Reading the BF Ad Matching (http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=14364) got me thinking :gd_detect

A few days before Black Friday, do you visit the store and hide the merchandise like in a washer/dryer? Then when Black Friday arrives you casually stroll by and pick up your hidden merchandise? Of course hiding a hard drive in an oven is easier than hiding a 42" Plasma HDTV set :trampolin

Do you have any other secrets you're willing to share with us? :fedora:

Hiding a hard drive in an oven? What sick person does that? :P

Hey no fair! I mostly go for the toy sales and they never have those out until the morning of BF so no hiding stuff for me:(

Hiding a hard drive in an oven? What sick person does that? :P
Oh I dunno :slapcry: *looks around nervously*

Nothing that hasn't been around for awhile. Buying stuff beforehand and PMing the day of. I don't think I have hidden anything before...that would be a first for me. I usually go in a group and multiple stores and have someone hoard something until more people show up to buy if there is a limit per customer on something. Except for "voucher" items, I usually get whatever I want at CC the day of.

Last year, I found our Shoprite had their black friday prices in the computer on Thanksgiving. So I just strolled in, got the DVD/VCR on sale and left - leaving one less stop for the next day!

You thought you could get us to tell you our deepest darkest secrets...heehee.

You thought you could get us to tell you our deepest darkest secrets...heehee.
Obviously some of you have received special black ops CIA training, I was not expecting this obstacle.

Chris went into Sears a day or two before BF to map out where everything was going to be at and the sales people there told him he could buy the stuff he wanted and then just bring the recipts back on BF during when the sales were going on and just take them to the curtosey desk and he would get the money refunded.

The only other trick we have is that Chris just about always takes the Jeep wrangler on BF.....he has been able to basically park front row because a normal car wouldn't be able to get in the places a motorbike or wrangler could get into. Who needs to have room to open the doors when you can take off the top and climb down that way (or even have the doors completely off!)

Reading the BF Ad Matching (http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=14364) got me thinking :gd_detect

A few days before Black Friday, do you visit the store and hide the merchandise like in a washer/dryer? Then when Black Friday arrives you casually stroll by and pick up your hidden merchandise? Of course hiding a hard drive in an oven is easier than hiding a 42" Plasma HDTV set :trampolin

Do you have any other secrets you're willing to share with us? :fedora:

:spit:

ross are you sure you're not confusing your home with the store?

:spit:

ross are you sure you're not confusing your home with the store?
So far only you and Brad got the hard drive in oven reference :yay:

I was hoping for some secrets I could use. Anyone?
I have never considered hiding things in the store although I have wondered if employees do it for family and/or friends. I don't have and BF secrets, that pertain to the shopping anyway. When it is so cold and I am freezing and it is dark I can't stop thinking about my super soft, warm, cushy, bed and how much I would love to back in it.

One trick that I used one year at Kmart was put the items on layaway (usually requires just alittle down), than the day of the sale, I just go to layaway pull it out and pay for it at the reduced price. It works for items that are already in. Doesn't work like at Walmart on the items that they bring in by the pallet. Jill:gd_orange

I would tell you, but then I would have to kill you!

I always hide stuff in the store, and then I think omg this is just sad I go to these lengths!

I have one trick for Sears (at least it worked for me last year) if you are interested in a large item (think 27 in TV). Take the sale paper with you. As soon as they open the doors go straight to a register, show the the ad and they will ring you up using the sku in the ad. You can then go and pick the item up from the mercandise pick-up. This may work at other stores that have merchandise pickup like Circuit City..YMMV.

Amie

I have to say I LOVE the idea of hiding things a few days before! But my luck I would forget where I hid it!! :runaway:

I really don't have any secrets but enjoying reading the thread and getting good ideas!

I don't really have any. Other than just case the joint first.

I did the same at sears last year, and it was for a tv!

As for hiding things....hmm...:blush: oppsie.
I did last year...thinking it was the 5.50 DVD that were gonna be 3.88
SO knowing the dresser set they make, I went back to the display model, and because I have this dresser, I looked underneath and sure enough the same shelf mine had, it had. So VOILA! :smirk:
Got in line the next day... the joke was on me....:g_doh: There was an entirely different palet for the dvds....mine were 5.50
BUT what was cool was the people stuck in front of the DVD's were handing them back to the people behind us. (I know...I was the one stuck!)

My secret? HOT CHOCOLATE in a HUGE thermos...and heated socks.... Now I have to kill u... JK! :secret:

Hello all, my "tip" from last year was to organize what I wanted from each store and to figure out if Walmart carried it. If they did, I was able to get a price match. That saved me SO much time and money being able to do that!

So far only you and Brad got the hard drive in oven reference :yay:

LOL, I got it, I just had no comment. (I know, me? without comment?)

the other secret? based on what I am getting...Screw the cart. IF you dont need it, dont take it. For the newbies, wait till you SEE what people do with carts... ugh

I've been known to place an item in the wrong aisle, lets say- maybe in another department. cough-cough

Hello all, my "tip" from last year was to organize what I wanted from each store and to figure out if Walmart carried it. If they did, I was able to get a price match. That saved me SO much time and money being able to do that!

I do the same thing. I get most of my Toys R Us and Target stuff at Walmart. I also don't take a cart unless I absolutley have to. It just slows you down. You can always go grab one later.

And as far a hiding things. UMMMMM :angel1: Well I have been known to. If I am going to PM something and there are not that many at Walmart I will stash one just incase someone else is going to PM also.

Hi:

I was here last yeat, but didn't post. This will be my seventh BF. My best tips? Get there early, 3:30 am is not too early. Bring a friend, coffee, a small chair, (You will have to ditch it about 45 minutes before the store opens, that's why you need a friend to hold your place in line.), and all your sales circulars. If you live in a cold climate, dress warmly and bring a hat, gloves, scarf and ear warmers with you. A light blanket will not hurt either.

And the ulitimate tip, I learned last year from my best friend, use the blanket, chair, coffee and circulars to make friends with the people in front and directly behind you in line and they will glady use them and hold your place in line, while you wait in the car, nice and warm! LOL

We hit Wal*Mart, Kohl's, and Staples last year since they are right next to each other, then drove to a small mall that isn't usually very busy.
We didn't get there until almost 11am, but they STILL had all the doorbuster sales that the LARGE mall ran out of within half an hour!

I believe we'll be going back this year.:D

A word of warning on where you hide your stash.. I worked at K-mart & Big Lots in different years on BF. I was told to go around and LOOK for stuff people had hidden in other places. I usually found quite a few items stashed away that people had tried to hide. I've been in Walmart late at night when there were dozens of carts up by the service desk loaded with stuff for the departments to put back where they belonged. Hide items away but don't be surprised if they aren't there when you go look for them. :)

My tip would be electronics go FAST so if your trying to decide whether to get into a best buy or a walmart line for your first stop I would go with the best buy and I have been doing the best buy thing for the last three years and every year it seems you need to be there earlier you really need to show up at the best buy in my town around 4 if you want to get anything.

This post brings up a good point-- if you have newly opened locations of stores, or ones that are more out of the way or in less popular or populated areas, hit them!!

They will be less crowded (usually) and you'll have a nicer time.



We hit Wal*Mart, Kohl's, and Staples last year since they are right next to each other, then drove to a small mall that isn't usually very busy.
We didn't get there until almost 11am, but they STILL had all the doorbuster sales that the LARGE mall ran out of within half an hour!

I believe we'll be going back this year.:D

For those of you that PM at Walmart, I will share what I was told today. I was told they are NO LONGER doing PM. I went to have some candles PM from Eckerds, and they refused!

This isn't really a "secret" but it's a nice suggestion that's helped me out in years past...

Pack a couple of sandwiches, etc. in a cooler lunch bag and store in car the night before (if you live in colder climate) or just remember to take with you that morning.

That way, at whatever point during the morning/day you find that you are STARVING and can't take another step without food - you won't have to fight the lines at fast food places, etc.

Just stuff down some food while driving to the next store! :g_dance:

This isn't really a "secret" but it's a nice suggestion that's helped me out in years past...

Pack a couple of sandwiches, etc. in a cooler lunch bag and store in car the night before (if you live in colder climate) or just remember to take with you that morning.

That way, at whatever point during the morning/day you find that you are STARVING and can't take another step without food - you won't have to fight the lines at fast food places, etc.

Just stuff down some food while driving to the next store! :g_dance:
Good point. i always bring leftover turkey. Its good cold so I just open my ziploc bag and have a bite!

For those of you that PM at Walmart, I will share what I was told today. I was told they are NO LONGER doing PM. I went to have some candles PM from Eckerds, and they refused!

Noooooo!!!

W-M is my only option at FIL's for BF! Please tell me it was an associate who was mistaken!

You guys are scaring me now....NO MORE PRICE MATCHES at WALMART?! What is happening with this country?! Looks like I'll be taking a long drive to a big post or flying east to do my shopping!

This worked for me last year with the many $19 DVD players. I was trying to decide where to go and get one and my brother says, why not Sears Hardware? They have the same ones they are selling at Sears, but who is going there to buy a DVD player? I strolled in at 6:10, not only was hardly anyone there and I got my DVD player, I also got a $10 gift card for being one of the first 50 people in the store.

The DVD Player was $9 that way.

OMG!! Can't believe that walmart will not PM on BF day!!

Have they stopped PMing or just for BF day they changed their policy??

Simonalex

My mom and I go together, use walkie-talkies to communicate in the store and talk with as many people as possible because in the past, I have found that you learn alot. Last year we were waiting for the small appliances and by talking to a couple nearby we found out that they would be coming out the layaway doors so we just went back there and waited. Also, we don't have a mall here so we have my aunt go to the other stores and she gets the things we want at them and in return, we get what she wants at the stores we go to.

Well, if your gonna hide it-hide it good! I have know people (not me of course) to hide toys in the frozen foods section of their WM supercenter!

This is not really a secret, more like dumb luck. My sister and I were in WM 2 yrs. ago (I think) when everyone was going crazy for the cheap dvd players. There were hundreds of people packed in like sardines around the pallets of dvd players in the electronics dept. and we were in the very back of the pack. When the employees started cutting the wrapping off of the pallets lets just say the dvd players started flying. We were actually backing out of the way so we wouldn't get injured when we noticed an employee cutting the wrapping off of a pallet in the housewares section, and what do you know?! DVD players! We casually strolled up, put 3 in the cart, and went on our merry way.

My sis and niece both work at Walmart and they say they still PM. Maybe it was just that particular store?

the other secret? based on what I am getting...Screw the cart. IF you dont need it, dont take it. For the newbies, wait till you SEE what people do with carts... ugh


NO joke and a HUGE preg women with a christmas tree is still hit with those things.........finally I just used my tree to get through lol

Noooooo!!!

W-M is my only option at FIL's for BF! Please tell me it was an associate who was mistaken!


I am waiting for a reply to my local wal mart.....I would have called BUT if they are doing the pm I want to have my printed out email with me on the day of

how do you find an email address for your local walmart store..

It's not really a secret, but last year Best Buy had a lot of their sales online the night before (and with a free shipping code to boot), so I bought what I wanted from them (a 51" TV and some DVDs like 24 for 12.99) without getting up. The best part was that, for some reason, I didn't get charged tax on the TV, so it ended up quite a bit cheaper than going in. Best Boy is one of the most zoo-like stores on Black Friday, so avoiding that place and still getting what I wanted was great

Sears had most of their stuff online late Thanksgiving night too, but I didn't end up getting anything there.

The only store I actually ended up going to on Black Friday was Target, which is right down the street.

From reading this thread, I'm thinking that one good secret would be that, if you can't find something, look in all the washers and dryers because you might find it there, hidden by someone else :)

This is my first post too!
I got up really early (2am) and went online for the items we wanted. None of them were available online, but said 'in store'... so we knew where to start.
We take the walkie talkies, snacks, drinks, and I mark each flyer w/a different color stickey on the front. I write down what from each store on 2 stickeys and we each take one..he goes one way and I go the other. As we find what we want, we mark it off. Meet in the middle and ck out. Also, keep a 'general' list and sometimes we see the same item at another store for the same price or w/in $1. If it's w/in a $1 and it's the only item at that store, we pay the extra...then have 2 stops in 1!

Also...we watch for the 'unadvertised' specials. Last yr we were done shopping in 2hrs thanks to those bargins!

What I did, is pick out the things I wanted the most and go to that store. If I wasnt able to make it in time to all the stores, I would make them price match the ad of another store. They all do it, to get your business, and thats one less store you have to go too.

What does PM stand for????

What does PM stand for????

Welcome to gottadeal nollnotes!

PM= Price Match
Example: if Sears has a tv for $129 and Wal-mart has it for $149, you can take the Sears ad to Wal-mart and they will match the lower price.

Amie

That is not true about Wal-Mart not matching prices or ads !!! They still do it and there should be no questions asked when you go to them to match a price . You see I know this because I am a employee there !!!!:)

I think it depends on the area with walmarts..I need to ask at mine to see

Our WalMart PMs. I do it just about everytime I go in there.

If hiding something small...

Bring a ziplock plastic bag with you.

Find the bathroom

Close the door. Hopefully their bathroom is the kind with a tank on the top of it (what most people have in their house).

Put item in ziplock bag.

Open the top of the tank.

Put object in tank.

Close the top

Success!!

OMG!!! Our WalMart would have the cops waiting outside the door.lol I usually don't have to hide anything and I still get everything on my list. Tried to hide something a long time ago and when I went back, it was gone. So, I figured it just takes good planning and manuevering to get it. lol:gd_devild

Yeah, I think planning in advance mayb be the best idea to get everything you want. Maybe if you try to go to the store that has all the items you want, and take the other stores' ads, and ask them to PM... I think it's the best way to do it.

Anymore secrets?

Last year year I checked online shortly after midnight and found some cheap stuff online. I didn't even hit the long lines last year. We also got lucky by being in Target in August when they clearanced a bunch of Legos to 50% off and bought presents for my son and stuff to use for birthday presents.

I must admit I have hidden stuff before. I used to work in retail so I know how to hide it so it will be there when I come back for it.

I also remember working in retail and marking stuff down every month. The employees knew when the markdowns were going to happen and got the good deals. Bought a $100 Canon camera for $25 that way many years ago at an Eckerd I worked at. Best part was I got an employee discount off of the $25.

Enlist homeless people to help with your BF shopping. If they can snag you an item you want, tell them you'll buy them a bottle of Crown Royal and a pack of smokes. Then, after you've got everything in your cart, tell the bum to leave before you call the police. Works very well.

Then, when you leave the store, there's gonna be a gang of bums waiting to teach you some respect. JK, it could happen.

hey aj browns you first name is amie that's the same way i spell mine its rare to find that.thanks everyone for the great tips on black friday.
amie

For those who have a long wait in the cold (it is going to be 25 degrees here on BF morning), three words - ThermalCare Heat Wraps.

One across the back and one of the knee size in each pocket for your hands. They do an unbelievable job of keeping you nice and toasty in the cold. The downside is that once the doors open, you can get OVERheated very fast! The folks at BB were concerned that I was on my way to a heart attack last year. :D

Thought I should repost this from last year for all of the new folks. While I wrote it in jest, unfortunately some of it is all too true.:D


-----------------------------------------------


We are only a few days from my absolute favorite day! Even as a male, I look forward to this every year.

Since there appears to be a lot of first timers joining the Black Friday fray this year. I thought that it would be a good idea to share some tips that I have learned in the five years I have been shopping on this day.

To the other "more experienced" posters, please feel free to add to this list anything I may have forgotten.

1) Wear tight clothes. A loose shirt, jacket or scarf can be used to hold you back and slow you down.

2) If you are meek and timid, consider staying at home. BFer's can smell fear.

3) Unless you are immune to pneumonia, wear clothes in layers. It may seem like a good thing to dress really warm when you're standing outside in sub -freezing weather, but once the doors open, you'll be sweating profusely before you can reach the rear of the store.

4) If you want to socialize with the other people in line, don't get too personal. Just remember that in minutes, those same people would just as soon trip you and step on your neck than allow you to have the very last set of Dora the Explorer bed sheets.

5) Don't share your breakfast food with others in line. It will only give them more energy to use against you once in the store. If you must share, make it leftover turkey. The tryptophan it contains will cause sleepiness, making them slow to react.

6) Shop with a friend. That way one of you can run blocker just like in Smokey and the Bandit.

7) Never pick up a sale item and look at the box to decide whether you want it or not. Toss it in the cart! You'll have plenty of time to read, research and decide while standing in line at the checkout. Besides, you can always return it later. Seize the opportunity. Timing is crucial!

8) Unless you absolutely need one, don't take a shopping cart into the store. It will only slow you down.

9) There will be both parents and children out shopping on BF. During your adventure, youll hear crying, weeping and whining. "I have to have that!" "Give it back!" "I had it first!" And then there's the children...

10) Before the big day, as you are staking out the stores and making some advanced purchases, save the security tags. There is always one lady on BF who brags about how she has to buy 36 of the one item you went there for to give to all of her nieces and nephews. Covertly place one or more of these tags on her as the crowds head into the store. the barrage of security when she sets off the alarm at the entrance will slow her and allow you to get to the item first before she takes them all.

11) Carry a bat. Preferably aluminum, since it is lighter. There are always lurkers who sit in their nice warm cars while everyone else is freezing in line. They will try to blend into the crowd when the doors open. The mere presence of such a device will deter them. The bat is also handy to get stock from high shelves, and to lean on while waiting in line at the checkout. Plus, there is always that rude employee that makes it clear that they should not have to work on BF. GIVE them an excuse to go home early. :fryingpan

12) Agility can make up for a poor spot in line.

13) Bringing along your spouse and kids will only slow you down.

14) Riot gear, while heavy, bulky and a fashion no-no for most people can be handy if you plan to patronize the likes of Circuit City, Best Buy or Toys 'R' Us on Black Friday.

15) If you're a man, consider wearing a cup. The advantage can far outweigh the disadvantage.

16) Seeing-eye and assistant pets still can't resist bacon.

17) Sending up a distress flare at just the right moment can allow you to gain position in line.

18) Be sure not to wear clothes you don't want snagged or ripped.

19) Defense. Defense. Defense.

20) Above all, enjoy yourself. Its just like fishing. Its not what you are able to catch. Its the thrill of the chase!

* Disclaimer - I am not responsible for the use of these ideas by others. Bail is the sole responsibility of the guilty parties. :jester:

For those of you that PM at Walmart, I will share what I was told today. I was told they are NO LONGER doing PM. I went to have some candles PM from Eckerds, and they refused!

WM company policy says they HAVE to PM. This shouldn't be a store by store thing. I've been a part of the "Wal-Mart Family" for a very long time now, and everyone in NW Arkansas knows the PM game. My husband already has a list of the things he's going to have to PM for me! Where they can worm out of it is with the same brand thing. It has to be exactly the same item. Also, they won't do percent off or BOGO. Look around the service desk area. They post a sign that says something about WM will match any competitor's price. Individual stores can't just change company policy on a whim. Call the corporate office, they'll set people straight.

I was hoping for some secrets I could use. Anyone?
I have never considered hiding things in the store although I have wondered if employees do it for family and/or friends. I don't have and BF secrets, that pertain to the shopping anyway. When it is so cold and I am freezing and it is dark I can't stop thinking about my super soft, warm, cushy, bed and how much I would love to back in it.

Of course employees do hide stuff for families. Hy husband used to work for one of the big department stores and he always had ads early and picked up stuff that morning before customers were allowed in. He just did it quietly on his way to his department. Then when I showed up he would say loudly "Mam, you left your stuff here a few minutes ago, did you still want it? I set it aside for you." Other customers had no idea we were related and I didn't miss any stuff by going elsewhere first.

For those of you that PM at Walmart, I will share what I was told today. I was told they are NO LONGER doing PM. I went to have some candles PM from Eckerds, and they refused!

I called to ask my local Walmart in CT about price matching and they told me they wouldn't honor doorbuster sales on bf. I also sent an email to their headquarters. They said that they do price match, but to check with the local managemenet first for specifics of what they will price match. So I guess I am probably out of luck price matching at wm.