Black Friday.. Do you buy the hype?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

http://www.cracked.com/article_19572_5-black-friday-myths-media-wants-you-to-believe.html?wa_user1=4&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=companion

Don C.

[Mikey]

I heard my local K-mart only has 2 copies of the items on sale just to get people in the door... example $98.00 for a no-name 32 inch flat screen TV.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Well, we don't buy into the hype, but my wife and I like to have a grandparent watch the kids and we get a little bit of time to go out late together. She is a banquet planner so she has always worked on most holidays. Traditionally for us...kids.go to bed and off we go. We actually started out around 10 pm and the crowds and lines were very week. easy to get in and out. We never look for any doorbusters and for the most part we drive around and look for lines or crowds like.others look for light decorations.

[Hector]

I got a great deal on Alpha Damp car sound deadener insulation on its website for 50% today (never seen it this cheap)...it was advertised as Black Friday sale...so I guess I'm part of it now, lol.

[Rallygirl]

I went with my sister once about ten years ago. She and her husband had just moved into a new house and wanted a new tv, stereo, etc. After that one experience, I cannot image needing anything so bad that I would ever do it again.

[jimsmegos]

Hopefully we'll have our new head coach by Sunday or early next week.

May make for a better 2013 Thanksgiving

[Gorn Captain]

When they offer special deals here, there's usually something wrong with it.
I stay away from "great deals" and find my own during the year...

[Duncan]

...and I didn't go out. I did a fair amount of shopping on-line yesterday & today, but saw nothing in stores' ads compelling enough to make me want to miss sleep and/or fight the crowds. A few on-line deals that were worth my time:

- calendars.com: free shipping & sale
- amazon.com: DVDs, Blu Ray & X-box 360 games cheap & with free shipping
- bestbuy.com: same as Amazon

And if I were going to venture out to a store, Meijer has Hanes underwear packs for buy one, get one for $1.

[wayne foundation 07]

Meijer is a great store, always worth the stop!

[MIB41]

I went out to Walmart last night and got my wife an IPad 2 at regular price and got a $75.00 gift card. That's what my wife wanted anyway. And if they're willing to give me $75.00 to buy it, I'll take it. I didn't wait long either. About 40 minutes in line and another 20 checking out. The best experience I've ever had getting a good deal on something. I look at it like this. I was going to spend that money anyway because Apple products are pretty much one price. So why not get something for doing it? I didn't sacrifice any serious wait time to get it, so the fuss was minimal.

[Duncan]

I went out to Walmart last night and got my wife an IPad 2 at regular price and got a $75.00 gift card. That's what my wife wanted anyway. And if they're willing to give me $75.00 to buy it, I'll take it. I didn't wait long either. About 40 minutes in line and another 20 checking out. The best experience I've ever had getting a good deal on something. I look at it like this. I was going to spend that money anyway because Apple products are pretty much one price. So why not get something for doing it? I didn't sacrifice any serious wait time to get it, so the fuss was minimal.

So - $75 for an hour of your time, which equates to a $150K a year job...nice work if you can get it.

[FETT1]

Nope...i live in canada ....

[megocrazy]

So, after watching the Pats man handle the Jets we went out to brave the fairly mild November night to our local shopping plaza. Got to the local Walmart 10 minutes before the doors opened and was shopping by 10 mins past. Easiest entrance I've ever had in all my years. Here was the haul and estimated savings.

2 - 50" Emerson LCD TV's $298 ea. Saved about $250 ea. ($500 total)
1 - 32" Emerson LCD TV $148. Saved about $100
2 - Sony 3D/WiFi/BluRay players $100 ea. Saved $50 ea. ($100)
2 - Samsung 7" Galaxy S tablets. $179 plus a $20 Gift Card. Saved $70 each plus got $40 to spend later ($220)
about 20 assorted DVD sets/seasons/BluRay. Saved about $200 off retail.
Combo Digital Fireplace/Heater and TV stand. $250. Saved $100 off retail.
Couple of restaurant gift card deals that got me some easy gifts and netted me at least 3 free meals with the bonus cards.

Got there at 1:00am and was home in bed by 8am. 7 hours and saved about $1200 off retail. Plus some free meals with the wife in the new year.

Got all my major family gifts done and a couple small stocking stuffers with the DVD's. Not even December and I'm pretty much just picking up Gift Cards and tid bits. As Hannibal used to say, "I love it when a plan comes together."

So how did anyone else do that braved the crowds on the dreaded Black Friday?

[MIB41]

I got the majority of my big items picked up last night and without the usual problems. That gave me the opportunity to string lights today and relax and enjoy the holiday instead of cursing the crowds. I didn't have to see one store today and I was quite pleased by that. For once, I got to enjoy my day after Thanksgiving AND was rested as well. If this becomes the norm, I will take it.

[cjefferys]

One video game my son wants for Christmas (Little Big Planet Karting) just came out a few weeks ago and I was fully expecting to pay the $60 retail for it, as it's new. Today I found it on Amazon for $25, less than half the price I was getting ready to pay for it. These Black Friday sales do come in handy!