Black Friday shoppers..

bchlove

My BF put me on a budget this year We have 12 people to buy for and I pride myself on being a great gift giver. This year I have decided to go Black Friday shopping with my friend who does it every year. She gets all of her gifts on that day and she swears I'll get the most bang for my buck. Does anyone here buy into the madness of Black Friday? Tell me about your experiences. Is it worth it?

Wine Enthusiast

Its only worth it if you know what your looking for and know the regular price for it~ so you'll know if the black friday price is a good deal.  I typically do research for a few weeks if I intend to go black friday shopping.  I've been to Kohls and noticed many of their other items were marked up, quite a bit. 

Temp6313048411121614

DH and I used to go years ago, but it hasn't seemed like there's been anything worth going for the past few years.

hillysuze

I just mainly get stuff for the house - sheet sets and whatnot. This year, I'm hoping to find a dehumidifer and a metal cabinet for the basement on the cheap. We did great at Lowes last year (we bought our house in January and were in contract during Black Friday - found a 20 gallon ShopVac for $19.00, couldn't believe it.).

I'd have more fun if we had kids of our own and the fact that we shop early doesn't leave too much to need to shop for.  My neice will be 8 months old at that point but I figure she's too young for the "hot toy of the season" so I can find something loud that will drive my brother crazy anytime.

 

Lillaurs11

My dad and I always go Black Friday shopping.  Both of us get a lot of our Christmas shopping done that day.  Check out the Black Friday websites that leak ads so you can compare prices leading up to the day.  I agree with pp that it's a good day to buy stuff for your house.  I'd try to avoid electronics stores as they are really crazy.  I get to stores a couple minutes after they open so I don't wait out in the line forever but go right in.  GL! 

SueBear

FYI, you can also try the "cyber Monday" sales.  It is easier to shop around via the internet sometimes...

getitdone

My mom and I do black Friday shopping every year. I love it! On Thanksgiving after we eat, we go through the ads and make our lists. The trick is to organize your trip by what is most important for you. So if Target has 10 things you want to get - go there first. Go by your list first and get those 10 items and then either look there for additional deals or go to the next place on your list. I will say this - pack your patience. Some people are really rude, but for the most part, I have had great experiences shopping on Black Friday. I agree with the PP about checking out cyber Monday. I plan to do my toy shopping online because there is no way I am going to Toys R Us on black Friday. Good luck and have fun with it

NikiLynn

I USUALLY go; but, I'll only get up early and go if there is something I see in an ad.  For instance, I got up at 3:00am to be in line for the 4:00am opening at Kohl's to save $70 on an item I wanted.  It was something crazy like 70% off I believe.  I have been in line at Target before to save a few bucks.  I went to JCP one year and bought my MIL's coat (I think it was 80% off).  I will go for things like this.  If I don't see anything specific that I want and I took the day off work then I might head out later in the day with my H and go to the mall.  I actually did get up a little early a couple years ago and went to Macy's BEFORE going into work.  I bought a few sweaters for MIL. It's really not AS BAD later in the day b/c most people got up at 3:00/4:00am and shopped for hours and have already headed home....

DarkoGirl

Def plan in advance as op have said... I took my little sister a few years ago as an experience and we got nothing because we were just going to get what we saw and we didn't have a plan... I ended up taking her out to breakfast instead

ShannersLA

Last year was my 1st year going.  I wasn't in search of anything specific, but still felt I got a few, good deals.  If you are ambitious and want to stand in line all night for an amazing door buster, you can get a big ticket item priced cheap - but, be aware that you get what you pay for, so it may not be necessarily the best quality.

I got random odds & ends for a good deal like DVD's, a mini vacuum cleaner and a few kids toys - nothing I would really hold off on buying just to purchase specifically on Black Friday alone, but it was nice to scoop them up while I was there.

ashleyanne2010

Defiantly have a game plan in place.  My husband and I make a list of things we see, along with the price of the item.  Like PP said, bring your patience... A lot of people can be rude on that day.  It's worth going if you have something that is a good price though!  Just know what you want before you go!

melly&jimmy

It's worth it if you plan on purchasing mainly electronics.  I've noticed in years prior not that big of a price break unless you're buying a TV or something.  It is fun though!

LydiaDeetz

Wine Enthusiast:

Its only worth it if you know what your looking for and know the regular price for it~ so you'll know if the black friday price is a good deal.  I typically do research for a few weeks if I intend to go black friday shopping.  I've been to Kohls and noticed many of their other items were marked up, quite a bit. 

agreed

LydiaDeetz

Wine Enthusiast:

Its only worth it if you know what your looking for and know the regular price for it~ so you'll know if the black friday price is a good deal.  I typically do research for a few weeks if I intend to go black friday shopping.  I've been to Kohls and noticed many of their other items were marked up, quite a bit. 

agreed

Bena29

My sisters and I used to go every year but not too early , just to shop for little deals that we may find and sometimes we got lucky and sometimes we didn't so we would just just sit down and eat :-) The most important part of black friday is getting electronics. If you want really good sales on electronics then black friday or cyber monday is when to do it. Only thing with getting those great deals is being in front the store thanksgiving night at midnight in possibly but likely below zero weather bulked in layers and layers of clothing sitting on the sidewalk waiting for a ticket with about 200 other people that want the same item that you do and they only have 20 in stock. Never seemed like fun to me so I never did it and hopefully never will.

crlewis803

Black Friday can be very hectic. I try to stay away from the stores if at all possible that day. I usually participate in Cyber Monday (same great deals and usually free shipping).