[spatulagirl]

I am pretty new to couponing and have been toying with the idea of actually trying to go out on Black Friday. I have never gone before (I am not American and only moved here five years ago) and have been told it is just a ploy to get people crazed about shopping.

So my questions is, can I really get a better deal by going out on Black Friday rather than just shopping online?

[Quazel]

My experience has been yes, you can get some great deals. I have gotten in line at Best Buy at 4am to get a TV at 70% off the year I bought my own place. I have gotten great GPS' for much less than the cheapest ones, etc. I haven't seen as many great deals in the last two years but I basically chose whatever I needed/wanted and made it my first priority. It always worked out great!

[kshinall]

I never really want any big ticket items but the thrill of the crowd pushing and shoving to save a buck is all I need.....I love it!!!! My DH refers to black Friday as "Mommy's Superbowl"

[DarkRayne24]

^ Lol, mommys superbowl, love that.

I myself haven't ever done "black friday", i truthfully get panic attacks at large crowds. However, my husband and I have come up with a plan this year so hopefully this all goes well.

I wish great deals and good luck to everyone!

[DarkRayne24]

Double post ~.~

[missdanalu]

I don't do Black Friday. Then again, I've never really wanted any big ticket items around this date. If I needed or wanted a new TV, computer, etc. I would certainly make an effort to save a few hundred bucks but that hasn't been the case yet.

I do A LOT of BF shopping online. I love it. Dont leave the house, most sites have similar sales, free shipping, additional coupon codes, online exclusives. It's just wonderful.

[tnmommy]

BF shopping is a full contact sport I usually go out. We tend to divide and conquer. DS22 loves it. We have gotten a printer (last year and it was terrible), laptop (a few years ago that was good), TVs (several years ago very good), Blu Ray players (excellent), etc.

We have always gotten big ticket items on BF. Last year we really only needed the printer and I already said it turned out to be a dud. We will go again this year, but I plan to check online deals more than I have before since I am having surgery on the 11th.

[jswede1149]

To a European or from other countries, this will be interesting.

Americans fight at Black Friday (literally punch either other). I think this Black Friday could be very bad because so many people are either unemployed or strapped for cash.

Stay away from Wal-mart until a few hours after the stores open. This is why:

Black friday stampede - YouTube
Walmart employee trampled on black friday - YouTube
Black Friday Madhouse @ Wal-Mart Honolulu - Shoppers Goes Wild and No Stampede - YouTube

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by missdanalu

I don't do Black Friday. Then again, I've never really wanted any big ticket items around this date. If I needed or wanted a new TV, computer, etc. I would certainly make an effort to save a few hundred bucks but that hasn't been the case yet.

I do A LOT of BF shopping online. I love it. Dont leave the house, most sites have similar sales, free shipping, additional coupon codes, online exclusives. It's just wonderful.

I do the drugstores on Thanksgiving morning. I love it, and it's not nearly as big of a madhouse as the stampedes everywhere else. I do tons and tons of online shopping that weekend and Monday. Tons. Much easier, no crowds, plenty of hot coffee and no crying kids.

[missdanalu]

Originally Posted by Robbo

I do the drugstores on Thanksgiving morning. I love it, and it's not nearly as big of a madhouse as the stampedes everywhere else. I do tons and tons of online shopping that weekend and Monday. Tons. Much easier, no crowds, plenty of hot coffee and no crying kids.

The best part is when everything starts to show up at your door - its like Christmas everyday

[ltalmadge77]

I just love bf!!! I don't like crowds but I love this day!! I do a lot of outlet shopping, the mall and toysrus. This year adding CVS.

I plan it so I miss the rush and find parking and no lines!! I get just a couple hours of sleep and of course get my Starbucks fix and off I go.

I follow a few of my own rules:
1. No electronics not wasting my time on lines
2. Have fun!!!!

Pretty much every year I end up with almost everything I wanted!!! Again mostly clothes, bath and body works, etc.

This is my mommy shopping day and by noon I'm home and ready to put up the tree.

[clogs1228]

I do not go out for Black Friday because most of the stuff is available the whole weekend and the "bargains" are not bargains. The TV's that are so cheap are cheap because that is all they are worth! They do not sell that TV except on those three days, they are produced only to be sold that weekend, so how do you know what the original price was or how other people rate the tv? You don't. Look at the features, they are not the same as the one that costs the same as the sale tv would be before the bargain mark down for Black Friday. The $200 laptops at Walmart, what a joke, check out the specs. Granted they are good if it is all you can afford and have the time to wait in line but do not feel that you are missing out on a $500 savings or something because you are not. So you will have to decide if your budget can only afford the $200 for a laptop or tv then wait in line but if not there will be other good sales throughout the season for more expensive items but better features and one you can get reviews on to see if they break easy and things like that.

[Quazel]

Originally Posted by clogs1228

I do not go out for Black Friday because most of the stuff is available the whole weekend and the "bargains" are not bargains. The TV's that are so cheap are cheap because that is all they are worth! They do not sell that TV except on those three days, they are produced only to be sold that weekend, so how do you know what the original price was or how other people rate the tv? You don't. Look at the features, they are not the same as the one that costs the same as the sale tv would be before the bargain mark down for Black Friday. The $200 laptops at Walmart, what a joke, check out the specs. Granted they are good if it is all you can afford and have the time to wait in line but do not feel that you are missing out on a $500 savings or something because you are not. So you will have to decide if your budget can only afford the $200 for a laptop or tv then wait in line but if not there will be other good sales throughout the season for more expensive items but better features and one you can get reviews on to see if they break easy and things like that.

I respectfully disagree with a lot of this. While there is a lot out there that this 100% applies to, there are still great deals to be had, especially on electronics. We shop with DH's family and we spend the evening of Thanksgiving researching and playing board games. The last two years have been weak but there are often great deals on great products if you are willing to get out and get moving early. Sometimes they are clearing them out for new models in the new year but I would love a 2011 model that has been well reviewed for half the price of the 2012 model. Other times a store may only get 4 of a certain item. That is totally okay with me too, the early bird... Whatever the case may be, I think there are great deals to be had, you just have to hope they are on the things you want!

[jpoole329]

You will find that many items (not big ticket) are on similar sales several days prior to BF. With poor economy most retailers have had to stimulate sales all week long & cannot afford to wait until just Fri/Sat. So if you are daring enough to compare prices & shop multiple days you may find good deals on Sun-Wed too.

[Maggiew]

Yes! It can be worth it!

I do my Kohls shopping online-same prices and no wait.

I make my list of what I need, and then compare it to what is out there. This is the time of year that I find the best deals on sheets (that I like), blankets, and pillows.

Often, there are really good deals on jackets/vests that the kids like to wear.

I will do electronics if it is at a store like Radio shack-they have had great deals on mp3 players before.

However, I will NOT set foot in a Toys'R Us all day. No Target or Walmart before 3 in the afternoon...and even then, probably not.

[RoxieE]

I went out one time and said never again. Most of the things that I have been looking for in the past, nintendo, psp, computers, have been available online Thanksgiving day or Black Friday at either the retailers website or Amazon.

[Mikey's momma]

Originally Posted by RoxieE

I went out one time and said never again. Most of the things that I have been looking for in the past, nintendo, psp, computers, have been available online Thanksgiving day or Black Friday at either the retailers website or Amazon.

Ditto. Walmart stampedes are not for me. I love Black Monday and e-shopping all weekend. Although I do visit my drugstores if there is a cool deal early Friday. Hubby and the kids are all turkeyed out so I am able to sneak out for a few hrs.
To all of you who brave the long waits and crazy crowds: God Bless!

[spatulagirl]

Thanks! I think the only thing that will get me out there Friday morning would be a really awesome deal on an Xbox Kinnect for my kids and husband.

[*Jackie*]

Me and my BFF like doing it, just to spend the entire night with each other. We never go for big ticket items - mostly cheap fillers that you don't see the rest of the season. We will be going to the Mall of America this year, however, because it opens at midnight and has a Best Buy, Macy's, Sears, etc all in it. Well, I guess that depends on the Target ad