Wal-Mart Black Friday Vent

[mickeysgal]

Seriously? Maybe for the electronics, but everything else is a ridiculous free for all!

Yes, I was referring to the electronics. In my Walmart, they had grocery aisles dedicated for each major electronic door buster. Each of those aisles had a distinguishing balloon. This way you know exactly what line you were getting into.

For the general pallets, yes it was a frenzy. I was specifically at the DVD pallet - but there was a police officer stationed there and he kept his presence very close. As frantic as it was, it was not dangerous by any means. It was facinating for sure. Some would search and take only what they wanted, others would grab bunches, throw them into a cart, and sort and discard later.

People do love a bargain. Whether they truely "need" it or not is another story. Easy to get swept up in the hype.

 

[HelenePA]

My local store handled it very well. They were giving out tickets for all the electronic items. They even gave us passes for bathroom breaks. If you weren't back in 15 minutes, you lost your place in line. That made people really commit to the product and waiting until the sale time arrived. You couldn't just get a ticket and then leave.

They also brought upon various accessories and games so we didn't have to head off to another area of the store for that stuff.

Oh wow bathroom passes? as long as you had a ticket and were back in line by midnight you got the TV at mine... we walked around until about 11:00pm. Lots of people stayed in the line, we made "friends" with the guy in back of us so we took turns thru the night coming and going... all in a friendly manner... it was a nice night out met some nice people I was on first name basis with by midnight and got what I wanted sears was a little more insane... no lines at the electronics... all a mad rush when they opened at 4am... thankfully I was only going for winter coats for the kids.. couldn't beat the 14.99 price then the coupon for 10$ off 30$ making them 10$

so you were there at 4:30pm? WAYYYYY tooo early! go about 2 hours before the sale times you'll be fine next time.

 

[pigletgirl]

And this is the very reason I avoided black friday like the plague this year!

 

[snowy76]

My local store handled it very well. They were giving out tickets for all the electronic items. They even gave us passes for bathroom breaks. If you weren't back in 15 minutes, you lost your place in line. That made people really commit to the product and waiting until the sale time arrived. You couldn't just get a ticket and then leave.

They also brought upon various accessories and games so we didn't have to head off to another area of the store for that stuff.

I have to say our Walmart was fantastic last night too. They stocked the XBox bundle behind the paint counter - genius. It required the line to snake through the aisle toward the back wall of the store and out of the way of the main lanes of traffic. They were able to unwrap the pallets without any interference. When 10:00 came they handed the unit to you and off you went. I grabbed a toy and the $9 dirt devil (not the brand but I forget) vac and I was out of the store by 10:20. A-Ma-Zing!

That being said, as our line started moving we heard a shout and a crash - the pallet of $5 Barbies apparently caused a major scuffle. I was extra glad then that we were safely encased in our little aisle. I've done Target on BF too, and there seems to be a very different vibe between the stores as far as the behavior of the customers. Walmart gets rowdy! But the staff at ours was sooooo on top of it.

OP, I'm sorry your experience wasn't so great. I totally agree with the PP that BF prep is like planning a Disney touring plan LOL. You definitely learn what to do/not to do as you do it more often. Some years I decide it's not worth the $ savings.

I'm actually impressed OP could get into her store at 11; at ours security kept a line waiting outside and only let people in as others were leaving (they have metal barricades and everything - like an un-fun Disney queue). I was so glad I got there at 8:30! (Later I heard they started letting people line up at 6 for the 10:00 doorbusters).

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

No I did not read the BF threads on the Dis, but I saw the news last night and today and while they showed the lines at Target, Best Buy and one or two other stores, they did not show any lines at Wal-Mart at all.

My DH & I were at Wal-Mart at 4:30 and there were no lines anywhere. They were just starting to put out the merchandise for tonight. I did see that they were giving tickets out at Best Buy, but again I have never heard of this for Wal-Mart.

I understand getting in line, but I still do not agree with tickets given out for an item prior to the advertised time. And to top it off, given out more than 6 hours to the advertised time. I know that Best Buy were not going to give out tickets that far in advance!

Does it really matter, though? Your husband got there at 11 p.m., an hour before the stores open. You two have to know that the chance of you guys getting a big ticket item after having NOT waited for hours on end like the other people is slim to none. Personally, I think giving out the tickets earlier in the day was a good idea. If someone came up, wanted to be there specifically for the TV, waited 4 or 5 hours and found out they were gone and weren't told, that would be a little more irritating.

Welcome to Black Friday shopping, OP.

 

[Maridw]

Oh wow bathroom passes? as long as you had a ticket and were back in line by midnight you got the TV at mine... we walked around until about 11:00pm. Lots of people stayed in the line, we made "friends" with the guy in back of us so we took turns thru the night coming and going... all in a friendly manner... it was a nice night out met some nice people I was on first name basis with by midnight and got what I wanted sears was a little more insane... no lines at the electronics... all a mad rush when they opened at 4am... thankfully I was only going for winter coats for the kids.. couldn't beat the 14.99 price then the coupon for 10$ off 30$ making them 10$

**so you were there at 4:30pm? WAYYYYY tooo early! go about 2 hours before the sale times you'll be fine next time.

I would have been unhappy with this.

**And no getting there 2 hours prior would not have gotten us a ticket because they were already gone before 8pm.

 

[HelenePA]

ah guess your in a bigger city... sorry small town living has major perks this time of year <3 Went to another walmart at 6am and it was DEAD... found everything I didn't get at the first walmart there!

btw this is my 11year out on black friday

 

[DebbieB]

My niece works at Walmart, her store did not close yesterday. I had dinner at 4:00pm, I didn't know she was working. She said she was scheduled for 6:00, which was no problem since it's only about a 20 minute drive.

 

[marcemc]

This is why I do not try for the door busters, in most cases you can get the same or similar items for sometimes less the week before Christmas.

This, sometimes even before BF. I got tons of good deals this week, some prices were even better than the ones advertised by Walmart.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Wow... Glad I live in small town, USA. I got off work at 2315, drove the 1 mile from work to the walmart. Parked decently close, though the parking lot was more full then I had ever seen it, got a cart, walked in, got a vacuum cleaner since I needed one, and then found where the xboxes were. Yes, I got the xbox deal 1.5 hours after the sale started. I was checked out and back in my car before the midnight sales started.

 

[andymattmom]

It is amazing what happens during the Holiday shopping season. People turn into animals trying to grab a set of sheets, chopper, toys, etc. You really have to wonder if the person you buy the 2.97 chopper for or the one you buy the sheets or lumpy animal pillow for really wants it or needs it or if it goes to Goodwill if not returnable. Do you really give a gift receipt with that gift you paid $6.00 or $3.00 or $10.00 for or do you just give it and let other person figure out how to return it?

OP...I am sorry but what planet are you on? Seriously you don't know about BLACK FRIDAY and lines and lines and lines. Don't you watch television or the news or read the paper where for the past weeks they have talked about people lining up early for items.

Sorry I hate Walmart but they were in the right here....YOU we way off base even complaining to manager. Like people said someone was killed on BF a few years ago (again where were you when you didn't see this), people get trampled, injured, pepper sprayed, etc for cheap stuff that most people don't really need or want. It is the THRILL of the BF sale.

We didn't go out till 10AM....hit Kohls and Carsons. Figure if stuff I want there great....if not I really didn't need. Found everything and had nice people waiting in line and employees.

OP...sorry you didn't understand BF...read up next time. You obviously have a computer so IDK how you missed....

 

[cornflake]

I would have been unhappy with this.

**And no getting there 2 hours prior would not have gotten us a ticket because they were already gone before 8pm.

Why would you have been unhappy with that poster's scenario? As I assume the unhappy didn't relate to the assumption of 2 hours as you clarified that that wouldn't have mattered.

Also, I have to ask... you said you'd gone out to dinner and thus weren't "dressed for" this and would have switched off going home to change. I feel like I'm missing something. Dressed for waiting in line for a few hours? Like to the point it requires changing clothes?

 

[RitaE]

As many have posted, no we would not have gotten a ticket by getting there when we did, but we would have seen the line for the tickets and understood.

Again we were there at 4:30 and no lines anywhere, they were just starting to put out the balloons to mark where things were going to be and getting the merchandise in the aisles. If we had known they were going to have tickets, we would have found where the line was going to be and gotten in it then. We had just come back from dinner and were dressed up and so weren't dressed for it. But as I told DH, one of us would have gotten in line and gotten a ticket while the other went home to change and take care of the dog. When they got back the other would have gone home to change and then come back.

As I have stated from the beginning, our problem with the way they did it in our store - that they gave out the tickets more than 6 hours prior to the sale time, where as they did not do that in at least 2 stores. According to the manager at our store, they were going to do exactly what they did in all stores. So apparently he was wrong, not all stores were releasing the tickets prior to midnight.

It was a lesson learned for us, and IF we ever try a BF sale again we will know.

Okay. So in summary.

You were there at 4:30pm and would have stayed to stand in line if you would have known there was going to be a line. But even though you saw them setting up the area where the lines would be, you didn't know that there would be lines.

You would have come before opening time if you would have known they were handing out tickets. But since you didn't know there were going to be tickets, you thought everybody could just show up.....whenever.

But it is unfair that they gave tickets before midnight to all the people who came earlier and were standing in line before you. But even if they would have waited until midnight to hand over the tickets, you still wouldn't have received a ticket because you were at the end of the line.

And the fact that you waited until one hour before midnight to show up wanting a "hot" doorbuster item has absolutely nothing to do with the why that you didn't get the item. Nope. It is all WalMarts fault for giving them away to the people who were there first! That evil WalMart!!!! Poor you. Here ---- a hug.

 

[dakcp2001]

Somehow you managed to be [painfully unfamiliar with how BF and doorbuster sales work. Now you know for next year. The odd sense of entitlement is what irks me. You didn't get there early enough to get a tv, that is life. Better luck next year. You don't get to skip all the people in line just because your special.

 

[funnysarcastic]

This is should how it should have been done in our store, but it wasn't. As I said my DH & I were in the store at 4:30 til almost 5. We decided to go home and be ready for later. If we had seen any lines starting 1 of us would have stayed and waited, while the other went home and changed. They we would have changed roles. We did not have trouble be in a line. The balloon for the Emerson was not up when were there in the afternoon. At least in your case, they did not hand out the tickets until midnight. If our store had done this I would not have had a problem at all. But they gave the tickets out prior to 8pm and that is what we have a problem with.

I guess this m.o. wouldn't have surprised me because so many general admission events (such as concerts) do the same thing. They don't want people camping out or getting into fist fights or making a stampede. So they hand out tickets. Very common.

Personally, I cannot stand the mayhem of a general admission show or a Black Friday doorbuster sale and do not willingly participate in either. If I must, I always remind myself that it will be a miracle if I get what I want out of it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Okay. So in summary.

You were there at 4:30pm and would have stayed to stand in line if you would have known there was going to be a line. But even though you saw them setting up the area where the lines would be, you didn't know that there would be lines.

You would have come before opening time if you would have known they were handing out tickets. But since you didn't know there were going to be tickets, you thought everybody could just show up.....whenever.

But it is unfair that they gave tickets before midnight to all the people who came earlier and were standing in line before you. But even if they would have waited until midnight to hand over the tickets, you still wouldn't have received a ticket because you were at the end of the line.

And the fact that you waited until one hour before midnight to show up wanting a "hot" doorbuster item has absolutely nothing to do with the why that you didn't get the item. Nope. It is all WalMarts fault for giving them away to the people who were there first! That evil WalMart!!!! Poor you. Here ---- a hug.

Yep, this is how I read it too.

The balloons OP saw going up around 4:30 indicated liens would be forming (and likely start to form soon).
Once the line is longer than however many items there are, there is no point in keeping everyone standing there. At that, apparently prior to 8:00pm in this case, handing out tickets and encourqaging shoppers to look around the store and buy more stuff makes sense. It benefits the store (they are likely to sell more), benefits those who got there early to wait in line (they do not have to stand there forever) and does not hurt other later coming customers (who would have been too far back in line to get the item anyway).

I simply fail to see why there is any issue with this policy whatsoever. Even if it is not written out, if you are going to play fair and wait in line and take your turn instead of trampling people, the policy is clearly fair and meant to benefit everyone and keep things safer. It does not matter one iota that you did not know ahead of time that tickets would be handed out--you were not there to be in line soon enough so ticket or no ticket you would not have had your item.

 

[Allison]

Oh wow bathroom passes? as long as you had a ticket and were back in line by midnight you got the TV at mine... we walked around until about 11:00pm. Lots of people stayed in the line, we made "friends" with the guy in back of us so we took turns thru the night coming and going... all in a friendly manner... it was a nice night out met some nice people I was on first name basis with by midnight and got what I wanted sears was a little more insane... no lines at the electronics... all a mad rush when they opened at 4am... thankfully I was only going for winter coats for the kids.. couldn't beat the 14.99 price then the coupon for 10$ off 30$ making them 10$

so you were there at 4:30pm? WAYYYYY tooo early! go about 2 hours before the sale times you'll be fine next time.

Not sure if you meant me, but no, I did not get there at 4:30. But getting there 2 hours early would not have gotten you the xbox. The people in line made friends with each other and talked together also so it did make the time go faster. Very nice people.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Not sure about other stores, but both Sears and Amazon have a 32 inch tv online for $199 - personally it was worth the extra $11 for me not to have to deal with in-store insanity!

I did go to WalMart at 10 for socks and underwear - it was total chaos; who knew that those would be such hot items???

 

[tasha99]

Without that system you have what I was stuck in last night...

We went in at 9:45 for 10 pm sales. I didn't expect to be up front, but it was sheets... I didn't expect it to be insane. I was wrong. My big toe is broken today, people were pushing and shoving, I saw one person pull the body in front of them back by their shirt. 2 people fell and there was screaming and yelling. They even knocked over the display next to them. I did not participate... just watched. No item was worth that.

And that was for $6.88 microfiber sheets. Can you imagine it over big ticket electronics??

Hey, I went for those sheets too and couldn't find them.

I did get towels, a crockpot, a stick vacuum, memory foam mattress toppers etc though.

It WAS cutthroat, and as an expert electronics BF shopper, I was shocked. I thought it would be easy peasy, but people who were even a few minutes late got nothing.

So sorry about your toe. It was cutthroat were I was (I heard a punch was thrown in one area), but people were mostly considerate. I even ended up trading mattress toppers with someone, who needed a king while I needed a full or queen.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

You still haven't answered how Walmart handing out the tickets at midnight would have changed your situation any?

The tickets would have still gone to the same people they went to at 8pm.