Is it even worth it to go shopping the morning of Black Friday?!

[Vacation Lover]

Who else hates the way the best deals are offered at midnight?! I can't imagine going shopping at midnight after spending the day hosting Thanksgiving. But I love to get up early and find a few deals. Is it even worth it...almost all of the good deals start at midnight. Chances are, they'll be gone by 5:00 the next morning.

 

[kydisneyfans]

What happens around here is the college students that don't go home for Thanksgiving set up camp at Best Buy and others for the great items, then resell them on Ebay/Craigslist at twice the price.

We have some items in the ads we want to get, but are not heading out to shop until 5:00-6:00 AM. Hopefully the rush is gone.

We have no plans on going anywhere at midnight, it's ridiculous.

 

[QVCshopper]

I hosted last year and went out at midnight for the outlets, Disney Store, and Walmart. To me, midnight is much more convenient then getting up at 4am. I think we got home around 5, so we were up all night. I have a crazy work schedule, though, and am quite used to those hours.

This year, I'll just go to Target at midnight and then go home. I prefer that time; I think getting up in the middle of the night is far worse. I do feel for the workers and their Thanksgiving, but I worked day shifts on Xmas at 7-11 in college for multiple years, so you do what you have to do to make money, holidays or not.

 

[luvmy3]

What happens around here is the college students that don't go home for Thanksgiving set up camp at Best Buy and others for the great items, then resell them on Ebay/Craigslist at twice the price.

We have some items in the ads we want to get, but are not heading out to shop until 5:00-6:00 AM. Hopefully the rush is gone.

We have no plans on going anywhere at midnight, it's ridiculous.

I'm the opposite, I would much rather go out at Midnight than get up real early to go out. There isn't anything that I need to get, but there are a few things I could go out for. Maybe if dd feels up to it we will go out and start an annual tradition.

 

[LSchrow]

imho, the only real deals are the electronics, but most of them you will need to set up camp on thanksgiving to get (personally, i just can't do it - i would rather pay a bit more to save my sanity).
fyi, many, MANY stores' "deals" are available at least a few days prior to t-day...i have worked in retail for quite a few years, and while many stores might (or might not) have a rediculously price on limited quantities of 1 or 2 loss leaders for the first few hours of opening, you can get the vast majority of BF deals the few days prior.
of course, everyone is different

 

[livndisney]

Who else hates the way the best deals are offered at midnight?! I can't imagine going shopping at midnight after spending the day hosting Thanksgiving. But I love to get up early and find a few deals. Is it even worth it...almost all of the good deals start at midnight. Chances are, they'll be gone by 5:00 the next morning.

I agree! For years part of our tradition was the guys watched football on Thanksgiving (after the meal) and the women mapped out BF shopping. We spent time with family (both days) and had a alot of fun doing. I won't leave my family just to go shopping on Thanksgiving.

I don't buy the "people have to make money" line either. Shame on these stores having their workers have to leave family to go to work just so they can get their store open a few hours early. As a rule our family doesn't shop stores that open on Thanksgiving and I would expect that practice to continue this year. There is nothing in that store at midnight that is worth a mom/dad having to leave family on Thanksgiving.

 

[janabananas]

imho, the only real deals are the electronics, but most of them you will need to set up camp on thanksgiving to get (personally, i just can't do it - i would rather pay a bit more to save my sanity).

fyi, many, MANY stores' "deals" are available at least a few days prior to t-day...i have worked in retail for quite a few years, and while many stores might (or might not) have a rediculously price on limited quantities of 1 or 2 loss leaders for the first few hours of opening, you can get the vast majority of BF deals the few days prior.
of course, everyone is different

The bolded is the reason I don't do any BF shopping.... My sanity is worth more than the extra monay I would save.

Besides, I have to be at work at 6am on BF so there is no way in heck I could do it.....

 

[mom2t]

imho, the only real deals are the electronics, but most of them you will need to set up camp on thanksgiving to get (personally, i just can't do it - i would rather pay a bit more to save my sanity).
fyi, many, MANY stores' "deals" are available at least a few days prior to t-day...i have worked in retail for quite a few years, and while many stores might (or might not) have a rediculously price on limited quantities of 1 or 2 loss leaders for the first few hours of opening, you can get the vast majority of BF deals the few days prior.
of course, everyone is different

I do not work retail but have done most of my shopping on Wednesday before BF. Last year I hit the TH store on Wed. and went back to pick up 2 more items on BF. I only saved an extra 50 cents per item. The key I guess is to watch the adds in Nov. and it depends on what you want.

 

[mpls_mm]

DH makes it his mission so I can stay with the babies, and that's fine by me. He is organized and gets his lists ready, now he meets up with some other DH's and they divide and conquer. He doesn't get elbowed or pushed out of the way nearly as much as I would and he has a reach on him! We looked at all the BF ads at Slickdeals, and there didn't seem to be too much to get excited about, but it's his tradition now.

 

[delmar411]

DH makes it his mission so I can stay with the babies, and that's fine by me. He is organized and gets his lists ready, now he meets up with some other DH's and they divide and conquer. He doesn't get elbowed or pushed out of the way nearly as much as I would and he has a reach on him! We looked at all the BF ads at Slickdeals, and there didn't seem to be too much to get excited about, but it's his tradition now.

DH does the same. I should suggest that he team up with a few other DHs! LOL

Stores opening at midnight just means he doesn't spend a freezing cold night outside. Once he's done with the midnight sales, I'll take over and do the rest of the shopping in the wee hours of the morning.

 

[malibuconlee]

I agree! For years part of our tradition was the guys watched football on Thanksgiving (after the meal) and the women mapped out BF shopping. We spent time with family (both days) and had a alot of fun doing. I won't leave my family just to go shopping on Thanksgiving.

I don't buy the "people have to make money" line either. Shame on these stores having their workers have to leave family to go to work just so they can get their store open a few hours early. As a rule our family doesn't shop stores that open on Thanksgiving and I would expect that practice to continue this year. There is nothing in that store at midnight that is worth a mom/dad having to leave family on Thanksgiving.

EEh, it's the same thing for the day after Christmas. I worked the overnight stock crew at a Wal-Mart years ago. We got off work at 7 AM on Christmas Eve and that night was our "holiday". Had to be back at 10 PM on Christmas Day to get things ready.

For Thanksgiving I think we had to work Wed night to set up for Black Friday then got off work Thanksgiving morning and had that night off. But that was back before Super Centers and when the "regular" stores closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Now the only day they close is Christmas Day.

 

[KathyTX]

This year, more big stores are even opening the evening of Thanksgiving day!

 

[jcemom]

I prefer midnight over 4am, but as of now I am not planning to shop on Black Friday this year. It will be the first year in over 15 years that I don't go out. I really only need a few things, and I am not lining up 8 hours in advance just to fight people over something. I'd rather pay an extra $25-50 and not have to deal with the hassle. The only ads I've seen so far are Target and Walmart, and there isn't anything in either of them to change my mind, lol.

 

[torinsmom]

I just shop online, both Thanksgiving Day and BF. I can usually get most of what I want. I have also had bad luck with some of the off electronics brands the stores often sell. They didn't last very long and the warranties did not last long. I can usually find a deal on the things I want sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I may go out sometime on BF, but I won't be at any stores at midnight.

 

[livndisney]

EEh, it's the same thing for the day after Christmas. I worked the overnight stock crew at a Wal-Mart years ago. We got off work at 7 AM on Christmas Eve and that night was our "holiday". Had to be back at 10 PM on Christmas Day to get things ready.

For Thanksgiving I think we had to work Wed night to set up for Black Friday then got off work Thanksgiving morning and had that night off. But that was back before Super Centers and when the "regular" stores closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Now the only day they close is Christmas Day.

I disagree, stores are normally open the day after Christmas. They may add a few hours but that is about it. Most stores are closed on Thanksgiving, but are making employees come in on Thanksgiving so they can open at midnight.

 

[C.Ann]

almost all of the good deals start at midnight. Chances are, they'll be gone by 5:00 the next morning.

Chances are they will be gone long before 1 o'clock in the morning - more like 12:15 or 12:30 a.m. (as in 15 minutes after the stores open).. Rarely do the stores carry more than a handful of the really hot items - or they give you a song and dance about "the shipment didn't arrive" - or - "there was a mix up with the order and we only got 4 whatevers"..

Personally I wouldn't bother - and haven't for many, many years..

If you do choose to go, I hope you get what you're looking for..

 

[eliza61]

Who else hates the way the best deals are offered at midnight?! I can't imagine going shopping at midnight after spending the day hosting Thanksgiving. But I love to get up early and find a few deals. Is it even worth it...almost all of the good deals start at midnight. Chances are, they'll be gone by 5:00 the next morning.

Not imo, I have never gotten any thing on black Friday that I could not get at the same price or some times cheaper by waiting closer to Christmas.

 

[snowwhite84]

Does anyone know how online shopping works on BF? We need a new TV and I'm looking at the Wal Mart and Target ads for options.

I've never done this before so I'm at a loss. For example, Wal Mart's BF starts at 10 pm Thanksgiving evening. Does that mean I can log onto my computer at 10, add the item to my cart, and it will be the BF ad price?

Any advice appreciated!

 

[eliza61]

Chances are they will be gone long before 1 o'clock in the morning - more like 12:15 or 12:30 a.m. (as in 15 minutes after the stores open).. Rarely do the stores carry more than a handful of the really hot items - or they give you a song and dance about "the shipment didn't arrive" - or - "there was a mix up with the order and we only got 4 whatevers"..
Personally I wouldn't bother - and haven't for many, many years..

If you do choose to go, I hope you get what you're looking for..

C. Ann you said a mouthful. I worked in Customer service at Sears. Sears was and probably still is famous for putting out a sales circular with a fabulous deal on some thing, usually snowblowers and then only getting in 2 per store. Well of course, when 500 customers showed up the sales floor personnel would send them to cs.

 

[Jey12]

Who else hates the way the best deals are offered at midnight?! I can't imagine going shopping at midnight after spending the day hosting Thanksgiving. But I love to get up early and find a few deals. Is it even worth it...almost all of the good deals start at midnight. Chances are, they'll be gone by 5:00 the next morning.

I'm with you! I loved it when the sales started at 4 and 5am! We'd come home, rest our turkey filled bellies, grab a bunch of hot coffee and head about about 2am to get in line. I'll talk to anyone so I've always had a great time in line meeting with the other crazies. In my area a lot of stores will be open at 10am so not even midnight! I'm not happy. I think this will greatly increase the crowds and the rudeness of people. I might be one of the few, but I've found as a general rule on BF we all know we're crazy and we agree it's an all for one thing, but there's unwritten rules and most people follow them. I can't tell you how many times I've been in line before the store opens chatting with people about what they want and what I want and if we pass each other in the store every so often they have that item I wanted and they'd grabbed it for me, with me in mind, and I've done the same. It's like adopting more people into your shopping plan. I love it. Then there's the people who won't tell you what they want, because if they say it you might want it to and take the last one. My favorite thing to do with the quiet ones, is when they ask me what I'm in line for at 3am at Target, I tell them there's a sale on milk and I need some TP.

What I'm afraid will happen this is there will be tons more people lining up earlier. I won't have any previous experience to base what time I need to be there on. My whole night will be shot. Then add the big group of newbies because of the new hours that won't abide by the unwritten rules of BF shopping and it's a madhouse of rudeness! No fun! So what I see happening is I won't get my stuff, and I'll be cranky. I'll be done by 4am and back home in bed when my body is telling me I should be bouncing ready to go into the store for BF! It's going to be worse than daylight savings. Yes I know I'm being dramatic. I'm short, quick (used to be quicker) and I can move through a crowd really well. I almost always get what I'm after, and I save money that makes it worth it. I've kept track the past few years of sale prices before and after BF and I still have come out several hundreds of dollars ahead over these few years.

I know those that don't shop on BF say they wouldn't save that much for all of that trouble and they just go out later before Christmas. In my area the stores are nuts from now until Christmas. I get all of my shopping planned out and done in one night. Kind of like Santa. I don't ever need to go back out, except for a few items that might pop up on sale that I missed. I have found the stores to be almost as bad prior to Christmas and the people horribly rude. The sales associates want you kill you just for walking in the door, the other shoppers are extremely rude. There's not the understanding of we're all nuts let's just enjoy and get some stuff. I'm miserable anytime I need to go into a store after BF. While I say good stay home, less people in line, I do really have a good time on BF, and not such a good time in the stores after that.

Does anyone know how online shopping works on BF? We need a new TV and I'm looking at the Wal Mart and Target ads for options.

I've never done this before so I'm at a loss. For example, Wal Mart's BF starts at 10 pm Thanksgiving evening. Does that mean I can log onto my computer at 10, add the item to my cart, and it will be the BF ad price?

Any advice appreciated!

I'm curious too! I've always been the nut in line, but I do not like this 10pm and midnight stuff going on this year. There's a great deal on an xbox at walmart at 10pm and I would like to avoid walmart on BF. If I have someone on the comp while I'm in line at another store at 10pm, could they buy the xbox system online at that time for that price?


ETA: I'd like to say now that Toysrus has released their ad for this year I am very unhappy with what is being offered for black friday. I'm going out today and picking up all of my big ticket items and only spending $30 more than I would on black friday, no crowds at all, happy or unhappy ones. I might hit Kohls or JC Penney on black friday because it is a tradition but the retailers like everything else have pretty much ruined the fun of it this year.