Black Friday is coming. Every year, I look at the sales and deals and, I’ll admit, I’m tempted.
Then I remember that I would have to get up at 1 am, get dressed and make my way over to the mall/store/strip center and brave the crowds of fellow Black Friday shoppers. There will be lots of parking drama and who knows if the coffee shops are open that early for my morning fix…
Needless to say, I usually find my bed is too comfortable to leave and I can live with missing out on a few deals – and the crowds – in order to get some more sleep.
So, in honor of you brave (perhaps crazy) souls heading out on Black Friday, I am going to give away a goodie box of books! There are two steps to be in the drawing:
1. Sign up for my newsletter.
2. Tell me your best or worst Black Friday stories in the comments below!
(open to US residents only, drawing will be held Wednesday, November 21, 2012)
Tags: Black Friday, books, contest, shopping
Heavens NOOOOOOOOOOOOO…. Now I do try to shop on Small Saturday… I’m just not much of one for big crowds of pushing, shoving people… My sister & I went to WalMart one year for a dvd player priced really cheap [soon after they first came out].. Never again.. I got shoved by little old ladies into display cases..people were just so plain rude…
and those little ladies can be strong! Of course, by the time you leave, you feel like you earn that sale price.
I went last year for the first time. I only went to Toys R Us. We spent more time in line to checkout than we did waiting to get in the store or finding what we wanted. I don’t think we will be going again.
Lines are long to check out. I think they do it on purpose so you keep thinking of more things to run back for while you have a moment.
Best one: I slept in and didn’t go. Worst one: I didn’t sleep as late as usual and still didn’t go.
lol
I have only done Black Friday once, last year, and it was pretty much a bust for me. First we tried to get into Walmart Thursday night to get Ipods for the g-sons. It would have taken a National Guard unit to get through so we packed it in, went back home to eat pie. Friday morning we went back for other “door-busters” and couldn’t find a single item on our list so back home again and watched qa movie. After the silliness was over we watched the ads and got everything we wanted at even better prices later and we weren’t taking our lives in our hands. We may or may not try this year, I am betting on not. We lived this long without the insanity so I am pretty sure we will survive a bit longer if we stay home and enjoy the weekend.
They are offering some nice sales after Black Friday now. I like that – especially when they offer it online and I can shop in my jammies.
I have gotten some great deals on Black Friday. The worst I have seen is when people snatch items out of others hands and trample people to get the deals.
There seems to be a distinct lack of manners that day. It’s rather sad, I think.
In 1996, my husband and I were in Long Beach, CA. As everyone knows, California is very populated. My husband is from a SMALL town in Maine. We went to this mall with my sister and couldn’t seem to find a parking space. Finally we got one and were walking to the store. My husband turned to me and said: “I’m going back to the car. I hate crowds.” My sister and I went into the store but I can’t even remember if we found any deals. It wasn’t that early so I guess we didn’t. But I’ll never forget my husband saying “Never again.” And, you know, I never did and he certainly didn’t. The only sale I got him to go to was when we were back in Maine a few years later and he went to a Man’s Night Shopping Night to buy me a coat that I saw and really like. I still have that coat. It’s really beautiful, but unfortunately, I lost my husband. We were married for 43 years, 7 months and 21 days. It’s been two years and I still miss him today. Thanks for letting me spout off.
I am sorry for your loss, Carol, that is always difficult. He sounds like he was a great man. I love the men’s shopping night idea! I wonder why more places don’t do something like that?
I have never deliberately shopped a Black Friday sale. I, however, do our family’s grocery shopping on Fridays and Black Friday is no different than any other Friday. I just go later in the afternoon like always. Usually the stuff they’re selling at those sales isn’t anything I’m interested in anyway.
Actually, black Friday is the BEST day to go grocery shopping. The grocery stores are EMPTY. Everyone has leftovers from Thanksgiving and others are either out shopping or at home enjoying themselves. It’s a stark contrast to the day before Thanksgiving
I just started going on Black Friday about 6 yrs ago with my friend and her mom. I guess the worst would be…when my friend , her mom and I were waiting to get into Menard’s, this was back when we had a much smaller store. My friends mom who I call Fuzz was 79 or 80..as we were let in, there was a mad dash to get to the carts , as there weren’t that many. I grabbed one, Fuzz grabbed one and my friend did as well, she was ahead of us. As Fuzz and i were trying to slowly work our way to the side a man shoved his cart right into to her! I looked at him and asked what was he doing? he replied trying to stop her from cutting..I told him she is with me and there is NO reason that you should have done that!. Like whatever he wanted to get was so life altering he had to hurt another person. IDIOT! Luckily Fuzz wasn’t hurt but it still makes me angry after all this time
!
It would make me angry, too! Glad you were there to run interference.
When my kids were little I used to shop that day and go to the toy stores to try and get what my kids asked Santa for. Since then I have worked in a department store and have seen many a Black Friday. The sale items to lure in the customers, for which there is limited stock of, creates a frenzy. It defeats the whole holiday spirit of good will toward man. Now that I am no longer working in retail I refuse to even go near a store that weekend. It doesn’t matter how much I can save, it is not worth it!
I have quite a few friends that have worked in retail and now refuse to go anywhere near a retail store on black Friday. From some of the stories I’ve heard, I don’t blame you!
I went to CVS & Walgreens for Black Friday last year – my very first Black Friday sales trip. And it was actually pretty peaceful. It felt like all of the other customers were having a good time and we all helped each other find the promotional items. Like, “Hey, have you seen the 99 cent gift sets?” “Oh, they’re over by the perfume – let me show you” & “The $5 hair dryers are on an end-cap”. I’d always figured it would be horrific – angry old ladies battling over sweaters, people shoving, nothing in stock. But I’m from a small town, so that probably makes a much bigger difference.
That does sound like a nice black Friday experience!
Hi Karen,
Yes, I have shopped a Black Friday sale. Several years ago I went to pick up some items from Wal-Mart and wanted a drill (don’t you think a woman with a drill is sexy, lol) that Lowe’s had on sale. I realized that I would not be able to make it to Lowe’s, so I found the same one in Wal-mart and had them do a price match. I saved over 50% on my drill. I don’t get up at 1 or 2 am, but at my regular worktime of 5:30 am. By the time I get there, most of the crazies have left. I go through the ads, circle with a sharpie what I might purchase, put in a tote and get on my way. I have a Target 2 miles from my home that I go to first, and I have no expectations that I will score the big one, which is fine by me. I value my life more and there is NOTHING in any store that I have to have. I don’t mind parking way out as I have my sneakers on for just that reason.
Price matching can be a huge bonus! It can also cut another stop out of your day, which I like.
Black Friday…usually I don’t go, but on rare occasions in the past I have gotten up early and gone. My best Blak Friday story was actually three years ago, right here in Florida. Target was having 3 or 4 things I really wanted for my apartment on sale, and I thought well, I hate Target, but why not? I got up super early and packed my “waiting in line items:” a book, a mug of coffee, and a beach chair. I had no idea what it would be like. The coffee was long gone, the book finished and the chair back in the car long before I got inside-and when I got in, all my items were gone. Determined to have a good time, I went zooming around the store (I ride an electric cart in large stores because of my back), looking at what was what. I turned the corner and accidentally bumped into an older gentleman with his arms full of toys. He had no cart, and no helper, and wanted to get his grandkids these things on sale. So, I loaded him up in my cart, and we went to the checkout together, and then I drove his bags to his car for him. And when we were finished, he went inside Starbucks with me and had a coffee, and told me about his wife who had severe health problems and couldnt get out to shop…so he was glad for the help, and he even paid for my coffee and wished me well! Every so often I still see him in that Starbucks, and he always remembers me! Such a good day for me.
Great story!!!
What a lovely story! I’m such a sucker for random acts of kindness. This made my day, thank you!
I am always very tempted to do the Black Friday shopping. I research everything I’d like to look at. But by the time Friday comes, I don’t want to go out into the crowds. I like taking my time to enjoy the process of getting gifts. Many times the sale price listed remains the new low price for the season.
I have noticed that they keep running sales all through the holiday shopping season now, which I love. Makes it a little less stressful.
I’m with you — it’s best to stay curled up in bed
I have no prob being up at 1am generally (I usually don’t go till around then anyway, but dealing with all those people & parking & in the cold too. No thank you. And getting up to do the 5am thingy — not happening. you’re suppose to go to bed before the sun gets up, not get up yourself.
Yeah, my brain doesn’t function well at 5am. Who knows what kinds of things I’d bring home if I attempted to shop then.
I did the black Friday thing once. I was waiting for the Shark steam mop. I noticed a lady standing next to me holding a very young child. We started chatting and come to find out her husband was over seas fighting for our country that is why she had her baby with her. Ofcourse my heart went out to her. We midnight struck everyone behind us started pushing and shoving. She was trying her best just to keep her child from being smashed. I told her to get out of the crowd and I would get her a Shark. After some time we both got what we wanted. That was my first and last black Friday. I was so disgusted with everything I wont do it again. Now I just get items through out the year and rent a small storage unit so no one can find it.
Shopping through the year is the smart thing to do. Unfortunately, I am weak and will see something for someone and think “Oh! perfect Christmas present!” then see them in September or something and hand it over. Then I’m back to square one.
My worst Black Friday was getting up early & into the crowd at Walmart and didn’t get what I wanted. My best was sleeping in on Black Friday, and shopped online to get great deals.
I love online shopping! I used to shop in catalogs before the Internet really got going and it is lovely having everything delivered to your door.
We tried Black Friday once. We got up early because my daughter wanted a digital camera they had at Best Buy. Of course, when you got into the store they were “out” (“We only had a few”- Sure) and they wanted to sell us something else more expensive. That was the last time. Usually right before Christmas we find better deals anyway.
I’ve noticed that they don’t stock some of the big sale items in large quantities. They’re sneaky like that.
I always went with my best friend who lives in Maine. We had a blast running around like nit wits. now i live 7 hours away in NJ. I do not go anymore. It’s just not fun with out my “bestie”
lol with the right group of friends, it can be a fun day. It’s tempting to go, order a latte and watch the activity.
I am one of those crazy ones. I will be going out into the crowds. I kinda like it since it does get me into the spirit of Christmas. Since I live in Florida now, and am from up North in Canada, it just does not “feel” like Christmas here until after Black Friday, well to me anyway.
Last year I was on a mission to get a new camera, since the one I bought on Black Friday a few years before was in need of a new battery, a new camera was going to be cheaper. So I was waiting for the magic hour when they were able to be sold, well I got my poor feet stepped on, an elbow in the boob….mine aren’t that hard to miss, and a bit of shoving….but I did come out victorious with my $49 camera!! lol And I can’t wait to get into the mix of things again this year.
2 years ago (I think) I did the early Best Buy Black Friday. They had a Wii bundle I wanted (no one to buy for me – so it’s always “Merry Christmas to me”). It was BITTERILY cold, but for the most part everyone was nice. I got all I wanted to get… And luckily what *I* wanted was not ‘the thing’ that Christmas. This year one of the things I have seen in the ad is actually on sale right now for the BF price. So, probably won’t be getting up early this year.
My very first Black Friday was over a decade ago. I was out side of a Target, waiting in a line that was at least 300 people long, if not more. Like the rest I was grumbling how cold and early it was for just one item that I thought I was going to get a Great deal on. By the time they opened the doors the crowed was so fired up about people letting other people in line in front of them it was nearly MOB LIKE. I was scared and on the verge of a full blown panic attack. Finally they opened the door. Once that happened people burst out from their cars that were parked close to the front door and all HECK FIRE broke out. Little old ladies with their walkers started swinging their handbags, children were crying as their moms took off for the sale items they came for. I was so scared and traumatized that I ran back to my car, cried for several minutes then went home to eat ALL of the left over pie till I passed out. I WILL NEVER GO TO A BLACK FRIDAY SALE EVER AGAIN!! Except on line. And now that I have practically relived the horrific event I am off in search of pie and a Xanax.
I’ve never been interested in shopping on Black Friday and now that I work retail again I’m stuck working it. The way people behave to get the few truly good deals is ridiculous and then half of what they buy they can’t really afford so they bring it back the next day and we have to restock it all.
I was on the other side of the counter in a bookstore on my worst Black Friday. The store opened at 7 am and I was straightening the books on the top shelf in the children’s sections when one of the press and play story books fell off the shelf and landed on my second toe. It was the hard plastic corner that hit my toe and I thought I broke it. Of course being Black Friday I couldn’t leave to go to the doctor to have it checked out. I spent most of my time ringing up sales at the register so I wouldn’t have to do a lot of walking and the other employees would bring me up ice they scraped off the freezer in the break room to put on my toe. I couldn’t put my shoe on as the toe was so swollen. It looked like I had a black grape sitting on the top of my toe. At 3 pm when I finally got off work I went to the emergency room the doctor looked at said, “There isn’t anything we can do for it even if it is broken so just go home and put your foot up”. I will always remember that Black Friday
I haven’t done a Black Friday shop in several years. I was planning on going this year taking two of my grandchildren (10 & 12) whom I am raising. After reading all these stories I remember how horrible it was so I’ve changed my mind. I will shop online again this year. Thank you all sooooo much for saving me the nightmare of Black Friday shopping! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas too.
I usually do not leave my house early in the morning for a deal. This year however, I was able to order on-line, starting on Monday, Nov. 19th the TV we wanted to buy as our present to each other. Free shipping right to my house! Love being a Silver Premiere member at Best Buy!