If you shop Wal-Mart on BF you know what I'm talking about. They don't mark what is under the plastic and they have them hidden throughout the store, can be very time consuming if looking for particular items.

Wal*Mart ALWAYS has pallets all over the store.

That's just another reason why I love Target..

http://www.santamariatimes.com/content/articles/2004/11/27/news/local/news01.jpg

Look at all the people, and NO pallets.

Got a suggestion on what they should do then for stores open 24/7?

Got a suggestion on what they should do then for stores open 24/7?

The problem is that they stock 25/7... I mean, Wal*Mart has stores open 24/7-- which it would seem like their stuff would be better organized but it's really bad.

You can be looking at CD's and find Wet Wipes, I just personally don't like Wal*Mart. Target is my place.

Super Target, or Target Greatland.. PLEASEEE!

If they would just mark the pallets it would be a lot better. That way you can wait at the pallet you want instead of wandering around searching.

If they would just mark the pallets it would be a lot better. That way you can wait at the pallet you want instead of wandering around searching.

Alot of stores have boxes of things that come packed from the manufactor, but then there is Wal*Mart. I think that they have some much of some things that they just ship all 10-15 things a pallet. Anyways, yeah-- if Pallets are labeled that would help

I wouldn't go to Walmart for a BF. It's too hostile for me.

I go to Walmart last for the Price Matching part. I did the pallet thing one year, that was horrible. I think they should close the store for an hour or 2 before 6am and let everyone in at the same time.

I hate that too, but I do love the fact they match the BF sale prices. My walmart is open 24 hours, so I go in around 4am and fill my cart with the items I want from other stores, then stay in the general area of the pallets for their specials. Most items if toys will be in that area, etc. I just hate the cart smashing. My sister and I went there last year and we got bumped by carts, smashed into, and literally shoved to get items. Im 5'11 and my sister is only 5'3 (shes older by 5 yrs), needless to say she was bumped and not me! LOL

The Walmarts I have been too give you a map of the store and what is where.... However I also know associates there, so I scout out what i want even if its covered in plastic and get it once they "reveil" it and im out of the store by 10-15 after 6.

Our Walmart is horrible to get around all the pallets. After the first year I refuse to take a cart. I have a huge see through mesh bag that I just load my stuff into.

My Wal-Mart has never had a pallet covered on BF, They have tons of carts with the big ticket items in it ALL over the place, though.

Wait, deal hunters actually shop at WM? Blasphemy, i tell you!

I live in Michigan and my Wal-Mart is 24 hours. It always closes early on Thanksgiving. Some things are out that night. You just need to search for them.:)

My Walmart is open 24 hrs but they close about 3am on BF and have everyone line up outside. They do have a manager come out and tell everyone where things are and let you know the purchase limits on things. I do like Walmart's price matching policies I usually get all my Target items there because I have no Target near me.

Last year at WM, most of the toys were in the toys section. I just had to figure out which pallet was for that dang FP piano that I wanted to get, so me and about 5 older ladies sort of "cut" into a part of each of the plastic liners to see what was in there! LOL I know, cheating, but hey, it worked! I was in and out of WM within 15 minutes!

Our Walmart is horrible to get around all the pallets. After the first year I refuse to take a cart. I have a huge see through mesh bag that I just load my stuff into.
Hey...I never thought of this....heck this yr I am taking to put it in then go back and get a cart...lol..Thans for the tip:g_dance:

Last year my Walmart in Maryland had maps that told where stuff was suppossed to be but some of it wasn't. I was glad to grab the stuff I really wanted. This year is up in the air. Target gets on my nerve year round, but my son likes it, so I always send him there.

Yea, the pallets stink, I have never made that my first or second choice because of that. I normally hit BestBuy and then TRU.

My 24 hour Walmart closes early on Thanksgiving but re-opens by 3am. I go in there, get all my price matching stuff then walk around until pallets are uncovered. Good thing is that they are always on top of the checkouts and I get out of there super early!

Hello all,

Pretty new to this and need a primer. Would someone please explain the pallet rule? I'd also appreciate a price matching explanation. I'll keep reading and hope to pick up more ideas and information as we move closer to lift off. As you can probably tell I've never hit the black friday sales. :)

Thanks.

At Wal-Mart, they bring all of their "blitz" items out on pallets. The problem is that the pallets are covered and wrapped and you have no idea what is in them. They put them all over the store so you have no idea where what you want is at. The price matching is easy...If you save the ads from the other stores, Wal-Mart will sell the same item at the same price as long as it is in stock. Welcome!!!!

Can someone explain "Pallet" rules? I never shop at walmart because it is very very crowded.

Also walmart usually "DOES NOT HAVE " Limited no. of items like other stores ( say just 50 DVD players or 100 Tvs etc). Even if I go to walmart at 10.00 AM, i can find stuff .

Walmart has lots of peices of things that are on sale.

Last to last yr they had bikes on sale for $25. That time I did not need one. But this yr I want 2 of them. Hope they give out bikes.

And where should we look for bikes??

Simonalex

Thanks for the explanations. For blitz/pallet items, do you mean the early bird type specials which usually have limited numbers and sell only during a certain time frame or do the pallets contain all the sale merchandise? Sorry to be so dense but I'm trying to get up to speed.

At our Wal-Mart, the early bird, 6am-11am, specials are mostly on pallets. But some of them are just stacked up in the aisles. However there are still a few items that they keep in the back until 6am. I think that's a bad idea. Our Wal-Mart is open 24 hrs. and a lot of people get there early. Me at 3:00. lol They only had 13 GameCubes 2 years ago. Instead of brining them out and using the first come first serve basis, they kept them in the back, brought them out at 6am and about 100 people were waiting for 13 games. Then the fights broke out. Luckily while two fights were happening around me, I ducked down low and got one. lol I won't fight for a game, but I will sneak in for the kill. lol:gd_shake:

Got the Pallet stuff.
But I wantto understand one thing- how do you know if walmart carries the same stuff which is in someother store for PMing? I mean it is hard to find the same model, same brand TV etc. DO you search for it at Walmart? That could be very time consuming??

Simonalex

Since we don't have many stores in our town, I just use price matching for everyday stuff. If we had a BB, TRU, or CC, I might then. If it is an item that I know Wal-Mart has and we have that store, I go the day before and make sure it's the same one. No, I don't waste precious time on BF. lol

Our Walmart has everything on Pallets too but they are not covered. But it makes it horrible to try to get through with all of the other people. A trick is to go in and then cut through the clothing dept and you usually come out in a good spot to get ahead of the pack! :o) Most of the people seem to stay in the main isles and then they get all bottled up and can't get to the other parts of the store.

I got the 2 last Game Boy Advances and a Digital Camera once when a huge fight was happening. I dashed around the fight and grabbed what I wanted from the clerk in Electronics. The others were too busy fighting to know that they had missed their chance lol

I am surprised to hear that the 24 hours ones are open still. Gosh, all the ones near me, like in Tinley park, the 24 hour kmart closes the night before, as does walmart, they are all closed Thanksgiving mid afternoon till the next morning.That really sucks that they dont close.

I went to WalMart last night, and it was crazy. It was about 10 o'clock-11 o'clock and I had to wait for two or three minutes before I could get through a walkway. I had to go two over just to get through, boxes everywhere.

I saw on the boxes it says "Return for Credit", "Each box cost the company about $0.85" -- That's crazy.

If our 24 hour WalMart closed early and reopened up again at 6 that would be fine with me. I would still get there at 3 and get in line. lol But since they don't close, I think it's stupid for them to not put out blitz items until 6. Then the store is packed and they can't get the pallets through the aisles. And that's when the fights break out. The blitz items won't ring up at sale price until 6 am. Common sense tells you if the store is open 24 hours and you wait until 6 to go, there probably won't be anything left. lol

I just get the price match items until the BF items are allowed to be put in your cart. But you do make a good point.

It's just been my experience that our store causes most of the fights. 2003 BF, they only got 13 of the GameCube bundles. We got there at 3 and 2 people were already waiting in electronics. They finally brought them out at 6 and there were at least 100 or more people waiting on 13 games then when the fights started, they were upset. If they are not going to close, they should put the items out and let people get what they want and get in line, it saves alot of trouble. A couple of years ago they did that and there were no problems, if you waited til 6 you got what was left. We got there at 3 and by 4:30, we were in line and ready to check out at 6. This also kept the aisles clear and we were 3rd in line so we were out of there by 6:15.

Yeah, having a 24 hour store allows me to check out by 6:30am. Depending on if I find everything right off the get go. I go super early to put all my price matching items in the cart then circle around the toys aisles with the pallets and go from there. I usually go to Walmart first or Toys R Us

Since we don't have a TRU, I go to Radio Shack next, they have the best stocking stuffers. Since we live in a small town they don't sell out before we get there from WalMart. Our Radio Shack doesn't get that busy until about 8 am on BF. By then I am in another store. lol Even though it would take longer to get out of WalMart, I think closing is best if they are going to wait until the last minute for blitz items.

Sorry, guys... But I am still kinda confused about the pallet thing. What exactly is it? I mean... what's the meaning of "pallet"? They are kinda "hidden" all over the store? What do you have to do to buy the items?

Sorry... it's just that English isn't my native language, and sometimes dictionaries don't help you much.

Sorry, guys... But I am still kinda confused about the pallet thing. What exactly is it? I mean... what's the meaning of "pallet"? They are kinda "hidden" all over the store? What do you have to do to buy the items?

Sorry... it's just that English isn't my native language, and sometimes dictionaries don't help you much.

When a store displays items for sale, there are usually wooden platforms that the items are stacked up on. Sometimes in very creative shapes. Those wooden platforms are called pallets, and we are referring to the entire display of sale items when we refer to pallets on this thread. Wal-Mart wraps the entire display and unwraps as the blitz/door buster items go on sale at 6:00 AM.

By hidden we mean that they'll set up a display of items in a department you don't expect. Such as turkey fryers over in Electronics, or some such. And since at a lot of Wal-Marts you can't see what is under the plastic wrap, you have to go ona search for the items you want to grab as soon as they are unwrapped and are on sale. So, the 'pallets' are 'hidden.'

We get a map at the entrance, which helps a lot.

I didn't read all replies, so someone may have already said this....but here's how we maneuvered thru the store.....

Most stores are set up the same, I think--the pallets in the main aisleways. You can do a pretty good job of maneuvering from section to section by weaving through the clothes racks in the middle of the store. It works better to do it w/out a cart, but not impossible! Between the 2 of us, we were able to hit all the pallets we wanted, and bypassed a lot of the congestion at the pallet itself.

When a store displays items for sale, there are usually wooden platforms that the items are stacked up on. Sometimes in very creative shapes. Those wooden platforms are called pallets, and we are referring to the entire display of sale items when we refer to pallets on this thread. Wal-Mart wraps the entire display and unwraps as the blitz/door buster items go on sale at 6:00 AM.

By hidden we mean that they'll set up a display of items in a department you don't expect. Such as turkey fryers over in Electronics, or some such. And since at a lot of Wal-Marts you can't see what is under the plastic wrap, you have to go ona search for the items you want to grab as soon as they are unwrapped and are on sale. So, the 'pallets' are 'hidden.'

Once more, thanks a lot for your explanation, Pam!!!!:) So, if the Walmart is 24/7 and we go there earlier, we may know where the itmes are, but not which items are in each display...Why do they do that??? It seems pointless to me.

Once more, thanks a lot for your explanation, Pam!!!!:) So, if the Walmart is 24/7 and we go there earlier, we may know where the itmes are, but not which items are in each display...Why do they do that??? It seems pointless to me.

Mine's 24/7 too--but they unwrap the pallets beginning at around 5:30 or so--the registers are closed till they open though, so you still have to wait.

Mine's 24/7 too--but they unwrap the pallets beginning at around 5:30 or so--the registers are closed till they open though, so you still have to wait.

Well, if I could get things, I wouldn't bother waiting... The point is, if we don't know where things are, there is more confusion for people to get stuff. I think it just makes people nervous and causes more mess. But there's no BF without mess, yeah?:gd_devild

Yeah, whats BF w/o some arguing, mad dashing, and shoving?? LOL

HEY!!!!!!!! My walmart is also open 24/7 but they will NOT comp on BF!!!!! They told me last year none of them were allowed. This stinks I tell you. wonder who I talk to about it?

My Walmart is open 24hrs and we just walked in about 4:30am, loaded up the cart with my PM items and waited for the Blitz item to be brought out. Our pallets were labled with their contents so there was no confusion on that, but getting close to the item you wanted was another story.

Can someone explain "Pallet" rules? I never shop at walmart because it is very very crowded.

Also walmart usually "DOES NOT HAVE " Limited no. of items like other stores ( say just 50 DVD players or 100 Tvs etc). Even if I go to walmart at 10.00 AM, i can find stuff .

Walmart has lots of peices of things that are on sale.

Last to last yr they had bikes on sale for $25. That time I did not need one. But this yr I want 2 of them. Hope they give out bikes.

And where should we look for bikes??

Simonalex


Bikes were located in our Wal-Mart's garden center the last couple of years.

I hate how they stuff the pallets in the most hard to reach places. God forbid several carts beat you as its a traffic jam. One year they put a pallet of this one toy in the pet aisle! Luckily a woman told me where it was so I got one, but how weird is that! no wonder why tons of people complained that year

If our 24 hour WalMart closed early and reopened up again at 6 that would be fine with me. I would still get there at 3 and get in line. lol But since they don't close, I think it's stupid for them to not put out blitz items until 6. Then the store is packed and they can't get the pallets through the aisles. And that's when the fights break out. The blitz items won't ring up at sale price until 6 am. Common sense tells you if the store is open 24 hours and you wait until 6 to go, there probably won't be anything left. lol


Our 24-hour Wal-Mart has the pallets out and ready to go by about 4 or 5, sometimes earlier depending on the item. Shoppers just are not allowed to touch anything on the pallets until 6.

Thats the rule with mine too

Mine's 24/7 too--but they unwrap the pallets beginning at around 5:30 or so--the registers are closed till they open though, so you still have to wait.

Ours is 24/7 also, but they would not dream of cutting open the pallets before 6:00 on the dot! They have 2 employees at each pallet armed with scissors and at 6:00 ( on the dot! ) they cut them open and then the chaos breaks out.:greenappl

Oh how the chaos starts. Shoving is always prominent at Walmart

We get a map at ours and since it's a 24hr. Walmart we go in and get in line by our pallet.
Every year though there are people who rip the plastic bags just a little to check whats under them:g_laughin It works out well.

All the 24 hours by me, I used to go to one in Schreville, IN, and they closed on Turkey day, and reopened on BF... no 24 hours then!

I am right in the middle between a 24 hour walmart and one that closes at 10pm. I always go to the 24 hour one to stay out of the lines in the cold

ill agree with most of you Walmart sucks

I am not a fan of Walmart, but I let my hubby persuade me to go there last year on BF. My problem wasn't just that everything was in covered pallets unmarked. The employees there had no clue where anything was. My hubby went to Electronics to look for a DVD player that was in the BF ad. The employee in Electronics told him to go to Housewares.
At Housewares, he was told that they were in Electronics, so he went back to Electronics and asked another employee about the DVD players. That employee sent him somewhere else in the store. After looking for 30 minutes or so and talking to countless employees, he finally found them in the grocery section.

we dont get maps but they are great to let us know what is under the paper

Thankfully my Walmart is organized. The employees will tell you whats what if they do know and if they don't, I have had them go ask for me.

I was asking around at my local WM about where things might be, because I have never BF shopped a 24/7 WM, so I have no clue where they might "hide" the good stuff. I was informed that the trampolines will be in the garden center - and perhaps the 1-seater Jeeps. I REALLY want a jeep for my dd, so I hope the lady is right. Also, she told me that they won't PM any blitz items, but they will PM sale items as long as it's the EXACT (she was emphatic) same item in the ad.

Oh how the chaos starts. Shoving is always prominent at Walmart


"shoving" hell no its a freakin WARZONE when the doors open and the stampede begins!!!!!! :clapping:

TARGET LOVER HERE

I live in a small town and Wal mart is the only place to go for the BF buys. I take my older kids (make it a family fun for all) and we station ourselves around the store so when the pallets are unwrapped, we are usually in the vicinity to get the items we want. I get extra's so I can swap with other friends through out the store who were not able to get everything that they wanted.

I believe the Walmart Supercenters are open 24 hours so that means that for BF we will be able to get in but have to wait till they unwrap the pallets UGH

Our Walmart is a superstore and they hand out pallet maps. I've never had a problem finding the blitz stuff, just retreating after I've gotten it. I just let the mass of people float me out. Kind of like crowd surfing!

Our Walmart has everything on Pallets too but they are not covered. But it makes it horrible to try to get through with all of the other people. A trick is to go in and then cut through the clothing dept and you usually come out in a good spot to get ahead of the pack! :o) Most of the people seem to stay in the main isles and then they get all bottled up and can't get to the other parts of the store.....

This is my trick too!! Stash my cart in the clothing and dash to the pallet I need stuff from. Works great!!! There's usually more than one of us, so one person can "guard the goods" while the other grabs more goodies! :D

Last year at my Walmart they handed out maps of what was where. It was pretty helpfull. I think that was the first year they were organized.

I guess they don't mark the pallets to avoid a million people standing around the "best one" and a huge mob scene when they try to uncover it. They would rather we run wildly around the store!? But in all honesty it's bad enough when you're just guessing what's under there, can you imagine the brawling if it was posted? Though I think it's unfair at the 24/7's because people come in last minute and push their way into the crowd around a pallet vs. EVERYONE lined up outside untill the doors open.

Im amazed at the hostility on here towards walmart.....I work there and have for 7 years, and things have changed over the years.

At the store Im at now we premake a map for customers, we keep items wrapped in black shrink wrap but label them with paper that morning so customers can line up and first come first serve.

As for our TVs they're usually pull tickets and ppl line up for the tickets to be sure they have one.

Things like the gameboys are just put behind the sporting goods desk and handed out.


usually goes fairly smooth, Im hoping for a fight though......

being that this year it starts at 5AM I am goin in at 4AM we're a 24 hour super center and only close on Xmas. we allow customers to come in n browse prior, and lineup when they feel like it for any BF item

Our Wal-Mart handed out maps last year so we knew where everything was located. They were organized in that way, but they need a starting bell or something It gets kinda cracy at about 5:55!!

The walmart here isn't 24 hours, so everything is out and opened when we run in..the stuff is put around the store randomly though :)

The walmart here isn't 24 hours, so everything is out and opened when we run in..the stuff is put around the store randomly though :)
Ours was like this...and I think I am gonna like it that way better...and next year may end up in Yuma instead of Indio. We shall see.

Well if you think of things from walmarts standpoint, leaving the stores open makes sense. People will be browsing and buying items not on sale driving up sales. Walmart of course would like to have enough items for everyone to get what they want but that is not possible realistically. People will buy normal priced items to make up for the small margins on the blitz items.

My wal-mart gives out maps and they take the palstic off prior to 6 am and each pallet has 2 employees gurading it