Do you really save money on Black friday.

[eliza61]

Maybe it's due to the fact that my kids are older so the items they want are a fixed price (I-pad, Wii's, Iphones) and never really go on sale.

But I've never really seen prices that have been worth doing the bf thing. especially since now, all you have to do is wait until you get closer to Christmas and theres a better than average chance that all the same stuff will go lower.

and the best time to buy tv's is supposedly in January. that's when the prices are the lowest.

So what items have the best deals to make me even think about being at a store at 3 in the morning?

 

[rileysmommy]

My dd is getting a new bike for Christmas and WM will have one on BF for $39. That is a significant savings. I've yet to find one under $90. And my I'm getting Band Hero for my dh which is only $75 on BF. That normally goes for $150. So I'll be saving a decent amount of money to get those things then. Fortunately for me, they both go on sale at midnight so I will get them and be back in my bed by 1:00, I hope. 12:30 would be even better.

 

[bettyann29]

it depends on what you're looking for .. older kids, teenagers, young adults usually go for tvs, computers, clothes, giftcards..

you can usually get good or decent deals on tvs, computers, etc..

When my kids were younger and were into toys, I definitely saved money, but not so much anymore..

 

[eliza61]

it depends on what you're looking for .. older kids, teenagers, young adults usually go for tvs, computers, clothes, giftcards..

you can usually get good or decent deals on tvs, computers, etc..

When my kids were younger and were into toys, I definitely saved money, but not so much anymore..

It's funny because last year we purchased a tv on black friday, a Sony bravo series at best buys, thought it was a great price until the same tv was 50 bucks cheaper the weekend before Christmas. We did go back and get the price adjusted but now I'm thinking the closer I wait until Christmas, the better my deals will be.

So this year, I'm thinking of waiting.

 

[disneychic2]

I got a screaming deal on a laptop for DH last year, but was able to get it online. That's the way I do my BF shopping any more. So, for your older children, if there is something they want and it's on sale for BF, check to see if it's available online. The shipping is usually free. I got cameras and such from Best Buy on Thanksgiving morning and was a happy camper the rest of the day! I am a veteran BF shopper, but it seems the crowds are getting pushier and the deals are not as good, so I'm sort of re-thinking it. The deals can be good, but you have to ask yourself it it's worth it...to you! Good luck!

 

[Colleen27]

I get the best BF deals online these days. I had about 70% of my shopping done without even leaving the house last year. But there are a couple of stores in the mall that seldom run really good sales that have BF offers (like the 20% off everything + normal sales at Disney Store and 40% off everything + normal sales at Tommy Hilfiger), so we do go out.

Over the years it has gotten to be as much tradition as savings-hunt; my kids seldom want the "hot" toys and haven't gotten into electronics beyond the Wii yet, so I'm not in it for the high-demand items that require lining up before stores open. My mom & I still go out early, hit the sales, have lunch, and make a day of it. I pick up movies and sometimes video games (thanks to this board no games on my list this year - I already got both the ones on DS's list for 50+% off ), and take advantage of the percent-off and all-day offers to get clothes, Christmas pjs, and other little gifts at significant discount.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I usually don't find things on BF for actual gifts, but I have gotten good deals on things we need like small appliances (my favorite deal was a cuisinart griddle at the PX a couple years ago) and clothing like jeans at TCP online for 6.99 and Aero hoodies. Like a PP, I get most of my deals online, I don't venture out before dawn to stand in line.

 

[3boymthr]

The deals definitely do vary and there are definitely better deals to be had earlier or later on. And you have to comb the ads to find the best deal on the items you want. But some deals just can't be beat - DH wants an outdoor fire pit - since it's going to see minimal use I'm not going to go high end. Well, there's one on sale for $29 at target on BF the best price I've seen to date is $49 on sale so off I go to Target at 3 AM. I'm also hoping to get a camera that they have on sale for $79 the best price I've seen before now on that same camera has been $109. Yes, that $20 or $30/item is worth it to me when I have a $200/person budget. Plus, many retailers usually offer other incentives when you are there that make it worth while like the $10 GC targets offering when you spend $100 So on the two items I want I'll save $60 And yes, if I hunt around I might get a better deal after BF and if I do, well, I'll just return the items I bought on BF.

 

[jacksmomma]

Black Friday shopping is a tradition for my family. The girls in my family all venture out at various times throughout the day and then we all meet up somewhere for lunch. I would not miss it! I love the crowds and the frenzy!

This year the big thing that I want for Christmas is over 50% off and the camera that we need, since ours died several months ago, is over $100 off with a matching deal of $100 off the lens. The accessory pack is included free. So if I were to only get these 2 gifts I will save about $450. I can get out at midnight for that! Walmart always has deals on kids clothes like $4 jammies and basic everyday things that you usually do not find (because they do not carry them) after Black Friday.

 

[JB2K]

Maybe it's due to the fact that my kids are older so the items they want are a fixed price (I-pad, Wii's, Iphones) and never really go on sale.

You summed it up in one sentence.

The three items you mentioned are subject to price-fixing by their respective manufacturers (in this case, Apple Computer and Nintendo), meaning the price is going to be roughly the same, regardless you buy it at a boutique store in the mall, or Walmart.

Retailers, on the other hand, want to get you in their stores to buy other things. With that said, they may offer a store gift card to "sweeten" the deal.

As for Black Friday in general, yes, you can save big -- really big. The big draws this year are flat panel HDTV sets and Blu-ray players/movies. For the first time ever, many Blu-ray movies are now cheaper than the old-school DVD counterparts. Also, Target is said to be offering some small applicances as low as $3 each (if you're into things that plug-in, but not TVs).

Also, in regards to your Sony TV -- isn't that "Bravia"?

 

[DebMcDonald]

For me this year, it's more of the fun of being out there. Most of my shopping is done and wrapped, my girls are not into any door buster type toys and I feel my time is better spent sometimes paying a little more than standing in line for an hour. My girls and I will wander around the mall and see what deals there are to be had and just have fun. This year we won't be out at 4:00 a.m. more like 8:00 and will probably be home by lunch.

 

[ssawka]

It depends, and as an educated consumer you need to know your prices and what you are looking for. This is especially true with electronics/computer parts. Many stores will advertise these items on BF, and they appear to be a good deal until you look at the online retailers. Many of the sales in the brick-n-mortars wind up either being for older models, or you can get the same deals with the eTailers. For toys, I think you actually do get some good deals.

As for the crowds, it depends on where you live. Living in a Metropolitian area, I have found the BF crowds to be quite managable. This is because for each big box store, there are many locations in the area. Compare this to where my parents live and the story is quite different. In their area, there is one major strip of stores and that is the only location to go for any of the big box stores. This causes huge lines and even bigger traffic jams.

Every year I say I'm not going to do the BF thing, and every year I see one item that I will run out to get. For me it's not a big deal though, because I'll go shopping and then head into work for the day and get home around 3:00 or so. Every year I also say that I'm going to take BF off and never do. It's just too easy of a day to waste vacation time on.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I end up going out and buying a lot of things for myself that I don't really need but I think " what a great deal". I will use them but don't actually need them.An example, Target has 600 thread count sheets, I have 3 pair ranging from 600 to 1000TC, but I am going to go get another set for my bed. So Black Friday costs me money instead of saving me money.
I have a sickness.... I am a shopoholic.

 

[bettymae1121]

In '08 I did really, really well. I was able to get several gifts that would have been out of my budget otherwise, plus a little something for me! Last year was a bust, nothing adverstised was worth getting up for, and from the leaked ads I've seen so far, this year I won't be getting up either.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I end up going out and buying a lot of things for myself that I don't really need but I think " what a great deal". I will use them but don't actually need them.An example, Target has 600 thread count sheets, I have 3 pair ranging from 600 to 1000TC, but I am going to go get another set for my bed. So Black Friday costs me money instead of saving me money.
I have a sickness.... I am a shopoholic.

This is exactly me!

 

[bigmama67]

Two years ago I got my son his DS online on BF. $139 included a game so I thought that was good.

This is the first year I will be braving it in person, but only because we live EXTREMELY CLOSE (as in, under one mile) to a Kohl's and Target. I am onlin looking to get the Potato Head TS set at Kohls and 2 things at Target - Lego Battles for DS and Night At The Museum on DVD. If I get them, great - if not, oh well. I plan to head over at 3 a.m. and should be back in bed by 5 (the stores open at 4). So we'll see!

(I already bought the DS game and Potato Head set before seeing the BF ads so if I get the lower price I'll return the others but if not, so be it!)

I don't expect to be "tempted" by other things as I am done shopping and unemployed, so it should be fine.

Should be interesting...LOL.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Did it once and I will never do it again. Yes, my kids are late teens and early twenties which probably makes a diference, but I am not fighting the crowds to save a dollar or two. It is my day off work and I would rather sit in my house and enjoy the day with family and friends. I can shop anytime. To each their own.

 

[Yoshi]

Other than going online (specifically Amazon), I never found the deals on Black Friday to be that great compared to the deals you can find all year.

An an example earlier this year I bought at Target a Polaroid 19" TV with a DVD player built in for $95.04 (original price $249.99). I see Best Buy has a 15" TV with no DVD player built in for $99.99 on Black Friday.

Same with video games, Toys R Us is advertising some different video games on Black Friday for $14.99 when one of the exact same games has been $6 at Toys R Us for a couple of weeks at least (Uncharted Drake's Fortune, price was just raised a few days ago to $29.99). So anyone buying it on Black Friday would be paying almost 3 times as much as it around 10 days before Black Friday.

I hate crowds, cold weather and long lines so I don't go shopping in stores on Black Friday.

 

[Robinrs]

Last year I got a GPS, TV and a netbook for lower prices than I saw the entire year. My son is 17 so I don't look for toys either, and haven't for YEARS, but will be out there one more time this weekend.

 

[hopemax]

Most of what I buy on and around Black Friday is scrapbooking stuff. On that, you definitely save money. At least initially, the prices are so good you end up buying more than you went out for. Cricut cartridges this year are $28 at JoAnn's. Regular price is either $70 or $90. Sales during the year are usually $35 or $40. Online, you can get cheap prices on Ebay, but it can be a hassle. There is one online store with better prices, but since Memorial Day they have had security issues somewhere along the CC processing chain, so I have been avoiding them. Other online stores may have an individual cartridge cheaper than the $28, but it is more convenient to go to one store and get the 4 you want, instead of ordering from 4 online stores, may have to pay shipping, which leads you to spending more to reach the "free shipping" threshold. There are some other items that with the BF deals come to more than 50% off, while during the year they top out at the 50% off if you use a coupon, so you have to make multiple trips because you can only use one coupon per transaction.

My other items I am hunting for, this year, are the Western Digital 2TB external HD Target will have for $69, a digital photo frame for my Grandma for $29. I've never seen them that cheap. And some DVD and Wii game deals. Although, with those I try to get them online for cheaper. I already picked up Toy Story Mania and the Harry Potter Lego game for cheaper than BF prices.