth to have a look. Thanks for sharing
I'm not a huge fan of Black Friday. I've shopped a couple of times on that day, but I didn't feel like I walked away with a huge number of bargains. On the other hand I do keep an eye out for deals on Cyber Monday. The last few years I found quite a number of good deals from the comfort of my home, while shopping in my pajamas.
We continue our family celebration and celebrate the day by putting up our Christmas tree, relaxing, and doing a puzzle. I think this "Black Friday" hype is pretty sad. So is the "Buy Nothing Day" (I followed the link in a comment above, as I had never heard of it). It is the day after Thanksgiving. Celebrate with gratitude all that you have been blessed with and stop feeding the greedy accumulation monster that seems to be gobbling up all of our common sense.
I love turkey salad, when I make it, I use mayo, celery, chopped onion, red grapes cut in half, mandarin oranges and toasted slivered almonds.
Bought some neat little toys and gadgets from DealExtreme before... quality's definitely not top-notch, but it's a reliable place to find interesting little toys for low prices.
Yes I will! TrueCar.com predicts that Black Friday will best day of the year to buy a car. They also released a list of the best Deals for Black Friday. They expect some cars to be discounted up to 27% off sticker. That's unreal!
If there's something already on my CHristmas list on sale, I'll do what I can to get it. I usualy have most of my Christmas shopping done by Black Friday, though.
Even before the tragic events were reported, just the thought of being in a crazy crowd is enough to keep me home. The one thing I do enjoy is looking at the Black Friday ads, though. I've usually already bought all my presents, but it's fun to look for new ideas.
Never. I stay as far away as I can from anything retail that day. I mean - come on - waste my day in all that craziness and stress to save a few bucks on stuff I probably shouldn't be buying anyhow?
Never have and I'm pretty confident I never will.
No way in hell! I used to work retail and this is the most hated day of the year. Every idiot is out with their attitude in full force for this day. Add to that the fact that this is a big game of "lets get the sheep to spend money" and I will never go close to a store on this day.
The smart folks but things during the year when they are on sale and don't have to deal with all this holiday season hype.
Well live bull frogs do have a shelf life you know..
Last year, convinced by a cousin to try it, we went. Y'know, it was pretty fun. People were in a good mood, and we did get some great deals. And then, lunch and a nap. I could be convinced to go again if there are some great deals on something on someone's list . . . but otherwise, probably not. I'm not crazy about crowds.
Great post, Linsey!
Firstly I'm a regular customer at DealExtreme (DX) and it's a love/hate relationship. The deals are real and it's not a scam. And I love all the cheap electronic components which are sometime 10x more elsewhere. It's a great shop for DIY'ers.
But if you're going to buy from them, you must keep these points in mind
- Shipping can take forever (due to cheap/free shipping w/w via HK Post who are at time highly unreliable)
- Items may not actually be in stock (they rely on suppliers and re-sellers who may lie about their stock levels. Not DX's fault)
- Items are sometimes fakes (due to same reasons as above but DX will almost always point this out and fix the issue. Note they won't remove the item in question. It's HK and not US)
- Items may be of a lower quality due to failed QC. (I've bought genuine branded items at DX cheap but the quality reflected the price)
If you keep these points in mind, then you will be less disappointed and certainly get a good deal. And remember the old advise, you get what you pay for ;)
I love the online Black Friday, but refuse to leave the house to shop amongst the madness.
We no longer buy gifts in the family, everything must be homemade, recycled, event (like a game, or horseback riding or ice skating) or thrift store. :)
I'm fascinated and frightened all at the same time. Coming from Canada, we didn't have Black Friday but did have Boxing Day on Dec 26, same thing but later in the year and much more tame.
If someone wants to wait in line for days just to buy something because it's on sale, more power to 'em but I'll surf the sales from home and watch the madness on the evening news.
Not only does simple living add to our overall happiness in my opinion, but it's a much easier lifestyle to maintain and enjoy. After all, what's the point in living and having everything at your fingertips if you can't ever take 5 seconds to just breath and enjoy it?
I have purchased many things from DealExtreme. As someone else said, returns are difficult, and sometimes the quality is spotty, but you do get what you are buying. I have purchased several flashlights, from them, as well as a good number of gifts. Shipping seems to take forever, but I haven't had anything happen with my credit card that I wasn't expecting - purchases only. Nothing fraudulent.
While this sounds counter-intuitive to frugal ways.. I am planning to go out and shop-shop-shop on Black Friday!
As a college student living in my first apartment, I've bought a lot of furnishings.Through the past 3 months of school, I've been making a list of things I still really need, from an ironing board to freshen up interviewing clothes to a new pair of gloves. Oven mitts are a prime example of something I didn't think to bring but really need -- I don't know how many pans and pizzas I've nearly dropped while trying to use a dish towel!
There are other items that I've planned to buy, too, such as an external hard drive to back-up my school and business files which just makes sense to buy on sale rather than during the back-to-school hype. (From my unscientific analysis, the Black Friday prices are better brands at cheaper prices than I've seen at techie deal sites.)
Even if some of the smaller items aren't on super-hot sale, I'm planning to utilize the X off a $XXX purchase coupons especially to purchase things that rarely go on sale and don't have manufacturers coupons. I'm also going home for Thanksgiving, which makes getting to/from any store so much easier. Were I not planning to shop on Black Friday, I'd probably end up making a mass-purchase at a big retailer anyway, making Black Friday more of an opportunity than a gimmick for me.
Finally, since my sleep schedule is um, shall we say, more flexible than that of my parents, my fiance and I are planning to try to hit the door-buster deals at some of the big-box retailers to get items like a DVR and a LCD monitor that my parents were already planning to give as gifts.
All-in-All, November 27 itself will probably put quite a bit of wear-and-tear on my Visa, although I've been saving gift cards for the occasion to maximize their potential buying-power. I have been planning purchases for the past 6 months so I will be coming out ahead -- and able to pay the balance in full!
I absolutely avoid it - I'm pretty terrified of the stampeders, and of trying to make it through the crazy traffic. I do most of my holiday shopping online - often I can find better deals, and I can do it in my pj's at one in the morning if I want :)
I started doing black friday shopping a few years ago for my kids. I find it a great time for me to get out of the house, BY MYSELF, to shop. True, sometimes I end up getting things I could probably do without, but I also find some awesome deals for family presents. I also stock up on extra birthday presents for all those birthday parties throughout the school year.
I think the trick is to make a list and try to stick to it as much as possible. Think about your purchase before hand. Would you still buy this if it was not on sale? If not, then you probably can do without it. I always stay away from those 3, 5 and $10 DVD's. If I'm not searching for a specific DVD, I don't even look at them. Three dollars here, five dollars there adds up quickly!
Set a budget and try, try, try to stick to it!
The bottom line is... Black Friday is for die-hard shoppers. If you don't like to shop, it's not for you. But if you do, there are great deals to be had if you plan your trip beforehand.
No thank you.
There's no amount of sales that can make me go into that mess. It's disgusting.
Buy early, or buy online. There's no reason to deal with black Friday anymore!
I've never shopped in store on Black Friday myself, but I do check out the Thanksgiving sales online. Instead, I'll be working at my retail job on Black Friday for the second year in a row. (Have to be into work at five! The crowd sometimes begins gathering before that even.)