Black Friday Frustration?

[Friendly Frog]

Anyone else already frustrated with Black Friday sales?

I know I am not in a good mood. Lots of personal things going on, including sick dogs, but I am getting frustrated and I am starting to think that I should just walk away from the Black Friday ads.

I chased the 179.00 notebook at Target all over town. I would check availability online and the store would show the item as available. I would call the store and they would confirm that they had some, then by the time I could drive there, they would be sold out.

(I did the same thing with another item too.)

I found an even better netbook on Newegg, but missed it as well, and I can't afford the full price right now. ( I have spent over 1,000.00 on vet bills in the last two months.)

Now I am hearing the quantities for most of the electronic items for the door buster sales are very limited this year. (like 2-3 items per store) and for some reason it just turns me off of shopping at all.

My tv is trying to go out, but I don't think I want to get my hopes up on the Target ones. Somehow I bet 200 people will be in line for two tv's.

 

[Darcy03231]

Last year there were lots of TVs at most of the stores. I know the Target 40" for $299 is in limited quantities so if that's the one you want, get there early. One of my foster children works there and her store has 5 of them.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I also have had to put out a 1000.00 for my dog. But I would rather know they have good health over my shopping. So I will do with out certain things.
S0 you are not alone. But I am going to get insurance for them at least I will get reimbursed 90 percent. That will sure help. Happy Thanksgiving. Jo

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wonder if last years sales have something to do with it. I was very surprised to see many unclaimed tv's at walmart last year. The store was swamped with people. But it seemed folks were going for lower ticket items.

I try not to get my heart set on stuff. I go with a plan and just do what I can. I haven't been disappointed yet. And I have had a number of times where my item was sold out.

 

[mikehn]

I think of black friday shopping as a sport, you win some, you lose some, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat

 

[EKW]

Looking at the ads this year, some deals are as good as last year, most are not as good, and none I've seen are better.

I learned years ago that those electronic sales are NOT worth it. First, I wasn't able to get any details about them before standing in line. Second, the items were VERY limited and the lines were VERY long...not worth 5 or 6 hours of my time to maybe or maybe not want something after finally being able to see it.

I haven't decided if I'll brave the stores this year or not. I need a new artificial tree and may end up going to get the one Kmart has on sale. That and the video games at WalMart are all that have tempted me this year!

 

[musclemouse]

I apparently am not very good at this sport. I get defeated every year. Maybe because I am not insane to stand in line at midnight till opening for an item that I'm not going to get anyway. I'm focusing on my Disney trip! NOT Christmas presents.

I think of black friday shopping as a sport, you win some, you lose some, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat

 

[KNEIPPK]

I think of black friday shopping as a sport, you win some, you lose some, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat

i go for the thrill and people watching is fun- i have met the nicest people in line

 

[delmar411]

i go for the thrill and people watching is fun- i have met the nicest people in line

Same here.

I like the chase. 'Winning' is great but the chase is just as fun.

 

[C.Ann]

Stores are notorious for doing this - and have been for years..

I stopped the Black Friday madness many, many years ago - when my kids were just little.. I always found that as it got closer to Christmas the sales were just as good - if not better - and the "hot" items had been restocked..

Now that I'm dealing with adults (and a 12 yr. old DGD), no one was wanting anything that might "run out", so I've been doing my shopping online..

Got good prices on everything I wanted (stayed well under budget) and placed the last 2 orders earlier today.. I am now officially done with my Christmas shopping!! Yay!!

Soon it will be time to start thinking about baking Christmas cookies.. Yum!

 

[allyphoe]

Yeah, the newegg thing frustrated me, too. It took 2 of us on separate computers 10 minutes to find the sale netbook, even knowing its approximate specs, and by then they were gone. I don't even bother going to the stores - back when Wiis were hard to find, I went to Walmart at midnight on the day they were supposed to be in the circular, but didn't know which spot in Electronics I needed to stand, and all 5 were gone as soon as the stocker brought the cart out.

I've been hanging out on Slickdeals this morning, and ended up with a nicer laptop for less than my original netbook budget, and counted myself lucky. They have direct links to the sale items, and quick enough discussions that I can tell if it's a good deal without having to do too much last-minute research.

 

[dclfun]

I've only participated in Black Friday sales once, and that was enough! Now I shop on Cyber Monday or wait for other sales. I'd much rather research and shop online- this way I can ship things directly to the recipients in other states, usually with free shipping. My time and energy are more important than the "chase"- where there is no guarantee of winning a coveted sale item---Kathy

 

[C.Ann]

My time and energy are more important than the "chase"- where there is no guarantee of winning a coveted sale item---Kathy

I also find I spend much, much less money on the holidays by staying out of the stores.. I'm not tempted by the cutesy "Oh, look - it's only XXX" items and in the cart it goes.. LOL..

 

[n2mm]

No black friday for me. There's nothing I want or need (now that's sad). I find it's easier to find deals online. OP, did you try Sears? I have pretty good luck with them online and picking up later.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I think of black friday as a hunt. Looking at the ads this year, there really isn't anything that I absolutely must have. I'm going to Staples at 6ish to see if I can get a printer and then hitting Target. I did the getting up at 3am thing and it just wasn't worth it. Besides I have a spa day tomorrow starting at 10am.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

i go for the thrill and people watching is fun- i have met the nicest people in line

I agree ... I have met the nicest people. And sometimes I get what I want ... and sometimes I don't.

And, I love this quote:

I think of black friday shopping as a sport, you win some, you lose some, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat

My husband just said ... see honey, you do have a sport!

 

[mjantz]

The only thing that annoys me about Black Friday is that I spend Thanksgiving at my in-laws & they live in the middle of nowhere. To get to a large number of stores other than WalMart & such you have to drive 2 hours. I've not been able to take advantage of anything for several years.

 

[budbeerlady]

No black friday for me. There's nothing I want or need (now that's sad). I find it's easier to find deals online. OP, did you try Sears? I have pretty good luck with them online and picking up later.

I have nothing that I am on the hunt for either. I have picked up a couple of cheap Amazon Dvds this week but that is it. Kinda odd for me!

 

[bettyann29]

I can understand the frustration.. I decided not to go out this year and actually I am glad I didnt go.. Ive already done most of my shopping prior to yesterday and decided it just isnt worth all the hassle.. I think I may not go out anymore on BF.. but we'll see.. But with me I think half the fun is all that adrenaline pumping on that day..

Me and DH leave for WDW next Sunday and I decided that Id rather save my money to get something I might want there, rather than buying something on BF that I really dont need..

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't remember being in the stores on Black Friday other than way back in high school when I had a job in one (Macy's).

Since Thanksgiving has been a late night affair with relatives, I have never gotten up and stood outside a store early on Black Friday.

So long as there are only selected items in limited quantities "on sale", Black Friday is more a gimmick than anything else.

Now there have been ordinary times recently when a store was out of stock of something and they called another store and had that item set aside for me. Then I drove over and got it. If the store won't extend that set aside courtesy on Black Friday, then another vote for gimmick.

At one time I suggested to a city planning board (public hearing) that a store wishing to build on a site be required to honor any sale price for a minimum period of X days, giving rain checks and comparable discounts off of similar items if needed, in order to minimize traffic congestion near that site. (Due to other arguments, the store was denied their requested rezoning.)

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm