Black Friday Tips and Advice from previous experience.

Ok, here are my tips.
1. There are thousands of stores waiting to sell on that day. If you don't want to spend the whole night for a deal, check online, sometimes some Online deals are even better. I found an MP3 player I wanted with almost 50% discount and free shipping.
2. Pick the things you want, and focus on them. You might realize there are really good deals, and you even get those to find out you got something that you'll never use, at a really good price.
3. Avoid OfficeMax! I said that the last year. They post offers they don't have available in all the stores. Therefore, you go there really early, not to find what you wanted, but to wait for a lot of time. Finally you'll get a "rain-check" for a product that will never arrive.
4. You don't need to show up at 3am in the morning (when people is already there). Some of the deals appear in lots. One when the store opens, and another in the middle of the morning. Sometimes around 10am or noon. So if you missed a deal you really wanted. Probably, you can comeback later and find it (At least for some stores like Best Buy). Obviously, it's highly likely that the best deals are "early bird" specials, and will never come out again.

5. Some stores don't care about making a line. Or some people just get there to see a really long line that they won't respect. As soon as the store opens the doors wide open, MANY people will jump right to the door. Big stores, give some tickets to first people in line, to ensure that they will get what they were looking for. But that might not be the case for all of them.

That's what my experiences have shown in past years (and I remember right now).

Ahh...so it seems it's already been a year! Black Friday is just around the corner and it's time to start planning what item you want to snag a deal on! Every year, you're always looking to get some sort of deal on a set of specific items, unless you are the last one in line and end up buying something completely useless because it was cheap. From my experience, and reading other Black Friday guides, I've learned that you have to plan ahead and be proactive! Now, this doesn't mean waking up the night before BF and waiting in the endless lines at whatever store you're looking to buy. This means, that you're going to figure out what items will go on sale, and which items you will be at whichever stores.

Most stores will have ads you can look at advertising their Black Friday items. This gives you a chance to check out what will be out when they let everyone loose, rampaging over each other to find that something.

After figuring out everything you want, take a visit to that store, whether it be Frys or Best Buys, and map out and remember where those items are stationed, therefore, if you are waiting in line, you'll know in which direction to run in! Don't forget to work out to build stamina and get those muscles ripped for the big day!

If you're like me, and visit Deals Plus everyday, you've probably already bought most of the things you want anyway. However, if you're also like me, you're one of the few that probably doesn't like to wait in lines! This is a tip I read last year, that I will be trying out.

In order to snag the best deals AHEAD of time, it's best to visit the store and ask them about their return policy or price match policy during Black Friday events. For example, Best Buy will always give you the best price, so if you bought a HDTV for $1600 today, and it drops to $1200, they will refund you that difference, but only within a certain period of time, such as 60 days. If that particular store has no rules against Black Friday events, then it's safe to say that you could actually purchase the item a week in advance, return the same day of Black Friday, but at a later time when it's not super crowded, look at the lowered price, and ask them for the difference!

Now, I'm not 100% certain that this will work. It all depends on the stores policy about Black Friday events. However, if you can find one that doesn't have any restrictions against Black Friday, then you're good to go!

I hope this helps! Happy Hunting!

The thing that has worked best for me is get family and friends to split up and take different stores. Share your list of stuff you want to get, so they can pick up stuff for you, and you can pick up stuff for them. Also, if you're going to wait in line at 3am, make sure you have a second person there to run and grab you warm drinks, save your place in line so you're "refreshed", and bring you good sneakers before the doors open. They can sit in a warm car or something so they aren't miserable, or you can take turns. The biggest though, is don't take it too seriously. Yeah, you can save some bucks, but treat others with respect and don't run over their feet with your cart!

Make a list of the things that you want to buy for others (or yourself) for Christmas - everyone has probably been giving you hints for months already. About a month before Black Friday, start shopping for these items - I prefer online, and seem to get the best deals there...especially when using dealsplus!! Check the store where you see what you want to purchase, and see if they have a price matching policy where they will match any advertised deal of any competitors, or if their price is lower on Black Friday, if they will refund the difference. You get what you REALLY want, and you save the hassle of fighting the crowds on Black Friday. I love shopping online - I find better deals than at the brick and mortar stores. Just watch dealsplus for great prices on the things you want! And buy, buy, buy from the comforts of home.

My tip has to do with Fry's Electronics and probably will work in other stores too. Aside from the obvious get there early and wait in line, once you get a hold of what you want typically the check out line at Fry's Electronics wraps around the store a couple times on the inside. For a couple of years now my friends and I have been picking up the things that we want and stashing them around the store. Just find an area that people really aren't trafficking much and place your things behind a bunch of boxes. Last year we hid 2 computer cases, a couple stacks of DVD+Rs and a wifi router behind and inside a bunch of ugly laptop bags in the back of the store. We also got printouts for mobos and memory that we knew we could get at anytime that day. After that we left to go shopping elsewhere. At around 8pm we returned to the store and grabbed our things. There was basically no line. Every year we get the same comments from the cashiers..."Oh... I thought we sold out of these this morning..." Well good luck out there, and if you happen to come across my things in the store, stashed by some random boxes or laptop bags... please leave them alone! hahahahah

This tip also works the opposite way too I suppose. Go digging around random boxes, you never know if someone is hiding something behind there for later.

All right..some tips from me. First of all, if you know you want something specifically, ask the store if the price will actually go down or not. Not everything gets really cheap, so find out. For instance, Fry's has the same sale that whole weekend, so might be able to get the same deal on the TV w/out the line. Also see if you can pre-order or order online and just pick up after the chaos.

For those of you who still end up in a store with a long long line, here's the best advice I have for you. The lines will be long, but the customer service lines are usually short since that line is usually for returns. Go ahead and go there first to bypass the long line. You should be able to pay there. Most stores will do that, however some will tell you that you can't since it's a special day. Try it, though. Best Buy allowed for it. Hmm..that's it for now.

Start looking for ads early in November that are leaked. As the day draws closer decide which items you are most interested in, and prioritize your shopping for the day. Make a schedule and plan to arrive at the most important store on your list at least 2 hours early for limited items sold at a great discount. ENJOY!

If you get to a store and there's already a line, walk by the front of the line to see if the store has already given out claim tickets for the item you're interested in. I got to Staples around 5:30am in search of a GPS last year and waited half an hour outside and half an hour inside until I overheard that all the GPS units had been claimed hours before.

If you find yourself going out into the retail madness that happens on Black Friday you must be prepared. There are a great amount of "deals" going on. Most of these retail sites will push items claiming that they are at huge discount prices. Its always a good idea to check online for price comparisons, most of the time you'll find that the item on sale is really just at a normal price online. Most retail stores get these items at their cost and mark it up for unsuspecting customers. This happens every day and those who do not check the prices online often times get left out.

Flat-Panel TV deals are the most prevalent. Stores will put these TV's up at a price that looks very cheap, yet these sets *for the most part* are crap sets. ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH. I have seen many of my family members buy crap for more than its worth.

Best Tip

1. Come really early like around 7PM, so you are in front of the line.
2. Know what you want, it make your time at BF really easy.
3. Bring Food and wear warm clothes
4. Good Luck & Have Fun

get couple homeless people and pay them to stand in the line. provide them with food and drink and by the time the store open they will give you the position.

i saw it on the news when people want to buy wii.

Tis the season to stand or sleep in line
After a night of fine Thanksgiving dine

Never fret the Black Friday plague
Just avoid it like a two-dollar steak

Instead check on dealspl.us daily
Where great buys are posted like crazy

Thanks to dealspl.us last year
I scored me some speakers that I still hear

So stay home on this Black Friday
Unless you wish to be trampled in a fray

That is my shopping tip for you
Previous experiences yield it true!

I've been quite experience with Black Fridays. I think this upcoming Black Friday would be my 5th year doing it. Of this time span, I’m going to provide you with 12 things that you might be useful to you.

10 Experiences & Tips

1) There are websites that show the leaked Black Friday ads (http://www.blackfriday.info/). These ads show future deals. However, you can't fully trust these leaked ads. I would get the actually Sunday newspapers of the week of Black Friday to review the deals. I also suggest purchasing the newspaper on Thursday because there are usually secret deals that people overlook (Especially, deals at Fry's Electronics). Trust me

2) On the night before, look through all the ads and circle the items that you want to purchase. I suggest that you look into early Christmas shopping because you would end up saving some money. Make a list of these items and group it by each store. You then have to prioritize these items by importance. Also, keep in mind that some items are VERY hard to get. These hot items may seem like a really good deal, but you would have to be the first 10-15 people in line. From experience, I was at Best Buy waiting in line fifteen hours in advance. No Joke... You would have to decide which items are worth wild.

3) What I like to do is delegate my list to my cousins/family. We would all assign two people per store and give them a list of things to purchase for everybody. Thus, we all end up going to all the stores at the same time (usually 5 am). Within these lists, you would have to prioritize the items by importance.

4) Pick a store location that is unpopular. You better your chances that way. I live in the tech savvy Silicon Valley, so there was no way to avoid long lines…

5) Definitely research the floor plan of your the stores in order to be efficient. Best buy is great in that they give a map of their store to everyone in line beforehand. I think they do this to downgrade the Chaos...

6) For electronic stores, I suggest getting there the earlier the better. After doing this for so many years, I keep on seeing that people wait in earlier and earlier as each year goes by. I'm serious about this trend. Just don't expect to get the mega deals if you get there at 12 am that night... In addition, most stores offer vouchers for the hot items if you are the first fifteen people in line. If you don't have a voucher, then bother with the item. For instance, I saw a guy trying to buy an item without a voucher. The store management wouldn't allow him to buy it. It turns out that he broke into the storage to get the item...

For non-electronic stores, I suggest waiting in line two to three hours before opening. I believe you would still end up getting your items.

*If the items you want are not hot items, then you don't necessarily have to wait in line. You can just get to the store by opening time and still purchase these items.

7) Black Fridays are usually near the winter time, so I suggest that you wear some warm clothes. I also suggest that you also bring an umbrella. I remember one year where my cousin and I were waiting in line at Best Buy and it was raining and we had no umbrella. That experience was terrible... You can always put these items back into the car when the store is about to open.

8) Once the doors open in these stores, expect Chaos! People would be literally running to get there items. Don't be surprised if you get trampled... Some stores like to video tape their store's Black Fridays, so don't be surprised. This is the point where coming to the store with two people is useful. You assign one person to get all items and the other person to stand in line. Trust me, you want to implement this plan. It's the most efficient way to get in and out of a store. Once you retrieve all your items, have you friend in line to purchase them. If you don't implement this plan, expect to stand in line for another hour... Efficiency is how I like to do things.

9) Your first store should be the store with the most items that you want to buy. After leaving the first store, you can head to another store that is less popular. However, if you delegated groups to each store, you end of maximizing the amount of items you get by the end of the day.

10) From experience, below I rank these stores by popularity.
Best Buy > Fry’s Electronics > Circuit City > Walmart > > Comp USA Target > Staples > Office Max/Depot > etc.
*The more popular, the longer you wait in line and the harder it will be to get your items…

11) Of all the stores I’ve been to, I really like going to Best Buy. Best buy would provide warm refreshments and food to people waiting in line. They would also hand out a map of the store to everyone. The worst experience I had was a Circuit City. I really think CC is really unorganized and the management doesn’t regulate people cutting in line.

12) Make Black Friday and fun experience with some friends. Just don’t expect to get everything you want…

JP

Some people like paying retail. Some don't.
I belong to those who does not like to pay retail. Why should I? Companies/enterprises/large stores make money anyway. Unless we are talking about mom and pop small local stores. Then if you buy something you support them, which is totally fine.
So how I do my shopping - online! The only things I get in regular store is groceries. For everything else I go online.
90% of my purchases are from eBay. I buy my clothes, electronics, etc there. The rest 10% I get from Amazon, Newegg, Frys, Circuit City.
It's important to compare prices too. So before I buy on eBay, I always check prices and compare them to other stores, like Amazon. And if I find better deals, I go there. Dealsplus site helps me a lot to find even better deals with special coupons on special items and also it introduces me to new sites that I did not know before. So I think online shopping is the best and easiest. Plus a lot of them offer free shipping and no sales tax, like Amazon. So you are able to save $$.
Sometimes you don't have to wait for Black Friday as prices are way too low all year around. Just make sure if you use your credit card asa payment method for online purchases, you pay it off, otherwise you will end up with a big balance on your credit card - it's so easy to use plastic instead of real cash. Oh, forgot to mention - a lot of sites are accepting PayPal, and even giving some cash back if you use PayPal as a payment (Compusa is one of them). So you can save even more $$.
So good luck to all and have fun shopping!!!

1. Make a list of what you want ahead of time. Compare prices & compare black friday prices. Black friday circulars usually come out a few days before. Have at least 2 friends go to each location. one to line up & the other to snatch the items. combine your list & divide the goods afterwards.
2. dress warm. most people start to line up around 2-3am depending on location. the greatest specials are usually limited to the first 10-20 people!!

Planning, planning and more planning.  Research on what items you want will go on sale and where, be sure to write notes regarding details. When the day comes, stay focus go directly to them and do not get diverge in other deals.

Tips and advices:

a) One should plan out the items to attack on. Especially on the quantities that are limited should be dealt with first.

b) Bring a friend along, that's one more body to help you carry stuff or even take turns waiting on the line for you so can catch some Z's.

c) Use credit cards that offer cashback, award points, etc. This is the great time to use these cards because most of your transactions should be in the hundreds if not thousands.

d) You have to stay alert and vigilant. People are going steal your stuff but its up to you to guard it with your life.

My tip is simple but necessary. Don't get mad or depressed if you don't get anything you want?

Some tips for Black Friday.

1. Organize a shopping group. The group initially starts out large. Everyone in the group submits what is on their wishlist. Organize the list by store(s) and then assign small groups (no more than 3 to 5) of your members to a certain store. It is the job of these people to shop that store until all items on the list are purchased. A handful of people are assigned as "runners". Runners are those people who can shuttle other group members from store to store should they need to use a credit card or provide proof of identification. The 3 to 5 person group holds the item until that person can arrive. The runner also brings food to the small groups and collects jackets or other layers of clothes that have been shed.

2. Since we are on the subject of clothes, wear layers. You might find yourself outside for quite some time. Wear layers so you don't pass out waiting for the checkout lines. Utilize your "runner" to come pick up your jacket when you are done with it.

3. Research online ads and circulars. Also, ask your working-age kids which of their friends work at certain stores. Try to gain an inside edge by talking to these people to find out what is really going to be a great bargin.

4. Runners should have a large vehicle. SUVs, vans, or even a covered trailer should be used. Afterall, you have a large group of people and they will have lots of stuff! You want it protected from the weather.

5. Pack small snacks so you can maintain your energy.

6. Take the furthest parking stall if you have to. Don't waste time driving endlessly up and down rows of cars looking for the miracle spot. Let someone else waste their time while you are in the store getting their stuff!

7. Carry cash if you can. Phone lines are absolutely jammed with all those online and credit card terminal transactions. Pay cash and save time. Plus, you gain the advantage of not paying 28% interest on a toy that will be broken by February!

8. Buy online through the store's website and then have it shipped to your local store. Many major retailers offer this service. May not find great deals that way, but you will save a bundle of time not rushing from store to store to find empty shelves.

9. If you are going to camp out in front of a store the night before, might as well enjoy some comfort. Have your spouse bring you a piping hot bowl of soup or some smoked meats around 3AM. Then smile as wide as you can while eating it in front of the poor sap who didn't bring a single ounce of food and is freezing and hungry! Repeat this with some breakfast burritos or sandwiches at 6 or so!

10. Have fun! If you didn't find something, big deal. Wait til next week when they roll out their next round of sales. If necessary, hit eBay or craigslist to see if you can find what you missed out on.

The best tip I can give anyone is to not overlook the online deals! Yes, the in-store deals may be a bit better and more enticing, but sometimes it's really not worth the hassle. Instead, check out the various online retailers for their Black Friday deals (some of which may not even be advertised at the usual places), be sure to be on emailing lists and to read up on deal sites/forums such as DP!

Don't underestimate the online deals! :)

Tips:

1. Avoid Best buy, it's the most crowded and not really worth the hassle (if you're not within the 1-40 person range you might as well leave).

2. Stock up on Wii's now, they're suppose to be rare once again (and I'm assuming balance boards as well).

3. Don't listen to the weather man, it's night and its cold no matter what, so don't try to be a man and show up in shorts.

4. Bring a friend to save spots so you can take bathroom breaks ( don't forget food or chairs either).

5. Don't think you can come last minute and blend in with the crowd, people notice and due to fire codes lines are usually only let in small groups at a time.

6. Be Polite, I'm sure the employees don't like getting there before sunrise and they couldn't be paid enough for dealing with all those angry, sleep deprived, cold people.

7. Respect your fellow man in line, just don't let them cut!

8. Don't think you can leave a chair or item to reserve your spot all night while you sleep, it won't happen.

9. Research, research, research.

10. Happy Holidays and good luck.

No tip, just experience. It was horrible. A mob of Walmarters early in the morning and not enough coffee in me. Didn't even get what I wanted. Next time I'll shoot for the lesser items first unless I snagged a place at the front of the line.

Tip:
Looking for rebate items can be a big deal. A couple of year ago I picked up a 200GB Maxtor hard drive from Staples for $20 after rebate. Paid $70 in the store and immediately when I got home I filled out their online rebate form and in a few weeks had my $50 back. Deals like this can go fast so being to store's early can also help.

Black Friday? Already!? Here's my 2 cents! Last year i built a whole PC on black Friday, just in one store! Electronic Fry's was my choice and i saved about 200$ on a 700$ PC. Just a heads up, prepare for huge lines!!!!

Getting there early is key, but knowing where in the stores to attack first is even more important. Cant waist time searching for the correct area.

Steps to Success

1. Select a store that you want to shop from.
2. Do some research online to find out what products will be on sale.
3. Eat plenty before you head out to the store, since the wait in line will eat away at you. Try to bring snacks, a portable chair, or even a pillow. Whatever will get you through the night.
4. The key to success is how early you get there. The earlier you wait in line, the closer you are to the front.
5. When entering the store, prioritize the products you want according to your desire.
6. Walk at a brisk pace and don't be afraid to grab whatever you'd like! Good luck.

Most important: Bundle up & have a great time! You might not catch the greatest deals of the year, but it's just great to spend time with your friends & family waiting in line in the weeeee hours...

Have a ful-filling dinner & try to take a power nap before you head out. Dress approperatly! I remember being bundled up like a snowman one year because it was so cold. Bring friends & music for the road, cuz you might be stuck in traffic for a while. Good Luck!

Obviously choose a store that usually has less traffic than other locations... and buy a smartcar and park it in your spot. it's portable, comfty... and has the ability to run people over without exerting too much of your energy wasted from waiting all night

no really. it will be cold but that's part of the fun in waiting. it will be boring so bring something like scrabble or monooly to play. it might be quiet so bring some music and if you get lucky you might find an outlet to charge that laptop that happens to have whole seasons of himym or scrubs or office.. or 70s show

1. have fun and don't get depressed if you dont get what you want, realistically you're probably going to find something you'll like anyways, even if it's a small thing.
2. divide and conquer, it's the way to go.
3. be prepared for boredom, aka waiting.
4. DON'T spend too much, I know sales are nice and all, but seriously materialism isn't everything! ha ok there you go.

Based on my experience last year, here are my following tips and suggestions:

- Never shop alone. Make sure you bring *somebody* with you. It's always great to have an extra body with you that can stand in line, help carry items, etc. If you get in the store right when the doors open, it might be a good idea to keep your guest towards the checkout to avoid standing in line forever. TXTing is a good way to communicate across the store.

- Arrive early! Following with the tip above, bringing a shopping companion is great. But getting them to wake up early to go shopping with you, can be tough. Don't wait until 10AM to go casually browsing through stores. Many stores have specific sales that last for only a few hours. So if you can get there when the store opens, that is your best bet for finding great deals quickly and efficiently.

- Come prepared. Follow Black Friday deals beforehand at sites such as Dealspl.us, and make sure you check ALL the stores for deals. Even stores you may not shop at regularly might have a killer sale, so it might be worth it to research the Black Friday deals so you know what to expect.

- Plan your route. The more stores you hit, the more chances of landing that killer deal. Don't spend too much time at one store. And prepare a route of stores you want to hit, and keep the driving time to a minimum.

- Get used to the layout of the store. Some stores such as Fry's Electronics, tend to throw random sale items all throughout the store. If you know what displays are out of the ordinary, you will be able to spot them out from a distance. If you are shopping for a specific item, when the doors first open that morning, it would be beneficial to know a direct path to the items.

- Buying decision. Don't spend too much time thinking about whether or not to spend money on an item. If cost is an issue, don't burn through all your money at once. You never know what items you might see while traveling to the checkout to tickle your impulse buying bone. If cost is NOT an issue, time is your enemy. Spending too much time comparing two items can really limit your chances of finding more deals, and that what it all boils down to.

- Have fun. Don't get crazy, and don't argue with the sales people (they will have plenty of customers that day, so one customer that is giving them a hard time is no big deal to them). Bring plenty of money, and be sure to have a vehicle that can hold your items. You may end up purchasing a brand new TV if the right sale hits. Nothing is worse that getting a new flat screen, and trying to haul it home in your two seater Geo.

My tip is concenring to circuit city and best buy. When they have those really cheap computer laptops for sale, the only chance to get them is start waiting online the night before blackfriday. Because the store usually gives out a ticket at around midnight, and only the people who obtained these ticket can buy those cheap computers. So if you want these deals, you better skip a day of sleep!

All right, another tip. Check with your store in advance if they give out additional discounts for people who go early. For instance, Coach has a big sale that day, however if you're one of the first 100 or so people in line, they give you a paper voucher to get an additional percent off the already discounted deal.

Be sure to look on the ground if you walk around. A lot of times, people throw these vouchers on the ground. If you find one, you may be able to make use of it and get an even better deal.

1. Go stand in line as early as you can. (even evening of day before).
2. Focus on high value items ( LCD TV, Laptop) get substantial savings.
3. Bring enough supplies( eat, drink) and sit ( folding chair)

Do not waste your time waiting in line all night. Rather shop on the internet from the comfort of your home.

My advice is simple. Black Friday is great. Friends and family get together shop,eat,talk etc...Getting a good deal should be everyday not just Black Friday. My advice is don't just shop on "BLACK FRIDAY" Shop all year round for deals online and in stores. The really great deals that are advertised are usually "limited stock" or "while supplies last" and unless you really love waiting outside in the cold in the early morning, then being a smart and aware shopper all year round could save you time and avoid that and while everyone else is running around crazy, fist fighting for parking spaces you can enjoy the day of shopping knowing you may have already gotten some great deals not just on one day but everyday. Nothing wrong with "BLACK FRIDAY" I go out every year and I usually have a few things to buy, but stores have sales all year round take advantage of them also. Everyone on this site finds great deals all the time. Dealsplus community is like "BLACK FRIDAY" all year long.

My advice is to have a group a family or friends go to the stores together so you are able to split up. Also, I believe you should get to the store EARLY, otherwise you might miss out. On the other hand, you can always shop online and find the same things, although it won't be as fun!

Black Friday requires mandatory preparation.

You must first research all the stores and determine which stores carry the best deals for the market you are buying in. If you want to buy electronics, do not only look at Best Buy or Circuit City but look to Fry's and Radioshack too as these stores are sometimes forgotten. I think many people also haven't switched to the online Black Friday as many website put on amazing deals and I know dealspl.us will be my and many peoples headquarters for Black Friday online.

Once you have done research and have identified the goods you wish to buy, then prioritize and focus on the goods that are most realistic to you. Don't go get that free sound card when you aren't building a computer instead go get that monitor deal to upgrade you CRT monitor.

Finally,whether you were successful or not, you need to just calm down and relax. Do not get upset over not getting a deal as without Black Friday it wouldnt be possible in the first place and you are getting mad because of the day if you see every failed attempt at a deal as something to plague you.

Enjoy the day as it only comes once a year.

And thanks to Dealspl.us this one will be the best yet.

I make a party out of it. Last year was the best year. My new girlfriend (then) and 7 people (friends and family) stayed over my house. I have 4 Computers (working) and one laptop. We stayed up all night and hit all the best sites, and also gathered intel for our morning assault on the brick and mortar "sites". It was more of a late night early morning party where we spent a lot of money and made a lot of great deals. Stuff was coming for weeks. This year won't be big, but with planning and a new girl, it's gonna be a blast!!!

1. Come early like around 7PM, so you are in front of the line.
2. Know what you want, it make your time at BF really easy.
3. Bring Food and wear warm clothes
4. Good Luck & Have Fun

Make sure to get there super early

Once again, like many, my tip is CHECK ONLINE!!! Most of the deals I wanted last year were little stuff, like video games and things like that. At Midnight a lot of the deals were activated online and I got a really good price, and sometimes even free shipping. Sure I had to wait a week or so for it to arrive, but I also got to sleep in! *Priceless*

Also, COME TO THIS SITE and figure out what you NEED, not necessarily want. Make a list based on priorities. This can be based on savings, or things you really want to get based on NEED. Don't get caught going spending crazy because of all the deals and end up getting a huge credit card bill for stuff you don't need. THATS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO!!!

Also, if you can, DIVIDE and conquer! I hope you all have friends! And I bet you all are going to go shopping anyways. Instead of going as a group why not split up. You can hit many more stores in a shorter period of time, and your chances of getting everything you want will be much better!!! Of course this will take more planning and strategy but with DP posting the ads pretty early, you should have about a week to figure out what stores you need to hit up, and plan it out.

And last but not least. Drive safe, and just because there are a lot of jerk people out there, especially on Black Friday, don't go to their level and enjoy your day. The holidays are already stressful enough!!!

1. Planning is the key to your success! Visit The Store Two Days In Advance. If you know someone who works in the store, ask them where they plan on staging the merchandise (especially if they will only have ten of something at the good price). It is very important to know the layout of the store before you have to rush through it.

2. Don't plan on spending more than a few minutes in the store—get in, get out, move on to the next store and don't use a shopping cart, you can skirt around traffic much more quickly and efficiently.

3. Sign up for newsletters, use coupon codes, and start shopping early. Bring along any expired store coupons that you have. Retailers are more likely to honor them during the do-or-die holiday season.


4. If Black Friday doesn't produce the killer buy you're searching for, there's always the second brass ring of online retail -- "Cyber Monday," or the Monday after Thanksgiving. Retailers see this day as their first opportunity to target holiday shoppers trapped at their work computers, so a lot offer additional promotions.

5. Make sure it's a bargain. Compare prices at other retailers. Sometimes a Black Friday special is not the great deal it’s pumped up to be. Sites like Dealspl.us, pricegrabber.com and shopzilla.com let you comparison shop easily.


6. Eat before shopping. Get lots of rest the day before shopping. Shop with a buddy. The buddy system allows you to split your lists and divide and conquer. Plenty of sleep the night before will make the day go much better. Good Luck :)

1. Research ahead of time and know what you are looking for and where to get it so as to not spend an unnecessary amount of time in the store.

2. show up early so as to not miss out on items you want.

3. bring friends and give them lists of items to look for.

4. pack snacks so you dont have to stop and eat. when all the items are found and shopping is complete, then stopping to eat is ok.

1. Try to find out how many of the item the store will have on hand when they open. If there's several items you want, go for the larger stock first.

2. Buy ahead... buy the item that goes on sale on Monday or Tuesday and then come back the week after and get refunded the price difference. Most stores will honor this practice.

3. Be prepared to camp out. If you MUST have that special item, be prepared to wait in line ahead of time at least 4 hours before the store opens. Crazy? Maybe but hey I've had my Nintendo Wii since the first month they were released. If it's cold don't forget to dress warm. Bring some of those heat packs to put in your gloves or shoes to keep warm. A chair is also a must.

IMO, these are the most useful tips on Black Friday. They're not the standard "get up early, get in line, blah blah blah" type of tips. I assume that you already know all of that stuff.


1) Most of the best deals are bait and switch scams. They only stock like 10 of the items and they are advertised and sold purely to get people in to the store to buy the alternative products. If it seems like an amazing deal, it probably is too good to be true and don't get your hopes up. Focus on a lesser but still good deal.

2) Before you go stand in line early in the morning, call in to find out what the store's Black Friday price matching policy is. Some stores will price match internally. Do your research. If the store has internal price matching (specifically allowed on Black Friday) and you know that the item you want will be on sale, buy it early and come in at your leisure on Black Friday and get your refund.

3) Shop in packs. One person to a store, and that person buys the items from that store for everyone in the group. Makes for less standing in lines, less shopping, and better deals.

4) Do your research online. A lot of in-store "sales" won't be any better than what you can get online at any point in time -- no lines. In addition, a lot of Black Friday "sales" are designed to unload old/obsolete or underselling products. Before you grab a deal purely because its a deal, do your homework. A good smartphone helps with this, so you can look things up online.

Hope these help.

Here are some tips that I've heard of.

1. If you know something is going to be on sale, buy it ahead of time. Then after all of the black friday rush is gone you can go in and get your money refunded.

2. Wal Mart will price match most deals. If something is on sale you can get it there. I don't think they will price match deals like "buy one get one half off" or "buy two get one free."

Tips and Awareness:

1. Find what you WILL BUY FIRST!!

2. Make a MAP for efficiency and quick work!

3. Find out where the store will store the Sale Items..

4. Go EARLY to the items you want the most!

5. Wait and wait....than BUY BUY BUY!!

Here are some tips from what I experience:

1) Look at the ads in advance so that you know what you want to get.
2) make a list of what you want
3) Pick one store over the rest so that you can go stand on line for that store early. I would advice getting on line between 7pm and 930 pm the day before.
4) Check online Thanksgiving morning very early so that you can try to buy your items online instead of getting online. Last year I bought almost everything I wanted on Thanksgiving morning around 730am online and then I went to get other things from the store in the morning.
5) Electronics are the hardest things to get so if you are going to wait in front of the store for something I would say do it for electronics. What I do is stand in front of Best Buy to buy my electronics then when I am done I drive out to Woodbury Commons to buy clothes and other stuff.
6) Again, check online very early Thanksgiving morning as last year most things were on sale on Thanksgiving online.
7) Finally, Be safe. Try to wait in front of a store that isn't out of the way or secluded. Don't carry large amounts of cash, it is better to pay with a credit card or atm card so if someone does something stupid and robs the line you don't have any cash to lose. If you are going to wait on line in front of a store dress according to the weather, it gets cold at night especially if it is raining. Also, if you are waiting on line in front of a store don't do it alone, have friends and family stay with you. This ensures you aren't alone and makes the time pass faster. Also, bring entertainment and have fun shopping.

HAGGLE the price down! Black Friday is the stores way of breaking even profit-wise, so they can stock up for the december rush. They need money, and to move out inventory. Go to the store with the most expensive stuff, usually best buy or other electronics stores, and bring ads with you. Make sure you memorize phrases like, "this ad says its half price at wal mart", and "the accescories for it are so much, i can't afford the tv", you'll gat everything at up to 50% off if you're good.

make sure they have enough of the item you want before you get in the line for whole night!

We have a town of about 100,000 just a couple hours drive. It has all the big stores (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.). To get the big items (big screens, computers,...) you will have to arrive early and wait in line, but for all the other stuff I arrive at 10:00 a.m., find the deals I want, and don't fight crowds or lines.

We are seasoned Black Friday Bargain Hunters for over five years. We live in a small town about 100 miles from a major city. The first year we left our home around mid-night to join the thongs of bargain hunters. But after our white knuckled, heart pounding drive, dodging deer, antelope, and cattle (yep, rancher's fence was down) we started doing the smarter thing - getting a motel room! However we are organized. We seek, we hunt and we find. There are three of us in our family and here is our advice:

1. Look at the fliers and determine which store is first (we usually hit around 5-6 stores in a three hour session).
2. Make sure your cell phone(s) are charged. Stores like to 'hide' their specials to make you buy more by staying longer. Best Buy & WalMart are famous for this. Once we found a rolling tool box we were after in the produce section of Super WalMart and the 10 speed bikes for the kids were found in the childens clothing section and the 22" computer monitors ($146 each) we wanted were found in Best Buy in the music section behind the DVDs.
3. Carry chairs, warm clothing and smart coffee mugs. The coffee mugs plug into your cigarette lighter, can boil water for instant coffee/tea/hot chocolate and even hot soup, if you so desire. 4. Know where the bathrooms are. Especially after mid-night!
5. In stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City designate one person to grab the shopping cart and hoover around the check stands for an earlier escape. Let the others do the running and call when they find the hidden item.
6. Enjoy your breakfast when you get back to the motel and begin your quite snickering as other motel guest start drooling over the black friday sales ads stating, "Honey! Just look at this ad! Oh my gosh, hurry, maybe we can get this before the store, runs out!"
7. Take your shower and a well deserved snooze before heading home.
8. Enjoy the rest of the day!

buy first, think later.

i have no experience with Black friday. Just want Ipod :)

One time I was black friday shopping at best buy, and the lines were ridiculously long for the cash registers (obviously) and looped around the store.

However, I coincidentally had to return an item that same day, and since nobody RETURNS stuff on black friday, the return line was very short. And, since they were doing the return for us anyway, they also checked us out for the stuff we were buying.

We weren't expecting that to happen but it worked out very nicely for us. So, basically, if you want a chance at a short checkout line, return an item simultaneously :)

If you go to Best Buy, make sure you go early. Bring lots of blankets and pillows, and a few friends to keep your place in line in case you need to go to the bathroom. Body warmth really helps. If you live in Michigan like I do, you should also bring one of those big portable kerosene heaters. It's also not a bad idea to bring along a semi-automatic assault rifle to defend your space as well as your place in line.

Going early to any shop such as Best Buy, Circuit City, or any of the many electronic stores around may increase chances of getting what you've wanted! Waiting in line over night requites a sleeping bag and plenty of water. I truly have never done this myself I am always out of town during black Friday with family which makes it so much harder to get anything I want; but with all do luck, HAVE A LIST on what you need not what you WANT, and go straight for that! Remember what's in which aisle by going a few nights before.

Actually i take that back, have a list of what you want and need :)

Well, this year's Black Friday lands directly on my birthday which sucks. But here are my advices for this year's Black Friday (last year went well for me):

1) Find out the ads and deals online right when the ads are released so you'll have time to compare deals and find which ones you like best

2) Go to the store and find the sections that your item will be in (as this will make the trip more efficient and faster so you can get in, get out)

3) Call up your friends and ask if any of them are waiting in line at the store you REALLY want to get into. Offer to buy them dinner or bring food or whatever they desire (keep it clean)

4) Bring a chair to sit on, MP3 players, laptops, TV, whatever you can to entertain yourself if you're planning to stay overnight.

5) Bring FRIENDS along as the tasks of getting the items will be much quicker (last year I had about six friends there to get stuff with me, and I met a bunch more at the place)

6) Last but not least, EAT THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH YOUR FAMILY! This is very important so that you'll at least have a decent meal to keep your energy up. Then dash to the store and camp there.

7) Good luck, have fun, don't die ^^

Make sure you're not buying something you really don't need, just because it's a really great deal. If something costs a penny and you have no use for it, then it's still a waste!

That reminds me of the story where there's a pile of cow manure on the side of a highway for a few months with a sign saying "Cow Manure: $1 million". Cars pass by it for months until one day the sign says "Cow Manure: $50" and there's a huge car accident from people making a mad dash to purchase the pile.

Bring a big bottle of asprin!!!

You can always shop on the Internet.
Stop and think of the myriad benefits: no crowds, no lines, no need to change out of your pajamas. What’s more, many online retailers offer sales and special discounts on the Friday after Thanksgiving — and sometimes those sales kick in at midnight on the night before Black Friday. It might be a weird way to spend the wee hours of the morning, but you’re guaranteed not to get scratched, kicked or trampled.

Don't forget about Cyber Monday, the largest ONLINE sale after Black Friday. Deals are just as good, plus you don't have to get out of bed.

Ok, some more:

I agree with some people posting here. I've done this several time, but the past two, I did it just for fun (I know, waking up early just to make a line is insane, but someone asked me to be her line-mate haha). Do it thinking is a lottery, don't expect to get things for free, if you do, great. Don't expect to get everything you're looking for, but if you get it.. awesome.

So.. continuing:

6. Many rumors run about specials in stores. If you don't see a flier and particularly, if it's not dated, don't trust it. Some pages at the beginning mix past year's fliers with current ones, confusing people. I think DealsPlus did it really well and very organized last year.

7. Electronics is a big deal this day. Don't be confused, I once ended up at a clothing store, and seriously, it wasn't just me, but the person I was going with didn't believe it was big savings.

8. I said that before and I'll say it again: Balance the fact that you'll probably will waste valuable time waiting in line. So, you can take advantage of it by spending quality time with a good person, or even a book.
If time=money for you, then use that "time" wisely to shop something online. Ask yourself how much does it cost to you spending long time making a line in a most likely cold morning, at the risk of not getting what you're looking for. If that equates enough to get it online for a bit more. Get it online!

9. It's Fun! Don't take it personal! People will be confused and they might even take stuff from your cart. Be polite when asking people you saw taking stuff from your cart. They are as excited as you they might not even know what they are doing.

10. As fliers come out, research online, check if prices are really good. Check DealsPlus for previous deals to see if it worth it. Or if you might get something good just waiting a little bit. For example, computer manufacturers, do everything in they power to lower the prices in September. Coupons, sales, back to school weekend sales. They do it every year. So don't think this is the only chance you'll get. Particularly, when prices of electronic devices are lowered so often.

10.b. If you have been looking for something for some time. This might be the time to get it. And if you did your homework, it would be easier for you, to spot the good deals. If you are looking for a "generic" device like a GPS. Make sure you read reviews before buying the stuff. Some stores have weird returning policies that day.

11. REBATES: Some of them work only for ONE item per household. Unless you have many addresses (no POBoxes) to put on your receipts, don't get more than you need.

Again, that's it for now.

scope out the store one day before to know where the departments are located.
also, items you might be looking for are sometimes located elsewhere because of limited space, so if you were early and dont see an item in sight look around.
- i remember seeing a deal for 17" lcd monitors at bestbuy and didnt see them in the computer section, i almost gave up... walked to the game section and there was a mountain of lcds. I grabbed 4! within a few seconds after, they were gone. -

be in line at 3am (4am would be pushing it a little), midnight to be safe IF it is an item you cant afford to lose on.

Compare all the black friday deals that are leaked online, and see which store has the most things you might need. it would be better to go the store that you know you will buy more things from.

after you are done, you can go to other stores and check out things that might be good but didnt sell.
ALSO, some locations will lower the prices on things they need to get rid of after the BF rush. this is usually around noon or after.

Hey everyone, I just remembered another one. So as you may or may not know, many stores let you buy an item and if you find it cheaper within a certain amount of time, you can get that difference in amount. Same idea, pretty much. Many stores will let you buy the item you want and when that store puts that same item on sale, they let you get the amount difference. This means you can go to a story the day or week before black friday, buy your massive TV, then on black friday, you can go back to the store and ask for a price adjustment. This way you get the item you want, and for the price you want. You could just save a trip by buying on the actual sale day, but you risk the chance of having someone else buy the item before you. Good luck all.

I have never lined up at a store for black Friday, and I wouldn't recommend it either, especially if you are only buying one or two things. If you do decide to stay over or go early morning, I would suggest you go with friends and family so that one person can stay in line while you run around the store. Online shopping is very convenient, you don't have to spend gas on driving to the store, and you don't have to deal with checkout lines. However, I found that last year, a lot of great deals were sold out by like noon, so wake up early. Last year I went to a Circuit City around like 11 am... and there were some really good deals still left, but honestly after looking at the long checkout line, I didn't think it was worth waiting. So there you go, those are my tips, I hope they help someone.

My tips for shopping on Black Friday is to check the items online for each store. They sometime go on sale online that Thursday when the store is closed, but the order can be placed online and sometime can be picked up for free (some stores) on friday after the lines are finished. Another tip is when standing in line for a specific item try to verify that the store did get the minimum number as stated in the flyer, sometimes they did get any and there is not point in staying in line and waiting for an item they not have.

Some outlet malls have major sales, and they start at midnight! However, I recommend that you don't go alone. With a group, you can make a list of what the others want and split up. Also, I highly recommend carpooling because traffic is very painstaking to deal with in addition to limited parking spaces. It's usually best to go about one hour early to avoid being at the back of the traffic line.

When I went, I shopped at Aeropostale because everything in the store was 50% off! The line was a bit long, which is why you split up with the group.

Here are 5 tips...for black friday
1. Know what item you want
2. Do your research before Friday (how much does it cost at different stores?)
3. Check the Ad's to see what will be cheap
4. Get to the store early (even if it means camping out)
5. Pack some food and drinks if you go camping out.

Beware of rebates!

I bought a bunch of stuff on BF a few years ago. It was a super great deal after the rebates. But I only got two of the rebates. Office depot is especially bad about not paying. The company that processes their rebates has a bad bbb.org rating. My advice is watch out for rebates, and check out the companies before buying.

Some tips on Black Friday:

1) Get up early! If you like your sleep, plan to take a nap afterwards, but do not start shopping late on Black Friday. There will be shoppers camped out before any of the stores open (and they open early that day!) so if you want a deal or a parking space, make sure you set your alarm!

2) Shop with a purpose. Black Friday is not the day to wander around, casually looking at gift ideas. There will be crowds, full parking lots, and better deals than you’ve seen all year! Do your research - look at the ads and pay attention to which products are in which stores and for how much. Then you can go directly to the stores that interest you and not waste time and energy fighting extra crowds.

3) Shop in one place. Black Friday is not the day to drive all around town checking out every mall in the city. For one thing, once you have a parking space, you’ll want to keep it! Figure out which mall has the most of what you’re looking for and plant yourself there for the day, going to different stores, but not moving your car. I look for a place that gives me easy access to Best Buy, Kohl’s, Old Navy and Staples.

4) Streamline. This is probably not the day to bring the stroller, the bulky diaper bag, or the dog on a leash. You’ll be moving in crowds and want to be as streamlined as possible. Make sure your purse is zipped or snapped closed and think about taking packages back to the car periodically. The less bulky packages you’re carrying, the easier it will be for you to move through the crowds!

5) Get a team. Find out which of your family and friends will be attacking the stores on Black Friday and go together. You’ll be glad you’re all in one car looking for one parking space and not in four separate cars!

6) Divide and conquer. The other great thing about shopping as a team is that you can spread out. If you are organized and have listed what you want from each store, assign certain people to different stores to get everything there. You will save precious time and sanity!

7) Go with a sense of humor. You do not want to be one of those people who loses their cool and ends up on the news for attacking the person who got the last PlayStation! Instead, relax, be kind to your fellow shoppers and the stressed-out retail clerks, and plan to meet up with friends for dinner or coffee to share your shopping stories.

8) Check the ads online first. You can see black friday ad scans (which are usually correct but not guaranteed) before the papers come out here.

9) Think about using the Internet for your actually shopping. If you dislike crowds or getting up early, then you might want to do your Christmas shopping online! Some stores will give you the same deals on their website, while some will have different deals, so you’ll want to check on that. Be sure to check Amazon Black Friday Deals to vote on the items you want at ridiculous prices ($79 wii is sweet!)

Having played the "Black Friday" game a number of times, here are some pointers to help out you "newbies!"

First,
Check in advance to see whether the product you're after is offered at multiple stores. If so, use Dealsplus and other Black Friday sites to determine what other people's experiences have been at each store - then you can pick the best one to "camp out" at. You may also find that certain products are available for web purchase starting at midnight on Black Friday.

If you ARE going to do some retail "camping," be prepared. Try to go with at least one other person so that you can take turns standing in the line while the other takes a break. In cold climates this can really save you a miserable night and/or early morning in the cold! Bring snacks and possibly a thermos with a hot drink to keep you warm. Cheap hand/foot warmers (the 99 cent kind that generate their own heat) will also do wonders for your comfort.

If the product being advertised is a regular stock item, buy it ahead of time and get a price match on Black Friday. This doesn't always work, because often the Black Friday products are "special buy" models that aren't available before the big day.

Last, be sure to read all the other advice offered here ... there are a LOT of great ideas out there to make your Black Friday experience the most pleasurable and effective use of your time possible!

By the way, I'm typing this on a "Black Friday" notebook computer I scored last year at Staples (which I've found, by the way, to be one of the better Black Friday retail outfits) ... money well spent AND enjoyed!

Good Luck!!!
Steve

Everyone is probably aware that several stores will price match. Black Friday gives you the opportunity to use that to its max. My experience is with Best Buy. I will stay with that as an example because they also offer a number of ways to "pay it forward" (i.e. - keep getting bonus offers or money back). This tip may work other places also.

Review all of the Black Friday ads you can in advance. Once you identify what you want - for example a new Plasma TV - you may want to go through the ads again to make sure no one else had a lower price. Assuming the same item is at Best Buy, they will price match it. (Be sure to review their website for details on their Price Matching Policy.) I have done this several times at the store. To make the process easier, I actually print out the competitor's ad from my computer. I have not had any problem even when the margin was huge. For example, Wal-Mart had the Legendary Edition of Halo advertised for $56.00 - a huge deal. The price at Best Buy was still $129.99, the same most other retailers were charging. I took my printout to the store and found the item. An associate in the gaming area looked at the ad and let me know to take the box to customer service. When I got to the counter, the representative looked at the ad and said, "That's a good deal!" She had to get the manager's approval (standard procedure). The manager looked at the markdown that was being requested on the computer and as she approved it said, "Who was offering it at this price." The rep showed her my ad. I walked out of there with a great find.

In addition, I would suggest you join the Best Buy Reward Zone. It is free. They give you points for every purchase you make. Once you save enough points, they will provide you a rewards certificate equal to cash at the store. In this case, I got points for the money I spent on the game. You can imagine how many points you would get from a large electronics purchase. (I don't have to imagine. I bought a $2,200 laptop from there once and got points back.) There often run double or triple points promotions. You also can get their credit card, which multiplies the points and multiples their special promotions bonuses. In addition, I qualified as a Best Buy Premier Silver member this year. That earns me even more points and special services like a longer return period and no restocking fee on items that carry that. (I just used both of the services mentioned.)

After that lengthy explanation (sorry...), you can see that one markdown can not only save you money: it can get you money back and earn you additional valuable services. I hope this helps.

Only one best way to find all the deals
dealspl.us
YES last time I found all my deals at one place at the deals plus..
So look for the Black friday adds and deals at this site..no where else

Despite the fact that deals have not been as great as they used to be, I still am up and at it by 3 or 4 am. I make sure to organize my lists very well the night before, and pick the order of the stores I'll hit according to which things I need/want the most. After hitting all the stores, I make the rounds again to the same stores. Sometimes I actually score more things on the second run through than the first. By making the second run at around noon, the crowds have died down, and you will find many of the hot items strewn around the store from them either flying out of people's carts, people not having enough money for the items, or they just had seconds thoughts. So if you don't have anywhere to be - do a second run-through! You'll be amazed at what you can get.

After experiencng a couple of these, here is my tip.
If i like the real early bird deals on laptops and desktops at BestBuy, I pay my 16 year old nephews/nieces $50 bucks to stand inline with cash.

I let him decide what time to get there as long as he realizes that if he does not get it, he doesnt get paid.

I wake up and its like early XMAS!!

sounds good!

Has anyone hit the midnight madness outlet sales on midnight of Thanksgiving? Was it worth your while?

perfect design thanks sites like boysfood :-PP

There were .zip files on here the last 2 years of the ads in print. Wonder if I'm overlooking something, because I can't find them.

good material thanks youporns =O

IF you are waiting in line for an item that there aren't many of in the store, ask the store employee to hand out tickets for it. Last year I was waiting in line for a Wii and while the manager was checking on us poor souls who were freezing I asked him nicely "Could you hand out tickets so people don't line jump and get ahead of us?" He said yes and I stayed the rest of the wait in my warm car waiting for the store to open. Might as well ask. He ended up making tickets for all the big ticket items so there would not be any chaos! Go ahead and ask! Also, make friends with the people you are standing with. Many of them have found me in the store and had grabbed many of the items I told them I wanted in line and handed them to me to help me. My friends and I did the same for them.

I've been doing this for 12 years now and have learned a lot! Here are a few tips:
Make sure everyone turns in their xmas list by Thanksgiving Day. Pack lots of snacks and drinks. Prepare breakfast ahead of time. Breakfast buriitos are quick, just heat & go. You should go with a group! Take 1 car with lots of room. Make sure you gas up the night before. Map out your day (what stores, what order) the night before with your group. It's best if eveyone stays the night together so you're not waiting on anyone. That way you all leave at the same time. Cell phones are a must! Program everyone's # in the night before. Call when you are done with your designated area, first one done stands in the check out line and holds the spot for your group. A watch is a must! Keep track of the time. This is not the time to brouse, focus on your list and get to the next store. When everyone is done, you can have a wrapping party. Then there is no need to hide gifts. Buy some chips, dips, and sub sanwiches ahead of time to put out for lunch while you're all wrapping. This is also a great day to put up the tree if you haven't already.