Post # 1
Member
4464 posts
Honey bee
Just got approved for time off on the day after Thanksgiving and I am beyond excited!
This will be the 10th year (!) of my mom and I getting up at 3:15am, hitting Dunkin Donuts by 3:45 and in line at Target/Best Buy/whatever by 4am.
We stalk the “leaked” ads online, have a game plan for weeks, and even have “official” Black Friday shopping shirts. It’s crazy, but so fun!
Anyone else brave the madness of Black Friday shopping?
Post # 3
Member
2856 posts
Sugar bee
I usually skip all the Black Friday madness but since this will be the first time I am living where my Mom and sister shop, they may just drag me along. I know I will have to do something because that’s my HS 10 yr reunion.
Post # 4
Member
14181 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Ooooo I looooooove Black Friday. HOWEVER, I am having surgery a week before so I doubt i’ll be feeling up to all the people possibly bumping into me. Which means I’d probably be holding my hands over my stomach and looking pregnant with all the swelling, too. Fun. That means I can’t try on clothes, though!!! That is the suckiest.
I’m thinking maybe stay away from the mall, but stick to TJ Maxx and Marshalls this year, which are both right down the street from me. I guess it depends–if there’s something I really really want at the mall, I’d make him go with me and brave it and play tummy-blocker so I don’t get hurt, but I’m sure he’d protest vehemently or try to make me sit in a wheelchair the whole time. I’d hate to open up a stitch and bleed all over the floor at the mall, LOL. It’d be my luck, too =]
Edit: i want to go to Nordstrom. They have the BEST stuff
Post # 5
Member
3997 posts
Honey bee
I have always wanted to do the crazy early black friday madness! I have no one willing to take the ride lol. My Mother and I always end up shopping at the malls on that day but its usually much later and the chaos has eased up. You know Crossgate’s Mall right? They always have such great deals but I’d be afraid of waiting outside in the cold for an item and not getting it anyway, that’s what deters me every year. It’s bananas on black Friday! Even last Christmas, I was like, “uh, thought we were having financial problems NY?”
Post # 6
Member
908 posts
Busy bee
I went once and it was horrible. I got up at 4am to get in line outside Best Buy with my husband and Brother-In-Law. We were freezing our asses off while the first 20 people in line got those stupid tickets for everything. I sometimes feel sick if I don’t get enough sleep and I ended up throwing up in one of those little patches of grass in the parking lot. I walked back to the line and asked my Brother-In-Law if he thought anyone noticed that I had just thrown up, he said no, then a lady came over and offered me a mint.
The goal of the morning was a new digital camera and we ended up buying one at 11am.
NEVER AGAIN!
Post # 7
Member
18 posts
Newbee
I plan on going…if I find a friend to go with me! The girl I usually go with bailed on me the night before last year. It’s not as fun when your alone.
Post # 8
Member
1892 posts
Buzzing bee
I also skip shopping on Black Friday. Not a fan of huge crowds and people tramping all over you…oh and those lines!
The few times I have gone (more like tried to go) were terrible experiences. This one time my mom and I waited in traffic for hours to even get into the shopping center. We ended up turning around and going home. Another time my parents were away and my mom wanted something for my brother so guess who got up early and waited in line outside the store? Yup, that’s right. Not my ideal way to spend a holiday weekend!
I’ve found that stores often have great sales that are just as good or even better the Saturday after or so.
Post # 9
Member
4464 posts
Honey bee
@Jennifer: We used to do Crossgates Mall, but it’s not that much fun anymore. The deals aren’t that great, and they don’t give out free goodies like they used to. We used to do Best Buy every year at 4am, but last year we did Target and it was fantastic.
Most of the deals are done by 8 or 9am and we’re usually home napping by then!
I think this year we’ll be sticking to Target, KMart, and Walgreens. We’ll have to see what comes up in the ads though.
Post # 10
Member
2470 posts
Buzzing bee
Not I… I don’t have the patience to shop on a regular old Saturday afternoon lol. I bet its fun to people watch though!
Post # 11
Member
4464 posts
Honey bee
@GabBGal: The people watching is the BEST haha
The thing about Black Friday is you really have to LOVE it. You have to love the lines and the crowds, and the general craziness. You have to have a plan and be ready to push your way through to grab that last DVD player. And you can’t go to a store for like, one thing. Not worth it. It’s a committment haha ;o)
Post # 12
Member
984 posts
Busy bee
I try to go with my mom and it’s usually a lot of fun. The last two years I’ve taken Fiance and he is not so much fun, “it’s so cold, why are we doing this, can’t I just stay home?” tends to make the experience less fun, I may see if my mom wants to go this year, I need some board games for the wedding!
Post # 13
Member
1108 posts
Bumble bee
I love the idea, but I hate the crowds. There’s usually nothing that I care for enough to brave the cold and the crowds, either. I hate Christmas shopping and generally going to malls during on-time as well.
Oddly enough, as much as I hate crowds, I love going to fairs and such, even though I know they will be crowded, noisy, and smelly, and I will be stressed.
Post # 14
Member
4464 posts
Honey bee
@FutureMrsTal: I NEVER take Fiance. He would be a misery and just drive me nuts the whole time. We stopped taking my younger sister like 5 years ago because she would just whine and complain the entire time and never buy anything.
P.S. Try Target for the board games. They always have great sales but not that many in stock so get there early and rush right to the toys (Target hands out a map of where everything is going to be at like 4:30am)
Post # 15
Member
3331 posts
Sugar bee
I just have to say that you Black Friday shoppers are very brave! I NEVER go out shopping on that day–just can’t deal with the crowds!
Post # 16
Member
17 posts
Newbee
Every year Fiance and I say we’re going…. then the alarm goes off at 2 am and we both groan and turn it off and go back to sleep. So no, I doubt we will make it again this year. BUT, I used to work a part time job at a KB Toy Outlet (so sad the whole chain closed) and Black Friday was my FAVORITE day of the year to work! I would request to be there when the doors opened (which was usually at midnight at our outlet mall). I don’t know, it was the rush and the excitement and seeing people fight over silly little things LOL. I loved it. I miss it.
So have fun all you Black Friday shoppers! I have to work that day anyway. Blah!