Anyone Brave the Shopping Crowds this morning?

[vascubaguy]

We did!

4:30AM and we were in Walmart waiting for the 5AM "blitz" announcement for the madness to begin... Not sure why! We didn't have a game plan or even have that much of an idea of what was even on sale. We just went to have something to do.... one hour and $360 later, we are on our way to Target for the 6AM opening... again, having no idea what was on sale!

We ended up getting quite a few deals and knocked out a few people on the shopping list. We also ended up buying ourselves lots of stuff. Who could pass up 600 thread count sheet sets for only $39! Digital Cameras for $88! 1GB camera memory for $13! iPod Docking stations for $28! iDogs for $10! Good DVDs for $1-6... Star Wars Episode IV-VI DVDs for $10 each...

Some people were going overly crazy though with some people pushing one completely full buggy and pulling another fully loaded buggy! Some loaded with multiple flat panel LCD TVs (the junky cheap ones that target had for $179).

Now we just have to figure out who is left to buy for, but next year... we definately need to have a game plan! We could have hit quite a few stores this morning! We were on a role!

If you went out, I hope you had a productive shopping experience!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

What a mad house!

I too, was @ Walmart @ 5:10 this morning to meet my DDIL (a truly world-class shopper). The entire parking lot was full, every shopping cart was in use, and I never did catch up with her. I too saw folks wheelin' around multiple fully loaded carts and all I could think was OMIGOSH!!!! HOW MUCH SHLOCKY STUFF DOES ANY ONE PERSON NEED?!?! (I actually observed a little altercation over the Ten Buck Easy-bake ovens.) All I ended up getting was a stick vacuum for my mom -- I was just so overwhelmed by the crowds. DDIL called me about 7:30 -- half PO'd thinking I had stayed home lolling around in my jammies, eating leftover pumpkin pie. I related my saga and she agreed that if shopping were ever deemed a "Survivor" challenge, I'd be off the island in one week.

 

[vascubaguy]

What a mad house!

I too, was @ Walmart @ 5:10 this morning to meet my DDIL (a truly world-class shopper). The entire parking lot was full, every shopping cart was in use, and I never did catch up with her. I too saw folks wheelin' around multiple fully loaded carts and all I could think was OMIGOSH!!!! HOW MUCH SHLOCKY STUFF DOES ANY ONE PERSON NEED?!?! (I actually observed a little altercation over the Ten Buck Easy-bake ovens.) All I ended up getting was a stick vacuum for my mom -- I was just so overwhelmed by the crowds. DDIL called me about 7:30 -- half PO'd thinking I had stayed home lolling around in my jammies, eating leftover pumpkin pie. I related my saga and she agreed that if shopping were ever deemed a "Survivor" challenge, I'd be off the island in one week.

oooo, I saw the stick vacs... $12! There were 3 sales associates standing around the palette of those things but no one was buying them.... now the easy-bake ovens, I saw people stretching and grabbing for those like crazy. I know one person had to have had 5 of them in their cart. the entire palette they put out was gone in minutes. Same with the "Walmart Exclusive" cabbage patch babies (we got 1 of those for DPs niece).

We actually went back out this evening for some more shopping when DP got off work. We went to a place called Peebles (I'd never been in there before) and was able to get some good deals on a few things for more of the family. Just a few more things to go and we're done. Now I just have to wrap all this stuff. Right now it's all piled up on the dining room table!

 

[Tinkerboy00]

I had to work. But I went in for the late shift at 1pm. and our store was not that busy. Thank god. But we dont do any prizes/sales etc. So there was no incentive to get people to come shop.

Lucky me.

 

[buckylarue]

We hit Kohl's first thing; got some jeans, shoes and underwear for our Disney trip, and flannel sheets for the bed. Then off to Besy Buy for computer memory, cameray memory, and the DVD of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Then to Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet to redeem the $15 off on a $75 order; stocked up on canned and dry food, treats and toys for our cats. Then hit a diner for breakfast, than home for a nap!

 

[rcostello1]

OK wimps that show up at 430...amateurs...

My sister and I headed to the outlets and arrived about 1130. PM that is (Thanksgiving). They opened about 1145 and the whole place (outdoor type outlet mall) opened at midnight. I dont think there was any parking by about 1201am.

Seemed every store required a trip to the car...Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Williams Sonoma. Coach must have been giving away cash...it was an hour wait to get inside the store before you could even shop (then wait to pay). Williams Sonoma was, well I didn't time it but the line wrapped around the entire LARGE store. They had 40% off all cookware which was a steal. Too bad I didn't need more. Got a $130 24QT stock pot for $30. I was quite happy. Now I can make my own chicken stock.

Finished the outlets by 4am or so and got some coffee, then drove a few feet to Kohls and was there for store opening. Anyone need a 7" portable DVD player for $50? I got one "just in case" but don't have a need so it's going back. Got two of the digital photo frames which will make good parental gifts. The line in Kohls was wild, one on each side of the store which was just shy of meeting in the middle on the back of the store.

When you start at midnight you just don't feel so rushed by 6am... Stopped by Target, Wal*Mart, Sam's, JCP, and by then it was 9am or so and time for bed. Now I can't get into my regular sleep schedule. I will go to bed momentarily and then not be up until noon or so. That won't work for Monday!

I've decided it's better to shop at night in an outdoor mall. I can't see all the (crazy) people who normally agitate me so it was a pleasant experience...

 

[vascubaguy]

OK wimps that show up at 430...amateurs...

My sister and I headed to the outlets and arrived about 1130. PM that is (Thanksgiving). They opened about 1145 and the whole place (outdoor type outlet mall) opened at midnight. I dont think there was any parking by about 1201am.

Seemed every store required a trip to the car...Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Williams Sonoma. Coach must have been giving away cash...it was an hour wait to get inside the store before you could even shop (then wait to pay). Williams Sonoma was, well I didn't time it but the line wrapped around the entire LARGE store. They had 40% off all cookware which was a steal. Too bad I didn't need more. Got a $130 24QT stock pot for $30. I was quite happy. Now I can make my own chicken stock.

Finished the outlets by 4am or so and got some coffee, then drove a few feet to Kohls and was there for store opening. Anyone need a 7" portable DVD player for $50? I got one "just in case" but don't have a need so it's going back. Got two of the digital photo frames which will make good parental gifts. The line in Kohls was wild, one on each side of the store which was just shy of meeting in the middle on the back of the store.

When you start at midnight you just don't feel so rushed by 6am... Stopped by Target, Wal*Mart, Sam's, JCP, and by then it was 9am or so and time for bed. Now I can't get into my regular sleep schedule. I will go to bed momentarily and then not be up until noon or so. That won't work for Monday!

I've decided it's better to shop at night in an outdoor mall. I can't see all the (crazy) people who normally agitate me so it was a pleasant experience...

I heard about the Outlet Malls up in Williamsburg and glad I wasn't in all that. Some friends had tried to get up there but they said not only was the parking lot full, but the roads were backed up with people trying to get in and out of there!

I might brave the Outlet Malls one year, but I know I'll end up buying tons of stuff for myself..... then I'll still be left with having to Christmas shop for everyone else! But, I'm sure it'll be fun going bankrupt like that.

 

[rcostello1]

I think I ended up with one Christmas gift. The rest was stuff we "needed." I will do some more gift shopping in WDW next week. Wish the NM Last Call would hurry up and open there. I have no gifts this year...and what I do have I can't remember who gets what. Oh well!

 

[Tony-NJ]

We did!

We also ended up buying ourselves lots of stuff. Who could pass up 600 thread count sheet sets for only $39!

OK I almost went out just for these!!!! May I ask how they are?? I love high thread count sheets and saw these and thought - unbelievable price...???

 

[vascubaguy]

We did!

We also ended up buying ourselves lots of stuff. Who could pass up 600 thread count sheet sets for only $39!

OK I almost went out just for these!!!! May I ask how they are?? I love high thread count sheets and saw these and thought - unbelievable price...???

They are nice! Not quite as nice as the 1000 count ones at Restoration Hardware, but then again, they aren't $300 either. I really like the fact that they have much deeper pockets (up to 20" deep) so they fit my pillowtop perfectly! I actually bought 2 sets of them.

 

[Tony-NJ]

oh - well I wouldn't pay that much from Resto either - Though I'ma vendor of theirs.. I'm headed out there ina couple of weeks - maybe I'll see if I can use their discount LOL...

Thanks for letting me know about the 600's... I'm all for high threads.. Have you ever tried The Linensource? A bit pricey but good.

 

[ChrizJen]

I know I'm a little late responding, but I camped out and got a great deal!!

We (My sister-in-law, my partner Jen, and myself) decided that we were going to try to get the laptops at Best Buy for $250.00.
We hit the first store, and there were about 35 people already on line! (and each store was supposed to be getting a minimum of 18, so chances were good that we wouldn't get one.) So we went to a second Best Buy, and it was just the same.
So SIL is driving, Jen gets on the cell phone with my brother, and he's looking online for other options. He tells us to hit one other store. While we're on our way to the last Best Buy store, he points out that there is a similar deal at Office Depot. They have the same Toshiba Satellite w/built-in WiFi, a bit larger hard drive for $50.00 more (so $300.00). The only catch is that you had to pay $500.00 up front with a $200.00 mail-in-rebate. (And then the other catch is that they were getting a minumim of 3 per store... )

So as we're taking the exit for the Best Buy, we see a sign for Office Depot...So we pulled in, and low and behold, there was only one guy waiting in a sleeping bag!! So my DP and DSIL BOOTED me out of the car and told me I should wait there while they scoped out the last Best Buy...

So I get out, get in line with sleeping bag guy, and find out that he's waiting for a plasma TV, not the laptop!

So SIL and Jen get back like seconds before a big group of teenagers get in line, 3 of whom want laptops...
So there's Plasma TV/Sleeping Bag Guy, Me, Jen, SIL, and the 3 guys who wanted laptops...
And we all camped out all night. Of course by the time the store employees got there, about 65 people had joined the line.

They gave line tickets at 5:30, and there was a total of 6 laptops. So long story short, all of us who waited all night got laptops!

 

[Tony-NJ]

the things we do for a good deal huh!