I'm working on a couple stories about Black Friday and I was wondering a few things: Any of you guys get out in the early morning to do Black Friday? Do you coordinate your efforts with others? Where are you going this year if you go? What are the best places and the best items to buy in Houston? Do you think online has eclipsed going to the stores? Feel free to post here or email me at jbalke@tworoadsmedia.com. If anyone is willing to be quoted, even better!
This is my first year attempting it. I will be going with three other people. We plan on hitting Walmart first and then some other stores where sales start later. 1. We plan on leaving or getting to Walmart at about 10 PM Thanksgiving night and staying out all night into the next morning. 2. As stated, I am coordinating my efforts with three other people. 3. Walmart first then other stores later. 4. N/A (Not in the Houston area) 5. I don't think online has eclipsed in person but I could be wrong. It seems in person gets crazier and crazier every year and if online actually eclipsed it I would figure that would go down.
i've done it where I coordiate with others at different stores so we all get the good deals and stuff we want... and i've done it by myself...of course, coordinating is best, but if you get there early, say 2- 3 am you'll get some stuff, just maybe not the doorbusters... If I go this year, it'll be sears because they pricematch...then best buy...
I don't go anywhere, but my wife does. She goes with a couple of friends. They get together usually by phone on Thursday night to plan times and where they are going. I think this year they are planning on leaving at 5:00. I know they will be going to several clothing stores, the mall and some electronic stores. Personally I do most of my shopping online, although I don't really do a whole lot of shopping either.
For those of you that do the Black Friday thing, do you do it for the experience, or are you really that cheap?
I can't imagine a worst way to spend Thanksgiving evening/night than sleeping in a parking lot to save $50. After my Thanksgiving grocery shopping Wednesday evening I vow not to step foot in a retail establishment the rest of the week/weekend.
Number 3 on this list pretty much explains it: http://www.cracked.com/article_18805_5-ways-stores-use-science-to-trick-you-into-buying-crap.html
Don't need to camp all night when most stores open at 5 am now. If it's any indication from previous years, people will start lining up Thursday afternoon. The deals have been getting weaker by the year. Most of the stuff on sale is old inventory they want to clear out before they go on the clearance rack. There are some decent deals...like new games for $30-$40, but everything else I've seen isn't even worth it.
People still go to stores to shop? Why deal with the crowds and parking when most items are available for less on the internet? Especially if you aren't going to buy from a local business.
Amazon's Lightning Deals last year (or was it 2 years ago?) made going to the stores for shopping near pointless. They seemed to match every store's Black Friday Deals. You had to be quick, but you could get great deals from online shopping. To me, that changed it a bit.
They have been going on for the past month since November started. I've seen a lot of HDTV deals as well as computer deals from Amazon. Of course, the bulk of the deals will come this week starting Thursday.
I'll probably hit the stores, but mainly cause i'll have been cooped up all day on Thursday and will be stir crazy.
Agreed Amazon really changed it...Plus they offer free shipping. And you could probably get in on free Prime trial somewhere.
