First time Black Friday shopper...

classycouture
classycouture Posts: 888 Member
in Chit-Chat
Am I crazy to even think about hitting the street on Black Friday?? My best friend and I are thinking about shopping around 1 am Friday morning at your typical Kohls, Target, Best Buy, etc., but I'm a little nervous it will be complete gridlock.

Any suggestions/stories to share about this??
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Replies

  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    Don't go.
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    I say to go ahead and experience it. Some of if not the best damn deals of the year. For example one year I went to the Nike factory store here and I have Nike gear that totaled up to over $300 and only paid maybe $70.
  • Brianna72994
    Brianna72994 Posts: 887
    It really depends on where you live, some places are more crowded on Black Friday than others.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Honestly, Steph, I go at a reasonable time (2 pm) and still get all the awesome deals and (slightly) less craziness.
  • drakechic08
    drakechic08 Posts: 156 Member
    If you are going to go I would plan ahead. Get the ads and know what you are looking for. Some places are a mad house and you will be thankful you did.
  • classycouture
    classycouture Posts: 888 Member
    I have a feeling it's going to be very packed because I'm going into Salem, NH, which is right on the Massachusetts border... thus, everyone from Mass comes up because we don't have sales tax.
  • Lovestoscrapbook
    Lovestoscrapbook Posts: 295 Member
    Depending on what you are looking for, it can be mayhem or not too bad. I've gone as early as 3 a.m. and as late as Friday evening. Better luck in the morning obviously but sometimes even 5 a.m. was too late and everything was sold out...as the previous poster said, have a plan and know what you are looking for and in what priority.
  • MrsWilsoncroft
    MrsWilsoncroft Posts: 968 Member
    I thought you ment black Friday as in on amazon lol xxxx
  • steph0924
    steph0924 Posts: 78 Member
    I haven't gone since they've started opening up in the middle of the night and now on Thanksgiving night, but I did go at 5-6 am one year and remember the parking was a nightmare. I don't really know who driving/parking will be in the middle of the night.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Am I crazy to even think about hitting the street on Black Friday?? My best friend and I are thinking about shopping around 1 am Friday morning at your typical Kohls, Target, Best Buy, etc., but I'm a little nervous it will be complete gridlock.

    Any suggestions/stories to share about this??

    Just don't do it!

    :flowerforyou:
  • RubyRed8067
    RubyRed8067 Posts: 301
    I did for the first time last year (was at a HUGE outlet mall in Alabama). We didn't even go to bed TG day. Went shopping around 1 am, had a lot of fun. There was not a huge rush of people like you see on the news. The lines were long though. If you know what you want, and where to go to get it (and you don't mind waiting a couple of hours in line), I'd say go for it. Lots of stores offer door deals and the like. I would avoid places like Walmart or Best Buy though...or anywhere people have camped out to wait for BF opening.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    One word for you:

    ONLINE

    I would not do Black Friday any other way.
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    go to poofee.com for the deals!! they leak the catologs every year!!!
  • bugaha1
    bugaha1 Posts: 602 Member
    FYI, Kim Komando at komando.com has a half dozen app's for black Friday. It's under App of the Day, Best Black Friday apps.
  • RubyRed8067
    RubyRed8067 Posts: 301
    I thought you ment black Friday as in on amazon lol xxxx

    Don't they have CyberMonday...black monday?
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    oh and why don't you save up that energy and $$ and do Small Business Saturday instead.

    Just a suggestion.

    In this economy it's important to support the little guy. That's what I do. I even got some of my holiday stuff on Etsy today (yay!)
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I thought you ment black Friday as in on amazon lol xxxx

    Don't they have CyberMonday...black monday?

    Yep. CyberMonday FTW.

    But, the Friday deals online are superb as well.
  • mandisu
    mandisu Posts: 57 Member
    I have on several occasions, waited inside or outside Best Buy or Walmart for up to 8 hours to score good deals. Part of doing it, is the adventure. Obviously you are losing your time, but we have always got what we went for and saved lots of $$$....which brings me to the most important point. Only go and 'fight' (never had any problems) the crowds if you have something specific in mind and you have it picked out in advance. Don't go out "just to see what you can get". You will end up spending extra money - defeating the purpose and may not actually save money I always do research before to ensure it is a good enough deal to 'waste' time on. Hope this helps.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I have on several occasions, waited inside or outside Best Buy or Walmart for up to 8 hours to score good deals. Part of doing it, is the adventure. Obviously you are losing your time, but we have always got what we went for and saved lots of $$$....which brings me to the most important point. Only go and 'fight' (never had any problems) the crowds if you have something specific in mind and you have it picked out in advance. Don't go out "just to see what you can get". You will end up spending extra money - defeating the purpose and may not actually save money I always do research before to ensure it is a good enough deal to 'waste' time on. Hope this helps.

    I'm way too hungover the day after...plus we have to drive 100 miles to get back home. I'm going out to the movies that night...that'll be my fun.
  • susjan
    susjan Posts: 105
    I go every year with my best guy friend, it's become a tradition for us. We go to an outlet mall (Woodbury Commons) in NY. I have noticed that over the recent years, it has become more and more crowded. We spend time to devise a plan so I would recommend if you're going to go, to have a plan.
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    Black Friday - because only in America do we stand in line and fight with others to buy stuff we don't need the day after we are thankful for the stuff we already have.
  • BPayton27
    BPayton27 Posts: 626 Member
    I've experienced it once (last year), and would rather cut a limb off than go again. It's just not worth it.
  • missprincessgina
    missprincessgina Posts: 446 Member
    Stay home! Its not worth the few dollars you'll save. For me, the aggravation of having to deal with thousands of crazy people far outweighs the excitement of shopping on Black Friday or the "so-called" amazing deals. I do almost all of my shopping online or give cash since we have no small children in my extended family.

    I'll be eating leftovers and having a few too many glasses of wine on Black Friday :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Black Friday - because only in America do we stand in line and fight with others to buy stuff we don't need the day after we are thankful for the stuff we already have.

    LOL love this quote!!!
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Black Friday - because only in America do we stand in line and fight with others to buy stuff we don't need the day after we are thankful for the stuff we already have.

    I was just in NYC last week. Hearing the stories from folks dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane removed any desire to go with the flow of cattle to Black Friday. I'd rather spend the time with family and friends and do ONLINE specials for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I used to work retail so the last few years I've gone shopping on Black Friday and loved it. Because of that, I know all the ins and outs of how to get into the parking lot without dealing with all the traffic :laugh: Go, but go with a game plan and you'll be fine.
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    i go every year at 10pm thanksgiving. its an adventure! its only gridlock in the parking lots since everyone goes to stand in lines super early. the best way to have fun with it though is to not want anything specific...just go and see what you find! its too stressful to try and fight others for something u want.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Since the stores have gone to Thursday or midnight shopping it took some of the craziness out. Also deals can be had online in your jammies.
  • missprincessgina
    missprincessgina Posts: 446 Member
    I've experienced it once (last year), and would rather cut a limb off than go again. It's just not worth it.

    Ha ha. Couldn't of said it better. This about sums up shopping the day after Thanksgiving! :bigsmile:
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    i go every year at 10pm thanksgiving. its an adventure! its only gridlock in the parking lots since everyone goes to stand in lines super early. the best way to have fun with it though is to not want anything specific...just go and see what you find! its too stressful to try and fight others for something u want.

    In my state it's illegal for the stores to be open Thanksgiving night.

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