Is Walmart changing the way they do Black Friday this year?

[got2luvtink]

I keep reading that Walmart is going to change the way they do Black Friday this year, due to the tragedy that happened last year. But all of the ad scans that I have seen says they open up at 5am-- just like every other year. So I'm wondering how is that different?

Also,

I'd really like to go to Target and Walmart, but they're going to open at the same time. I wonder will any of the stores that I want to go to (Walmart, Target, Toys r Us, OfficeMax, Old Navy) have online BF shopping this year?

 

[happygirl]

I keep reading that Walmart is going to change the way they do Black Friday this year, due to the tragedy that happened last year. But all of the ad scans that I have seen says they open up at 5am-- just like every other year. So I'm wondering how is that different?

Also,

I'd really like to go to Target and Walmart, but they're going to open at the same time. I wonder will any of the stores that I want to go to (Walmart, Target, Toys r Us, OfficeMax, Old Navy) have online BF shopping this year?

Walmart is going to stay open Thanksgiving they usually close early that day

 

[got2luvtink]

So will BF shopping actually start on Thursday? If so, what time does it start?

 

[happygirl]

I'm pretty sure it will start at 5am on Friday like usual. The staying open all night will just keep people from stampeding each other when the doors open

 

[princess momma]

Our 24 hour Walmarts will remain open but I believe the BF prices won't go into effect until 5 a.m. My brother is a manager at a Walmart and his store is having people line up before 5 a.m. and handing out maps with the location of the BF deals. I don't completely understand how it will work but they're trying to control the chaos.

I'm not sure if all Walmarts will be handling it in the same way, though. He said last year his Walmart was really calm.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

So will BF shopping actually start on Thursday? If so, what time does it start?

All stores will stay open for 24 hrs to avoid the crush of a crowd at opening. you will be able to download a map of your local store this week on their website that point out where the BF items are. The items will be wrapped up on pallets and will not be opened until the actual sale starts (5am).

Most merchants will have online sales but there are no guarantees that it will be the exact item/price.

 

[ellenec]

I was interested in the Ipod Touch at Walmart on bf. Do you think I could be online at 5am and order it online???

 

[lenshanem]

I was interested in the Ipod Touch at Walmart on bf. Do you think I could be online at 5am and order it online???

Can you tell me what the deal is? Thanks!

 

[Tiffer]

I have read about this as well & am wondering if they will have customers form a line at each product?

If so, I guess we all better decide which item we want most!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Can you tell me what the deal is? Thanks!

8gb Ipod Touch for $195 and get a free $50 iTunes card.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

I have read about this as well & am wondering if they will have customers form a line at each product?

If so, I guess we all better decide which item we want most!

That is how they did it at my WM last year.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I was talking to the manager of one of our local walmarts when they had the big doorbuster ad a couple of weeks ago. I was at 1 Walmart and my Mom was at another one in town about 5 miles away. I had to get a ticket for the items I wanted to buy and they handed these tickets up to the qty of each item they had then you stood in line, this way you knew you were getting the product. My mom's walmart had her stand in line until it was the sale time and didn't tell them anything. I was on the phone with her when the manager was standing by me and he asked me which store she was at and how they were handling it. He told me the manager really can run it as they want to and today was a dry run for black friday. He said it is either they hand out the tickets ( make them stay in line also or not), or the count the people in line compared to qty on hand having a line for each item ( he said this is a bad idea, but stores do it) or do like my mom's store and not tell anyone anything then wheel out the pallets at 5am and watch the craziness.
So it sounded like to me they didn't give them any clear direction like they make it seem they are doing. I really liked the ticket idea, I was able to go to one person tell her what I wanted and get my tickets right there if they had the item still. I still had to wait to buy them, but at least I knew I was getting them. I love my 52 inch LCD TV too, it was well worth getting up for.

 

[Cjmuma]

I have always had a 24 hour walmart - they hand out maps of where the items are - there is a line at each pallate... there is absolutely no line jumping or they will make you leave. When they run out of the item - they are out. I have learned that if two of you go - go to the item you want most first, then the other person goes to the next fav. It usually works out well. Good Luck!

 

[xing68]

Walmart in our area always opened before 5 pm, and everybody can line up at the stuff they want in the store.

 

[duckybelle]

I have always had a 24 hour walmart - they hand out maps of where the items are - there is a line at each pallate... there is absolutely no line jumping or they will make you leave. When they run out of the item - they are out. I have learned that if two of you go - go to the item you want most first, then the other person goes to the next fav. It usually works out well. Good Luck!

We do this as well....and, since we arent getting any big items we need a cart for, we skip the cart. It makes it much easier to maneuver! ALSO, when we meet up we do it by the socks and undies in the mens dept...no one is there!

 

[3doodlebugsmom]

I talked to the manager of our Walmart. It is normally a 24 hour store, but they are not staying open. At 3:00 am on Black Friday, the manager will let approx. 25 people at a time into the store. You must go stand in the line of the thing you want, no shopping around. They'll have separate lines for the electronics. If they have 30 ipod touches, then when 30 people have come to that line, it is closed and no one else will be allowed in. Store emplyees will be counting how many people are in there line, and will keep control. At 5:00 am, when the sale begins, they will give you your merchandise. I'm not clear where or when you pay.

I think its one per customer- but I'm not sure. Unless you have someone else with you that doesn't want any electronics, you will only be able to get one item.

Not sure when you pay. Depending how long you spend in line, I think you could miss alot of the door busters. I know last year, some of them were gone in 10 minutes.

I think I'm avoiding Wally World this year- not worth the hassle.

 

[Halbleib1]

I have read about this as well & am wondering if they will have customers form a line at each product?

If so, I guess we all better decide which item we want most!

My Walmart has always done this. Last year I waited by the v smile portables while my husband waited in line for the 32" tv. After they open the pallets at 5am you are free to grab what you want and move on through the store to the other items. Except for those that are really limited/bulky like tvs and such those you are given a ticket for to go and pay. Once you have paid you take your car around back of the store to pick the item up.

We got everything we went for last year and they were scattered around the store in different locations. They spread them out enough so as not to have a bunch of people in any one spot but it does get crowded still. Last year most of the electronic stuff was in the grocery area. My husband froze his butt off waiting. LOL

Our Walmart has always been closed on Thanksgiving day but reopened at 6pm. Other wise it is a 24 hr Walmart. The only day they close is Christmas and for Easter and New Years they close at 6pm. The stores that will see the most change this year are those that were not open 24 hours and did not reopen on Thanksgiving night but waited till black friday to reopen and made people line up outside. I would imagine the New York stores are all going to see a major change as well. Because of the suit they settled with the state from last years death.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

All of this is stressing me out. I need three laptops and WM has just what I need on sale that morning. I am just wondering what time that I sould get there to line up? As much as I hate it, my DH may have to go too. My mom & sister will be there but my sister will be in the ipod line. Since they limit you to one each, I need two other people with me, and even then I may not even get one.

There are three walmarts in our area. Do you think that it would be smart to send one person to each walmart, or should we all stick together?

 

[PooohBear]

All of this is stressing me out. I need three laptops and WM has just what I need on sale that morning. I am just wondering what time that I sould get there to line up? As much as I hate it, my DH may have to go too. My mom & sister will be there but my sister will be in the ipod line. Since they limit you to one each, I need two other people with me, and even then I may not even get one.

There are three walmarts in our area. Do you think that it would be smart to send one person to each walmart, or should we all stick together?

if you want 3 laptops, you better arrive Thanksgiving late afternoon with 2 other people and be prepared for a long wait, this will not guarantee you'll even get one laptop ! it's more beneficial to have all of you together to hold spots for bathroom breaks/coffee runs or whatever

 

[cheermom1]

our walmart is a 24 hr one and we just stand around the pallets with our maps of what each pallet was - our walmart really is a clam one and people are very nice too b/c the ones in front have a hard time getting out when they get what they want so they just pass the item to other people who want one till they are gone so they can leave themselves - although from my understanding this not the norm.

also though if you want more than one item from different pallets bring that many people with you or you won't get one..the electronics really not so much any of the other stuff...

good luck