Black Friday Buddies 2011 Unite!

[hmdavid]

Target will also be opening at midnight on Black Friday this year!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

The last two years I have done my shopping online for BF. Usually buying on Thanksgiving morning as soon as I can. I do miss getting out into the shopping fray, but with free shipping for the most part, it's hard to leave family to brave the elements when I can just click away in my jammies and get the same result. This should work well for your TV since so many people will be going for those.

Call me crazy, but I do love just getting out and being a part of the whole BF vibe. I love seeing all the holiday sweatshirts and enjoying (for the most part) the friendliness and comradery of the people. I would suggest when you sit down on Thanksgiving with your list, go online and see what can be purchased that way. If you still need or want to go out on BF at least you'll have options.

It's getting close!

Thanks! We are going to be out of town, and I'm not sure I want to go not being familiar with the area and such. I'm scared I will waste more time and get frustrarted than anything KWIM

 

[disneymom3]

Got the Target holiday flyer in the mail today. I have to say I am not all that excited.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Target will also be opening at midnight on Black Friday this year!

And to think just 2 years ago they were the last store to open at 6 a.m.

 

[MissDisney121]

oh that sucks about Target. I loved getting up at 3am last year to go to Target for their 4am opening then heading to the mall.

 

[plutospup]

Hopefully, WalMart will open at midnight, too! That way I can get my BF shopping done early enough to get home and let the neighbor's dog out (they'll be away), and I can get to work by 7 a.m.

 

[Patience]

I saw it on a black friday site. So $79.99 is just their price. That is the best price I have seen. Everywhere else it is $99.99. Toys r Us has it for $100 in their big toy book and it comes with a game and I think $20 worth of apps. Which basically is another game or a book. Hmm.. Now I need to decide do I get it now with either one of these deals or hold out for BF and hope I snag one cheaper. Decisions, decisions....

I bought this LeapPad bundle today from TRU but I didn't buy any additional games to go with it. The bundle comes with a Mr. Pencil game and a gift card to purchase apps. I didn't purchase any other games but am hoping to find some on good discount for BF (the games are 25% off right now but my TRU didn't have much selection).

Edited to add that the TRU LeapPad bundle only comes in green.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I admire you folks but... I don't need anything bad enough to get there at midnight. So .... Macy's, Target, WalMart... my funds will go to stores who don't play this game!

 

[elgerber]

I amost wish everyone opened at Midnight, I'd rather stay awake, shop for a few hours and then go home and go to bed, instead of getting up so darn early.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I amost wish everyone opened at Midnight, I'd rather stay awake, shop for a few hours and then go home and go to bed, instead of getting up so darn early.

I agree. I hate that a few are opening at Midnight, it screws up the whole night/day. Make it all or nothing!

 

[libinatorsmom]

This is going to be my 1st major black friday even in a LONG time... I am so doing it! Even bought the BFads Tee shirts for my daughter and I! I am hoping to get some deals on some hard to buy for people! Like my brothers! Last year Bass Pro had fleeces for like 10 and I would love to get them for my brothers!!! And see what else I can find! Monies are tight this year and I need to make wise choices

 

[asmit4]

I amost wish everyone opened at Midnight, I'd rather stay awake, shop for a few hours and then go home and go to bed, instead of getting up so darn early.

With the midnight openings I should be in bed by 5am I'll hit Target and walmart (both midnight I think) and then hit JCP at 3am (I think that's what it was last year), Old navy too.

I like the midnight openings!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Now Kohl's announced they'll be opening at Midnight and will stay open for 24 hours. Unlike Target which closes for a whole one hour.


I feel bad for the employees that weekend!!

 

[Promomx2]

I like the midight openings also. Eat, football w/nap, wake-up, grab a piece of pie the off to shop.

 

[asmit4]

I worked in retail for several years and in all honesty- it's not THAT bad. I liked it! I worked more hours that week than any other week of the year, I got paid time and a half for hours over 40, and my company at the time was nice enough to pay time and a half for certain days/times that were 'crappy' (Limited corporation- as in the Limited clothing stores)....I think I got time and a half for like 1am til 4am and then regular time for the rest of the day.

To prepare for the holidays we used to have what we called 'floor set days' where staff would report at 10pm and work til 5am right before Thanksgiving. We'd also get paid time and a half for those hours regardless of whether we hit 40 or not. The store wasn't open during those times so we'd show up in tennis shoes, sweat shirts and track pants, put on some great tunes and set up all night. It was a lot of fun opening up the new holiday stuff, dressing the mannequins etc. I think it helped that my store and our store manager rocked. We were all friends.

The staff knew months in advance that this was our busy season and we were mentally prepared. It wasn't a big shock to open at 4am and have a 1am start time to get the store ready. We'd show up, bring food for the group (sorta potluck it), drink lots of coffee and caffeinated soda and really get into it. The place was so busy the time FLEW by. Way better than sitting on a shift in February when nobody is shopping.

 

[asmit4]

I like the midight openings also. Eat, football w/nap, wake-up, grab a piece of pie the off to shop.

Sounds EXACTLY like what I did last year! I fell asleep on my MILs comfy couch, woke up, had dessert and went shopping! HAHAHAHA!!!

 

[Disfamily0405]

I have to agree with asmit4, my husband who works for Target was actually excited when he heard about the store opening at midnight and was the first to volunteer for the shift. he says it is fun to watch all the commotion and on top of that he will have to clock in at 11:30pm for the shift which means he will get holiday pay for the entire shift! and he will be off work at 10 am which means he will still get to enjoy the time with family and friends.

 

[diznee25]

I think I'll do what other posters have mentioned; do most of my shopping on Thanksgiving Day online, and then go out for Black Friday around 6am. (Whenever the mall opens!)

Maybe we just hit the stores at decent times....last year on BF we hit Best Buy at 4am, and that was really crowded. We then hit Target and Home Depot by 7am and 8am respectively, and it wasn't too bad. But we hit the mall around lunch time, and OMG....it was a nightmare! We had to park across the street and walk to the mall..

BF kind of reminds of WDW....hit Magic Kingdom in the morning and leave by lunch before the crowds come! Because that's how BF was for us last year.

diznee25

 

[SDSorority]

Do you guys think that with the stores opening at midnight that the early morning crowds (like 5am) will be less?? Or more??

 

[EllenFrasier]

I amost wish everyone opened at Midnight, I'd rather stay awake, shop for a few hours and then go home and go to bed, instead of getting up so darn early.

I totally agree! I was just saying that to my sister. I can never go to sleep early on Thanksgiving night. For one thing, I'm full and all wound up from doing all the cooking. Then there's the ads from the newspaper to go through even though I've seen most of the deals on-line beforehand. Going over lists of what to get whom and where. I'd rather just take off at 11:30pm and get in the store at midnight and get it done in a couple hours, go home and sleep until 9 or so and then start off in the mall to experience the hub-bub of black Friday. Come-on all stores get on board...