Since there's some newbies this year here at GottaDeal, let's reminisce and give 'em an idea of what BF is all about. For those of us who took part in BF lasy year, tell the tales of what happened to you taking part in BF '06. Anything interesting happen you'd like to share with the class?

It's late, so I'll tell the tale of my adventure at Best Buy a lil' later.

Best part was getting everything on my list. Was in line at Best buy from 3pm on thanksgiving till opening.. The funniest thing is the lady behind me who was a first time Black Friday shopper said that shew as shopping with a pros ( me and Dh) since we go every year and she was stickign with us :eyepoppin .. And also when the lady in front of us called the police on a line cutter and they actually came out and made him go to the end of the line :D

2005.
Going to W_M_ at midnight, cruising the store (open 24hrs) and hearing everyone get told they couldn't put anything regarding sale items in their cart 'till 0530. Watching the managers runnin around without a clue, they hadn't staged 50%+ of the sale items on the floor by 0330. Seeing a minimum of 14 employees pour out of the break room at 0500 and get sale items off the floor and put in their baskets. Most enjoyable though was being one of the few people who had a clue on where to wait, and at 0530 being the ONLY person purchasing a 42 inch plasma tv for $572 (& the mgr asked me if I wanted another of the seven the store had, since no one else was waiting!). Oh, and being outta there by 0600 & to work by 0700. Perfection in chaos.

LL: Recon the store the day prior, ask simple questions to the MOD such as: Store Layout-Where is 'such & such going to be; Purchase Process-What's my best way to prepare/avoid delays (credit card, other ID, I purchase here & pick up at a loading dock, etc...-if so park there); Concerns-Are there any problems they anticipate, or had last year.

more to come...

LOL Mine was not a "great" moment. Just one I wont soon forget.
DH and I were at CC all night, for what i'm really cant remember.
After being in the cold all night, and standing in line for a good 2+ hours
to buy our stuff, we head home to unload. And DH gets pulled over
by the State trooper for speeding. :( thank god he let him go.

haha, well I'm new here at GottaDeal, but not so new with BF, as I've been doing it for several years now.

I think in general, my favorite part is the 'speed-walking' or 'make-it-look-like-you're-not-running-but-moving-as-fast-as-humanly-possible-to-get-to-the-doorbusters-you-want-before-anyone-else' at stores that don't hand out the vouchers like BB. Like Home Depot or Lowes.

I do look forward to some of the stories that people will tell while waiting in line...

You also gotta love the people that show up at best buy 5 minutes before opening and try to run in (cut in line) once the doors are unlocked, thinking that they'll be able to get all the doorbusters they want, but not knowing that they actually won't get a single one of them cuz of the vouchers that were handed out an hour prior. It's fun to get a good laugh at their ignorance and the fact that they thought they were being so smooth... hahahaha!!

My neighbor had never been Black Friday shopping before. My favorite moment was the look on her face when she drove into the local Kohls parking lot about 4:30am, and got one of the last spots available. She thought I was kidding about how many people would be out.

2006. Part 1.
Prime Outlets, Williamsburg VA ran it's first BF where stores opened at midnight. I did'nt see any reason to be there any earlier than 11pm, but wanted to be out of there and in line at CC - 35 mi away - by 1am. Well, since it was their first ever, and even though the county police were out directing traffic, there was a six mile backup! I ended up taking back routes to get parked approx 3/4 mi away from the 1 and only store I wanted to hit (LeCreuset), and was luckily out by 12:15. Being the first time ever for most sales and managerial staff = alot of delays, plus I really truely believe the majority of folks were window shopping! Too much of a good thing, & too many folks knowing about it.

Waylayed Plans. Even though it wasn't a 'bait & switch operation, even the best laid plans can really become slow when so many (literally 1,000's) of people and their vehicles show up.

No favorite moment in 2006 but I did get what I wanted and that took alot of time.

Being second in line for a PSP at Wal Mart and the lady in front of me had the Meijers ad to price match. The clerk let us pass the ad down the line and she price matched everyone for the $150 Meijers ad. That was neat.

My DH is already talking about our plans for this year. He wants to camp out in our RV in the Wal-Mart lot so that we do not have to drive to the store at 3am. I think I have him hooked.
;)

I have 2 experiences from last year...

#1. When it got to be about 1 hour before opening, Best Buy came out and started handing out tickets. Some guy got out of his car and started hanging out on the side of the line, toward the front. Me and a couple of other people went straight to the cops that were already there and pointed him out and made him go to the back of the line. Then later in the store, when I was waiting in line to pick up my laptop... I noticed that the same guy was hanging out near the laptop line... and he was staring and my ticket... and other people's laptop ticket. I think he was thinking about snatching them and getting lost in the crowd. So I told all of the people around me to put them in their pockets. Then... right before I get to the clerk to get my laptop, the guy jumps right into the line and tells the clerk that they "skipped him" when they were handing out tickets. I stood behind the guy , pointing and silently mouthing to the clerk, "He's lying. He tried to cut the line." The clerk told him there was nothing he could do.

#2. Story... again in the laptop line... I was a little ways back the store was starting to get packed with the people who showed up right before opening... this big tall guy walks up and it yelling to the clerk (who is busy helping another customer), "Hey man, I wanna buy 2 of those laptops." I looked over at him and said, "It's a limit of 1 per person." He said, "OK, my wife is buying one too." Then I replied, "Do you both have tickets?" To which he said, "What tickets?" I said... "Uh... the tickets that they handed out to the people who waited in front of the store ALL NIGHT LONG." He gave me this shocked look and said, "Do you have a ticket then?" I said, "Yes... just one. For the laptop that I am buying." Hey just looked frustrated and walked away. LOL.

haha, THATS AWESOME!!! you gotta love when those type of people come up empty-handed! they think they're so smooth and that they'll outsmart everyone else and then end up getting outsmarted themselves. LOVE IT!!!

Yeah, all those stories about the cheaters thinking they've got the scam of the year and suddenly coming up empty handed just makes me feel soo good inside. :D I love it when hard work gets rewarded well!
:gdyes:

Keep the stories commin'!

Last year in the Best Buy line we had been there since 6:00am on Thurs morning then right as the door were about to open here comes a pregnant women trying to convince people that she couldn't be outside all night because of the baby and to please let her in line she insisted that she be allowed to cut everyone else there but the police took notice of the fact that the pillow she had under her shirt had fallen down called her on it and then she left....lol Some people will try anything.

I went to the Prime Outlets midnight opening last year at Jeffersonville. We didn't really plan to, but we got there about a hour early so we got breakfast and then went over to the mall. We left about 2am and OMG!!!!! we didn't realize how crazy it had gotten on the highway. There were miles and miles of backup, people parking on the berms & grass on the side of the highway and hopping the fence :eyepoppin and in the parking lot there was not a bare spot of greenspace left as people just popped over the curb and parked in it. It was the craziest BF I've had yet and I've been doing it about 10 years. It was quite funny to laugh at all the cars getting towed from being parked on the side of the freeway --- like what - they thought they would park there and NOT get towed!?!?

Every year I wait at Menards before they open and am amazed at the morons that show up 10 minutes before the store opens and even though there is a long line of people that have been waiting they think that they don't have to wait in line so they go & stand by the door and pretend to talk on their phones off to the side until they open the doors and run in as soon as they open the doors, just because they are special and don't have to wait in line.

I remember being on the Circuit City website at about 7:00 pm on BF and see that they have a doorbuster laptop in stock. We think, surely not, but it is worth a call. They actually had two and held one for us until we could get there to pick up. Got an amazing deal on a laptop and did not have to wait in line!

I would have to say my favorite part was meeting a wonderful associate at Walmart. They were bringing items out and some of the associates were unwrapping them and walking away so people would get what they wanted and move on before the 5 a.m. shopping. Well the woman that brought out the boys jeans stayed in front of it and wouldn't let anyone take any off like they are suppose to do, when she seen what was happening with the other clothes we started talking since I was the only person actually waiting like your suppose to. She finally got mad enough after talking to one of the people in charge (because they were not doing anything about people putting stuff in their carts) that she held my place in line with my cart so I could go pick up all the other clothes I wanted and she found the size of jeans I needed for my son and put three pairs on top so all I had to do was pick them up! She made everyone else dig!

2 things stick out for me from last year. 1. Another outlet story. Last year was the 1st time I decided to try the Premium Outlet here in Dawsonville. Normally I head out around 3am, but I couldnt sleep so I hit the outlet. Its a whole 5 mins away. Well, it ended up taking me 45 min to get those 4 miles, because traffic was INSANE. Its on teh side of a 4 lane hwy, and people were actually parlked in teh emergency lane. Every side road anywhere around was full of cars too. I figured what the hell, I still had a few hours to kill, so I ventured onward. Boy am I glad I did! Timberland had thier khakis B1G1, and hubby was in dire need of new pants, and Tims are his fave. The line for the Coach store...OMG. They were doing a whopping 10% off, and I swear the line was a mile long. It went thru the courtyard, the length of the mall, and across the parking lot. Madness! LOL.
2. My sisters best friend wanted to go with us. She never went before, so we decided to inv her, even though we figured she would slow us down, lol. She ended up getting more than anyone! She had a blast, and was fun to be around. You never know how people will be when they are fighting traffic after not sleeping lol. But it was great. Shes going back this year, and like 5 other people now want to go lol.

What sticks out for me is getting Seasons 1-4 of 24 for 16.00 each. Most of what I bought was in my hands by October. I went mainly for the fun of it last year. This year, my kids are getting out of the toy stage, so I may have to deal with the night-before lines at Best Buy- I will need lappies. God, I love Black Friday. It is better than sex. Almost. :D

2006. Part 2.
Ok, so after the Prime Outlet grab-and-go at midnite, I'm off 45miles away to go stand in line at CC. Accross the street at BB, the line started the afternoon before, and pretty much the consensus of at least my friends and family is BB has very limited bargains on hand & trie to suck everyone in, seemed to be the feelings from most at CC at 0230 as well. Well, I'm #3 in line, with my friend and their dau & her BF-doors open at 0530.

-0400. The line goes at least 400 people long.

-0445. Ticket Story. Tickets are a GREAT IDEA being handed out in order of who's in line. Evidently there's 20 laptops, person who's #21 starts walking up asking if anyone mistakenly grabbed one, and if so is willing to part with their ticket-no volunteers. This 'person now bangs on the the doors till a manager "assists her" to do the same question again!=wasting the managers time, and by now she's got a major attitude. All of us just shook our heads and pretty much agreed, you should've gotten up earlier.

-0500. Handicap Story. Let me get to the point, the person was seen accross the street at BB pulling the same stunt by family of folks in line (man, they had their stuff together-walkie talkies and all!). Well, when no one would let *** in line at BB, *** wheeled off, but got noticed when putting their wheelchair in their trunk, *** gave everyone the one-finger-salute, then got in their car (walked without any hint of injury). Tried the same thing with us at CC-but the hard part was until we got let in on the scam, everyone really felt put on the spot and even knocked on the door to see if this person could be let in the store early.

-Courtesy. Just wanted to note, just about every other aisle I would say excuse me, or pardon me which beat pushing and shoving. Really was trying some folks patience to be polite, but on BF I really got to practice my manners!

2006. Part 3. (final install of this "I've got too much time on my hands this week" series :)"

-0520. Bum Rushers. I had never seen this before and if any stores read this, you're asking for trouble if you: 1) do not provide security; & 2) do not cordon off the access to people who legally waited. In this day and age, I'd say at the least your store and cashiers will be out for a miserable time where even the law abiding shoppers will have an axe to grind with you. Nuff Said....

Simply, :10 min prior to the store opening, at least 50 'peckerheads come out of their cars and start ambling up to the doors, they were without a doubt going to break in as soon as CC opened! Now the wild part. The whole nite, there were two plain clothes police, hired off duty, to prevent such a happening. They never identified themselves, but when this occurred they simply walked up, one started sending the crowd on their way, while the other was immediately recognized inside where then the manager came out with 4 more employees who started pointing out violators and stating they'd be barred from entering the store unless they got in line. WAY TO GO CC!!!!

haha, good stories Cannon1! I Never get tired of hearing stories about people trying to cheat their way in front of the line and coming away empty handed!

One of the small items we got last year were the Harry Potter Movies 1-4 for $5 each from Target. Just a small bargain, but a bargain none the less!! I was able to turn around and sell the 4th one on ebay for somewhere around $15. (That one was only the single disc version, and I wanted the 2-disc version.)

I usually go by myself but last year my 12 year old son wanted to come with so I let him. We had a blast. He thought it was pretty cool to be able to run in the stores. LOL He even held my hand in Toys R Us (how sweet) LOL He was a little nervous but had fun. He wants to go again this year. Which is fine because now that he's 13 he's taller than I am and can reach things better.

At Target we got there about an hour after they opened. We had already been to 3 or 4 stores before Target. We went in to find "The Simpsons Season 8" and was told they were all gone by an employee. We started walking around and ended up finding an entire endcap FULL of them. We also found a copy of "Click" that was misplaced in the cd section and it looked like they were out of that.

When we went to check out most of the lines were to the back of the store. So I tried to see which line was moving the fastest at least and saw the lines in the middle checkouts only had a few people in each line because more people were on the far left or right side of the checkouts and not many people in the middle. We went to the middle and checked out in a few minutes. *Target tip: Check the middle checkouts for shorter lines.

At Walmart we entered through the doors that are by the merchandise vs. the grocery side and made a round through there but when we went to check out a lot of lines on that side of the store were long. We went down farther closer to the grocery side and were the 2nd people in line.

If I remember correctly we did get everything that was on my list. Even some things that were not. I was able to get my 4yo a TMX Elmo at Toys R Us since we were one of the first in the store. I didn't have it on my list because I thought it would be to hard to find. But he was very excited to have Santa bring it for him.

I can't wait for this year.


Edit to add:

We went to Kmart for their Thanksgiving Day sale. Only a few people showed up for this. I had my Walmart ad for the next day with me and asked the manager if I could price match the VSmile and he let me. His words:"We'll do whatever it takes to get business." This Kmart is not doing well at all and I think that's why this one allows price matching. Walmart keeps trying to build a store in this town but people keep getting petitions signed to not allow it. That was the last I heard of Walmart coming about 3 years ago.

Mine usually go very smoothly, but I have a few stories.

2003 (I think): DH's 1st BF. I only took him because I wanted a trampoline and knew that it would be too heavy for me to get out of there. I try to convince him to take 2-way radios, but that was too geeky, he'd be alright. So, he stands and stands, and gets the trampoline, while I get everything else. He has it laid across the top of a cart. Instead of listening to me while I designated the meeting place, he pushed it in circles around the store looking for me. I was able to see him, but he couldn't hear or see me. I swear, he walked around, trying to push that huge trampoline through for 2 hours!!

2003: DH swore he'd never go back!

2004: Dh went back, swore he wouldn't again

2005: Dh went back, swore he wouldn't again.

In our small town stores, we're always one of the first standing by the pallets. We know just about everyone, so we station each other at the most demanded items and take orders. (I know, some of you don't like that, but remember, we do this at 1:00 am, while most people are still in bed). We knew what would happen with the cabbage patch at WM, so we put the 2 stoutest women there- they are sisters, and they are MEAN! They were to get 13 of them. I look up to see the fighting, and the short one is in the bottom of hte pile, handing them out to her sister. They ended up with all 13, and then some. They gave whatever wasn't spoken for to the next people in line, who definitely couldn't have fought their way out of it.

2006: DH went back and secretly liked it.

there was a couple with 6 kids, all under 6, trying to shop about 3 minutes after the plastic was cut. She was pushing the cart, but only one of the kids was in it. The oldest one got about 2 steps behind, and the dad grabbed him and started cussing him for not keeping up. They were dragging the sleepy kids through these masses of people, the babies didn't have a chance. While the dad was cussing the kid for about the 10th time I saw, I 'somehow' lost my footing as I was shoving my cart through the crowd and hit the man square in the gut. What business did they have taking all of those in there?

2007: DH is BEGGING to go.

gotta love it when you just KNOW that you've converted someone!!! especially someone who swore it off forever in years past...

2006 -- Our first stop was OfficeMax. Arrived at 5:55 am in the parking lot. Everything was in stock and more less in order. In and OUT in 10 minutes FLAT! Off to the next store (Staples).

2005 -- Office Depot was our second stop (went to Sam's opening @<hidden> 5 am).

We had scoped it out earlier in the week for the 27" Olevia 16:9 LCD TV. Found out that our store was going to have 5 of them.

We were about 30th in line & waited 20 minutes in line in 14 degree temp. I was so sure that they wouldn't have any more 27" widescreen TVs... As it turned out, we grabbed the 3rd ticket in it's little holder in the display. I think everyone was there for the camera deal.

Lady in front of us in line had a camera and the 1 GB SD Card. She got all bent out of shape because she wanted her $75 MIR to be credited on the spot!!! Both the cashier and the manager told her that wasn't going to happen, customer had apparently read just the front of the ad and not the "inside" where it states the conditions of the $75 discount.

So she told 'em they could keep the $&#$&#! camera and the 1 GB SD card. Cashier takes both to hand to the manager to put back on the shelf.

I said loudly.... "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! If she's not buying the SD card, I will!" (I couldn't find any on the shelf earlier...)

haha, looks like you were the 'victim' of perfect timing. couldn't get much more lucky there!

The thing that sticks out in my head was last year was DH's first BF. We were at Walmart. Got there at 12:30. Got everything we wanted and started searching for everything that was wrapped up. We had 2 buggies full. Well I did. I was pushing one and pulling the other through all of those people. I lost Dh, he was getting the 68.00 Tv for out bedroom. I must have looked like a mad person, all 110 pounds of me with all that stuff.

My fave BF moments were before and during. I really enjoyed meeting new people on here, making new friends and helping the new people on here.

During BF I made two friends in line at BB. I see them several times a month for lunch and dinners.

Last year at walmart I was at a skid waiting to get my ds his 20" t.v. I was getting more and more nervous as the time was getting closer. I kept my hand on one of the boxes, when they said okay, I just grabbed a box. Well, thank God someone had their cart against the skid because I didn't realize how heavy it was . By the time I turned around and put it in my cart the whole skid was gone. I kept my hand on it at all times while finishing up my shopping. I seen someone who got hers swiped out of her cart. That wasn't going to happen to me. I love BF, but some people have to be so rude sometimes. If I see someone getting out of hand and being nasty, I tell them about it. I had someone grab my cart and shove it out of her way. I had nowhere to go in those crowds. I just said " fa-la-la-la to you too b***h!" I say if you don't have a sense of humor and are grouchy, stay home!

My best was probably last year at Wal-Mart, DH and my brother were both going for the big screen tv's. My brother is 6'3 and all legs so he made it back there first for a ticket and then DH was the second person. Funniest part was DH didn't realize my brother had gotten a ticket so we could have gotten two tv's but the woman who was waiting in line in front of us for the tv didn't get a ticket so DH gave her his ticket.

mine has nothing to do with a deal but I was embarrassed, lol.

I was walking into Fred's and there was 3 older ladies walking behind me when all of a sudden i fell. 8 months pg and i fell, i couldnt believe it. My feet were so swollen i could barely get them into my shoes and when i did, i wasnt able to tie them, but i still wore them since they were the only things that fit.

the older ladies ran up to me to make sure I was ok and asked if i needed other assistance. I told them no since my MIL was parking the car. and they about FREAKED out when they saw that i was very much pg. they tried to get me to call an ambulance, but i insisted that i was fine.

and i continued to look around like something had jumped up and grabbed me, making me fall when i knew exactly why i fell, lol.

For 2006 it was the fact I was able to go with my very best friend. Watching everyone act surprised at the line wrapped around the building at BB about 30 minutes before opening time.

Prior to that would be about 14 years ago when I just got my driver license. It was me, mom, grandma, cousin and I was the driver. I pulled up to get grandma and took off before she was in the call completely. She was yelling at me to stop and afterwords we laughed like crazy. She never let me live that down. That was also the same year people seemed to care more about the free doughnuts.

We were the the third goup in line at walmart last year. We didn't want to get the big TV but some of the people right behind us wanted it. There was also a group of kids behind us that were acting like jerks that were also after the TV. We let the nice couple in front of us and when the doors opened us and two other guys in front of us lined us and took are time getting in the store blocking the kids behind us so that the people who had been waiting all night got the TVs...I forgot to add that the kids had someone holding their spot and did not get in line until 3 or so. They got so mad at us. By the time they finally get around us they started running and a couple fell right on there faces. I found it quite humerous.

Story #2--we waited in line all night and at 4 a woman and her son came up to the line and kind of slowly scooted in infront of us. Of course we were carefully watching them. My sister said something to them about having to wait at the back of the line but they ignored her. Finally my sister informed those around us of what was going on and after seeing a not friendly crowd the people got in their car and left. Good thing too because there probably would have been a fight

We were standing in line at the Sears backdoor for hours so we could get the $10 GC's (they weren't giving them away at the front line). The doorbuster MP3 player we wanted was closer to the front door so when we got our cards we literally sprinted to the front of the store and got the last MP3 player they had.

Finding a couple pallets full of those 24" Bratz dolls at Walmart and getting the exact ones I wanted. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get any. :D A small thing, but it made me happy.

At Best Buy in Vegas last year some parents left a child of about 10 in line with some stuff and some guy took a monitor from him, the parents came back and started to yell @<hidden> him and the electronics manager seen the kid starting to cry so he gave them a better one for the BF price. Made my wife and I instant and loyal fans of that Best Buy, also we bought one of the cheap desktops for MIL but switched out the monitor and it wound up being cheaper than the original deal by about $35.

when we got to our wamart we were about 20th in line too late for a ticket to get a tv but people in front of us had lawn chairs and had a dvd player that they plugged into wal marts power and we watched movies the whole time

Well last year I was at Walmart when I realized I lost my Credit Card :eyepoppin and at the worst possible time, in the checkout line :no: So I tumbled my car upside down, then drove all the way home, got a flashlight and found it underneath my seat. Then I drove back, got some of my list items (not all), and continued my shopping. But man, talk about a heart attack at 5 a.m. :eek:

The people in front of us had a little propane heater thing to keep everyone warm. Even the cops were gathered around

Last year the BB near us had police to keep control. We went up to get a 50" Plasma well the line was HUGE at 11pm already and my wife was feeling horrible. So I decided that her health was more important then a TV, so we went home. She slept for a little while then woke me up and said she felt much better so we should go back to BB. We get back to the store and the tickets for the TV we wanted had already been passed out. We decided to wait in line anyway to get some other things. Well we ended up in a huge jumble of people (not sure how this started as we where just standing in line). So the police start letting in X amount of people into the store as others leave. People are being VERY rude and pushing and shoving, there was a policewoman who was getting a tad bit cranky telling people to back off. The whole time we just stood there in line and moved forward as allowed. Well our time finally comes to go in the store and a bunch of people cut between my wife and myself and I end up getting in the store.

Well I just decided that I would wait for her, as I'm standing there the policewoman walks up and asks me who I'm waiting for (another lady right next to me had the same issue with her husband) so I tell her what happened and she says she'll take care of it. We stand there talking for a few minutes and she turns out to be pretty cool, well she opens the door and says my wifes name and this other ladies husbands name and tells them to come in the store. This one guy who had been a jerk in line the whole time we stood there tells the policewoman that if shes letting them in he's going in also. She tells him no your not and when he gets snippy she tells him you can go to the very end of the line and shut your mouth, she could take him to jail for disorderly conduct, or if he felt big enough he could push his way in and the two VERY large policemen behind all of us would be happy to deal with him in a not so polite manner. :)

While all of this is going on the manager asks me what where there for, I tell him, he says all the tickets are gone but that he could get me the TV the next day and he would even waive the $50 fee. We ended up buying many things there some on our list and some that ticket people had just abandoned around the store. All in all it was pretty fun we ended up going to Target and Wal-Mart and getting everything we wanted.

The people in front of us had a little propane heater thing to keep everyone warm. Even the cops were gathered around

gotta love that! at least they were nice enough to share the heat!

well my most memorable black friday is from 2000.... and as a Toys R Us employee, not a shopper.....

So there I was.....20 yrs old and BF ignorant. I got my orders to be at work at midnight (thanksgiving day) and I would be working until Noon the next day. I remember thinking that was crazy, we were going to be sooooo dead... turns out the store wasn't dead, but I nearly was!

We're talking the year of Tickle Me Elmo, Amazing Amanda and the PSII!!!! Apparently the inside joke was to let the newbie(s) open the door..... I opened and RAN as fast as I could towards the back stockroom. The mob was at my heels and I remember thinking these people are NUTS.... I ended up getting shoved chest first into a T-Rack of shirts and flew OVER the hotwheel bed full of hotwheels, knocking it and me down to the ground, I was brusied for weeks.....

After the initial rush there was a moment's peace... but just a moment. The Mountain bike doorbuster had sold out in the morning and this Man (father I'm presuming) caught a glimpse of one in our bike stockroom as he passed by... I was the unfortunate soul to be nearby. He wanted that bike, however, it had been returned and marked as defective days earlier and I could NOT sell him that bike, I even grabbed (literally YANKED, lol poor guy) my manager as he was walking by as back-up. We could NOT sell that bike, but offered a better bike for that price. This guy is yelling and screaming and pointing his finger in my face and then he does the most horrible thing. He spits in my face. My manager (who did have a soft spot for me) grabbed that man ( I loathe to consider him a father) and dragged his sorry behind out of that store......and then put me on a register (hello, that was waaaaay worse! lol)

Now, that was my horrible story, the best story is taking my sis shopping with me last year, she called me a crazy psyco the whole time, but the other day she asked if we were going again this year....

and I know to stay away from TRU!!!

WOW... i think i'm speechless after that one. i can't BELIEVE he SPIT on you!!! oh man, it would've been ALL OVER for me at that point... haha! yikes! i applaud your self control.

Last year I visited my family in North Carolina. I wanted to go to Concord Mills to get the giveaway bag at midnight- I'm really glad I didn't go to that. Let's see- last year was my first year ever shopping on BF. I was thinking I was going to see yelling, screaming, punching. Everyone I saw was very pleasant. Only one lady in Gymboree was throwing a fit and pretty much everyone in line was laughing at her. When she left, everyone apologized to the cashier. That's my only interesting BF experience.

OMG He spit on you?????? So much for Christmas spirit! Although I would have to say if he had spit on me he would have been a "saprano" for a longgggg time :D You are a better person than I am lol. I have worked at TRU and I know what it is like, but I never had to deal with such an evil person. Good luck this year and Merry Christmas :)

my best BF moment...you can say this is my first TRUE BF becuase the year b4 me and my mom didnt really camp out like the 06 BF. We are out in front of BB like the 9-10 person. I was happy I was going to be able to get my laptop and my mom was going to get her laptop and another computer. Well, like 2 hours b4 the store opens. They bring out the tickets. Well the laptop I wanted the guy passed the whole front of the line and started in the middle and alot of the people up front were there for the same. Well we were all mad and got the manager and he was fussing at the guy for not starting in the front like he was suppost to. AND THEN they bring us hot coffee and hot chocoloate out like its was going to make me feel better. Didnt make the feel better even tho I LOVE DD Hot chocolate. Get in the laptop line because my mom has her ticket for a different laptop. The guy in front of me gets this laptop WITHOUT the tickets. So i asked her do I have to have the ticket she told me no you dont becuase they messed up. So after all the huffing and puffing (bc I was out there for 14 15 HOURS) I still got my laptop, sisters laptop, and another computer. IM on it now :D:D:D I was the happiest person then.

I got relocated to US in the end of 2005...so, 2006 was my first BF. I usually go through Frys ads every day. But for BF, I was looking at all other stores other than Frys. I wanted to buy a 2 GB Memory Stick Pro for my Sony DC...so, first I went to CC at 7 AM and it was out of stock. Later I went to Staples and same case. Then I went to BB and same story...but luckily I found 2 GB stick lying in 1 GB shelf and felt so happy to got one. I paid 39$ for that stick and came home feeling very happy at my first BF shopping. That evening when I went to Frys, I found the same stick for 35$....4 less than what I paid in BB after 10 minutes of waiting in the line! :)

At that time I didn't know much about Price Match or returning the item, etc...so, my only BF purchase was a very funny moment!

Hey all. Last year, I went out to my Wichita, KS Circuit City and was able to snag some good deals. But man oh man did I sure have to fight for what I got. It was insane. People were lined up single-filed before the store opened. The employees came out about an hour before opening to hand out flyers for the big ticket items. I was upset though, because even though there was an obvious line, large groups of people began crowding the front door anyway. The employees said nothing about it, and when the store opened it was a literal mad-dash in the store. I would not be surprised if it violated fire codes...was rediculous.

Here is my simple plan, and is it really that hard for these retail stores to figure out. Everyone will line up early days before BF. the stores should rope off the line or maybe give out numbered bracelts. If you cut in line, you are out. Now, people camp out for the ad deals, so why not place all the ad deals in a striaght line down an aisle or two, have it roped off as well, and just as cattle are directed through a pen, have all those in line go through slowly and pick what they want. Everything has a minimum anyway, and the big stuff like tv's, you can grab a purchase ticket or something. For those people not in line for the good stuff, allow them to enter the store as usual, and they would not have access to the ad deals, as that would be roped off for the people in line. There would be no running into stores, getting pissed off and smacking another person. I know this may seem fun and the thrill for many (I don't mind it too much), but it would make everything civil and give those people who deserve it the most (the people willing to give up a day with family) the fair, unhasseled opportunity to get their deals and continue shopping.

Seems like such an easy plan. Oh well, I guess they work in retail for a reason...

I hear you about circuit city. When they started handing out the papers, I swear people jumped out of the bushes. I got into a fight with some guy who insisted he was there all night (he wasn't). Then he tried to pull the same shenanigans with the people behind me. Funny thing is that after we got in (and my wife nearly trampled) we went to Staples. There were 8 people, all nicely waiting, no pushing. It was a breath of fresh air.

I wish WM would do that- BF05 was CRAZY b/c of the laptops! Someone is gonna get seriously hurt one of these days. Strangely though, no pushing and shoving last year *snort*

I think all the hot doorbuster items should be randomly placed around the store. So if there are 10 $99 laptops available, all 10 are in 10 different places throughout the store. Have it be one crazy scavenger hunt :P

I think all the hot doorbuster items should be randomly placed around the store. So if there are 10 $99 laptops available, all 10 are in 10 different places throughout the store. Have it be one crazy scavenger hunt :P

:confused: You dont shop on BF do you? :holiday09
OMG, there would be shootings everywhere. :eek:

I hear you about circuit city. When they started handing out the papers, I swear people jumped out of the bushes. I got into a fight with some guy who insisted he was there all night (he wasn't). Then he tried to pull the same shenanigans with the people behind me. Funny thing is that after we got in (and my wife nearly trampled) we went to Staples. There were 8 people, all nicely waiting, no pushing. It was a breath of fresh air.
That's why my wife and I do Staples, OfficeMax and Office Depot. It's a busy day, and there is a line, but I've never come across the madness you are describing.

Back in 2003, I went to Best Buy. Never again (but I didn't camp out).
:confused: You dont shop on BF do you? :holiday09
OMG, there would be shootings everywhere. :eek:

He doesn't, actually... Somebody has to stay here and mind the servers.

Not on BF but a tale none the less.

I needed to buy 3 PS3 last year...not an easy task! I took dh and we went to Wally world on Wed morning at 8am (they were not released until the following Friday). Dang someone was already in line...that means I had to call into work....so DH and I each got in line, that meant I could get 2 of the 3 ......I called my son who live 1 hr away because the 3rd one was for him. Informed him to get here asap but he was at work and couldn't leave until noon! While we wait, 2 more people show up and get in line. This calls for serious "MOM ACTION".

I ran around wally world asking strangers if they wanted to make $20...the looks the men gave me was hysterical. But low and behold I found a guy willing to stand in line until my son arrived.

After standing there 1 hour a lady with a baby shows up and starts to yell at the poor guy. Turns out..he had left his wife and baby wandering around the store while he was in line making $20. He left out that info when he agreed to stand there. You could hear him telling her "But baby I'm making $20". He told me not to worry about it he was staying in line until my son got there! Which he did and I promptly paid him $20!


Needless to say, the people behind my son were not happy because we ended up with the last PS3 and our family had 3 of them! :D

Favorite moment: Lucking out into a great camera deal at Staples. It was unexpected, since we weren't at the front of the line.

Lesson Learned: I'm a hothead, and I have to keep myself in check. If you know you are like that, too, you have to constantly remind myself that we are doing this for fun. You win a few, you lose a few, but it's all for fun. Have a more "do unto others" mentality than a "everyone for themselves" mentality, and you will get lost in the fun, too.

Oh, and take something nice to give your cashiers--a candy cane, a little stocking, etc.--they're always happy when I hand them something.

Ridelo, where were you the 15 years I spent in retail!!! I would have loved a customer that handed me a candy cane or even wasn't grumpy after 6am on BF. And that's in the days before everyone camped out all night...

My favorite moments were:
1. Getting everything on my list
2. Being able to check-out through the self check-out lanes in Wal-Mart and there was even an associate who stood by and did the price overrides on my matched items. It's probably the only time I checked out in less than 15 minutes on BF! Let's hope for a repeat on that this year. ;)

:confused: You dont shop on BF do you? :holiday09
OMG, there would be shootings everywhere. :eek:

You gotta admitt... sounds fun! :tongue1:

I think all the hot doorbuster items should be randomly placed around the store. So if there are 10 $99 laptops available, all 10 are in 10 different places throughout the store. Have it be one crazy scavenger hunt :P

Never in my wildest dreams would I want to wish anyone to be an associate on that day. What a complete and total mess that would be. :cheesy: People would be looking behind things and throwing all sorts of items all over the store everywhere!

People would be looking behind things and throwing all sorts of items all over the store everywhere!
Just like normal, you mean. :D

My craziest memory was BF 05, I got to the line at Staples about a half hour before they opened, I was surprised at how mellow everyone seemed to be after the mess I'd just come from at CC. Was I ever surprised when I got inside the store and saw these people clawing for the 1gig jump drives they had that year. Some poor sales associate came out of the back with a couple more boxes of them and had to fight his way through the line so he could dump them in the bins. I didn't think he was going to get his hands back, those people went CRAZY grabbing at him! Finally, someone shoved him out of the way so they could get through and he just stood there looking a little dazed. As I got past him I waved my hand in front of his face to make sure he was okay, he said something that indicated this was his first BF, and I'm pretty sure he quit his job on the spot. I would not have been surprised if he was bleeding. There's just no excuse for that kind of behavior.

Last year's favorite memory was standing outside of Joanns at 10 'til 6, I was the only person in line. Next door is an Office Depot, and I think those people had been there half the night. We were shouting at each other, I kept trying to get them to come get in my line. Didn't work.

Another fond memory of last year was DH standing in line at Menards while I ran around the store collecting stuff for everyone in line. I'd come back with some coffee cups or something, and someone else would want one. When we were in line next to the electronic games we started passing them back so that everyone who wanted one could get the one they wanted. The sweetest thing was when two ladies wanted the same one (last one) and started arguing that the other one SHOULD take it, because they each didn't think they really needed it.

I do try to carry candy for cashiers, I usually start out with a bag of mints or mint-chocolates. I've never had one turn me down yet. :)

I do try to carry candy for cashiers, I usually start out with a bag of mints or mint-chocolates. I've never had one turn me down yet. :)

What a great idea! And what a wonderful way to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer to these poor, poor people who have to work on this day.

J
I do try to carry candy for cashiers, I usually start out with a bag of mints or mint-chocolates. I've never had one turn me down yet. :)

Wow! I'm gonna do that this year. What a great idea! :yup:

I got to WM last year at approx. 4am to get in line for what I thought was a hot item, the PSP (I priced matched:cool: ). To my surprise, I was the 1st one there, and even at 6:00am when they started selling them, there were still only about 6 people in line.
I love BF. My husband thinks I'm nuts for getting up that early. I tell him stories of how early some people get in line and how my time is actually late, and he just laughs...lol

My favorite memory from BF 06 was with the Cabbage Patch Dolls at Walmart. I go with my mom and my aunt so we scout out the store and decide who stands where to grab what and they decided I should grab the Cabbage Patch Dolls and the Little people playset since I am really small and could maneuver through the skinny aisle. I was grabbing a few for my aunt for her daughters when I saw one with my same first and middle name for my angel tree child :) It made me smile. The best part though was after I got my dolls and the little people sets I see this woman who didn't look like she was in the best of physical health standing off to the side straining to see the dolls. I asked her if I could help her and she said she wanted one of the dolls for her granddaughter she's raising but couldn't get through the crowd. I got back in the crowd and wasn't able to get her one before they were all gone. When I came back out and told her they were gone she started to tear up and said that was the one nice toy her granddaughter was gonna get that year and then thanked me for trying and started to push her empty cart away. I went after her and offered her the one for I had picked out for the angel tree child. She gave me the bigest hug (which kinda freaked out me mom and my aunt). I was glad to help her out. Then in the checkout line the lady ahead of me was counting her dolls and realized she had one too many and gave it back to the cashier so I snatched it up. It was great, everyone got what they wanted!

I, too, find some of my best deals at Mendards - but those nasty folks who choose not to wait in line with a cart then try to cut in at the front doors when the front doors open, well, I don't think they play fair!

I went to New York for BF last year with my mom and sister, we're from Ireland. It was our first BF and this website helped us out so much! Anyway, we headed over to Macys and spent a couple of hours there. We were plodding our way through the crowds and we see a bunch of photographers taking pics of everyone. So we trundled on, trying to get up onto the next floor. The next day I decided to buy the New York Post to see what they'd said about BF and there we was our photo on page 6 going up the escalators in Macys!!!

The staff in Old Navy were so fun too while we were waiting in line. We won a few coupons on the little competitions they had. Such a good trip and we're heading back for more this year!!!

Going to Circuit City and waiting in line meeting and talking with people.

What a great idea! And what a wonderful way to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer to these poor, poor people who have to work on this day.

I second this! I think I will do this this year. I was the team lead in the toy dept of Target one year on black friday. Wow. I had been shopping and knew what to expect but it was still the most out of control day I ever had, haha.

Tad bit off topic, but I LOVE reading about all your stories. In Louisville, the most exciting thing that happens is usually a fight or two. **Except: while people were waiting in line for a PS3, someone did a drive-by shooting on the line outside of Best Buy, no one was killed. but a few people were taken to the ER.** :shock:

Last year I went to Meijer at 3:00 to get an MP3 player for $99. Stood in line for about half an hour in the electronics department. One of the cashiers comes walking buy and says "The MP3 players are sold out." Ok, first thing the sale doesn't start until 6 and second they weren't handing out any kind of tickers. So I left to go to another Meijer. Stood in line and they opened the electronics department at 5. I had no idea where the things were so I got out of line and went to the photo department. (No line cutter here. The whole line dissolved in a mad rush in about 10 seconds.) I saw a woman carrying one out from the photo lab. I go up there to get one and the guy in front of me is buying two of them. I asked the clerk for one and GUESS WHAT? They were the last two! The man turns around to me and says "Here, you can have the other one. It'll save me 99 bucks. That was my best BF conquer to date.

Last year while camping out at BB we had someone park in the middle of the parking lot, get out of his car at about 2am. He leaves his radio on and climbs up to dance on the roof of his car. He never got into line. I guess he just wanted to offer some free entertainment.

I enjoyed having my birthday and BF on the same day, but getting everything I needed in one trip was a first. So having everything go well was the best thing.

My last BF shopping experience was very good. I finished placing all the Staples online orders by 5am and then took my neighbor (a newbie in BF shopping) to CompUSA. We were around the 30th in line. I got the $20AR 160GB HD and FAR BT headset and walked out in 5 minutes after the store opened.

My last BF shopping experience was very good. I finished placing all the Staples online orders by 5am and then took my neighbor (a newbie in BF shopping) to CompUSA. We were around the 30th in line. I got the $20AR 160GB HD and FAR BT headset and walked out in 5 minutes after the store opened.

Wow... just take the newbie to Best Buy and see if he/she wants to go back next year. ;) :rolleyes:

When the dorbusters are all in one place there is pushing and shoving. It would be one big pile up if there was only one in each location....If I wasn't after the item it would be fun to watch.

people watching

Wow... just take the newbie to Best Buy and see if he/she wants to go back next year. ;) :rolleyes:

I did not go to BB on BF for many years. Basically, it is not worth the effort. The money you may save is less than the hours standing in line x minimal wage. :D

Last year the BB near us had police to keep control. We went up to get a 50" Plasma well the line was HUGE at 11pm already and my wife was feeling horrible. So I decided that her health was more important then a TV, so we went home. She slept for a little while then woke me up and said she felt much better so we should go back to BB. We get back to the store and the tickets for the TV we wanted had already been passed out. We decided to wait in line anyway to get some other things. Well we ended up in a huge jumble of people (not sure how this started as we where just standing in line). So the police start letting in X amount of people into the store as others leave. People are being VERY rude and pushing and shoving, there was a policewoman who was getting a tad bit cranky telling people to back off. The whole time we just stood there in line and moved forward as allowed. Well our time finally comes to go in the store and a bunch of people cut between my wife and myself and I end up getting in the store.

Well I just decided that I would wait for her, as I'm standing there the policewoman walks up and asks me who I'm waiting for (another lady right next to me had the same issue with her husband) so I tell her what happened and she says she'll take care of it. We stand there talking for a few minutes and she turns out to be pretty cool, well she opens the door and says my wifes name and this other ladies husbands name and tells them to come in the store. This one guy who had been a jerk in line the whole time we stood there tells the policewoman that if shes letting them in he's going in also. She tells him no your not and when he gets snippy she tells him you can go to the very end of the line and shut your mouth, she could take him to jail for disorderly conduct, or if he felt big enough he could push his way in and the two VERY large policemen behind all of us would be happy to deal with him in a not so polite manner. :)

While all of this is going on the manager asks me what where there for, I tell him, he says all the tickets are gone but that he could get me the TV the next day and he would even waive the $50 fee. We ended up buying many things there some on our list and some that ticket people had just abandoned around the store. All in all it was pretty fun we ended up going to Target and Wal-Mart and getting everything we wanted.

Got a 52 inch TV in much the same way. I saw a line (in BB) and asked a guy what it was for, and he said that the manager decided to sell TV sets as long as he had them in the warehouse! He also waived the fee for delivery! This was not my main objective, as i was #6 in line at Compusa earlier that morning.

Its my first time posting here but i have been shopping on BF since 2005. In yonkers NY hundreds of people waited all night to get a tv or something like that then by the time the store opened there were like a thousand people there so cops had to come in as people bullrushed the store as the doors opened and it had to be shut down for couple of hours. fun times

My favorite moment was going to the mall with my sister on BF-and actually having a good time! :eek: We sat in a nice warm van,going over our lists,as the line outside, in the freezing cold, just kept growing. We laughed,as an ice cream truck pulled up by the line,playing their music and waiting for customers.And they actually got some,despite it being around 25 degrees out and 4am in the morning.Then,as the doors opened,and the long line shoved inside,we just got out of the van and went in,also managing to get the free disney door gift being given out.We got all the stuff on our lists in the mall,including my sister's getting an incredible deal on a giant Little Mermaid doll at the Disney store.She got the last one left out of 5 ,I think. We stopped and got a little breakfast,while watching others roam the mall in a frenzy,then went to more stores to shop.:gdcar: We weren't crushed by people or overheated.We got everything on our lists.It was just ...nice,for a change.:) Can't wait to see what we are in store for this year! :holiday09

:2welcome:



Its my first time posting here but i have been shopping on BF since 2005. In yonkers NY hundreds of people waited all night to get a tv or something like that then by the time the store opened there were like a thousand people there so cops had to come in as people bullrushed the store as the doors opened and it had to be shut down for couple of hours. fun times

My favorite moment from BF 06 was going to Prime Outlets in Queenstown, MD. I didn't even plan on going, but my mom, sisters, and I decided to go since it was open since midnight and many places didn't open until 4-6am. I got a peacoat from Gap for $40!!! Plus I got some tee shirts for about 75 percent off!!!

The 1st stop last yr for me and my hubby was Best Buy. Now keep in mind and imagine this, best buy had just got done being built a couple months earlier, so this was the 1st BF for best buy. We got there at 6am and the parking lot was so filled we drove around for like 15 mins before we could even park. Once we got inside, they had no shopping carts or baskets. And the line was already wrapped from the registers all the way down to where the computers are, around that and back up to where the TV are at the beginning of the store. And keep in mind best buy had only been open for maybe 20 mins when we finally got in there. So im doing my shopping, convincing people what to buy for the Wii (hehe), and then I ended up with so much stuff in my hands I just had to grab something to put it in. So here I am with like 20 DVDs and games combo in my arms walking up to the entrance of the store trying to get through a huge line of people and suddenly I saw it....a beautiful shopping bag!! LOL!! I literally ran and picked it up. Oh forgot to mention that when we finally got in there they had these DVDs that we liked but didnt own, so I grabbed a whole bunch for my hubby for christmas presents, the best part they were origially like $9 each and got them for $3 each!! Gotta love the savings!! Anyways, im standing in line for like an hr (and no im not lying) and finally made it up to the registers. Spent $600 just on my hubby! Then leaving the store, they had the security checking everyones bags. While most people walked away with like a couple things, when I got my bags checked because I had so much, the girl had to literally go over to her counter, take everything out of the bags, checked the receipt, told me to walk through the door and she would hand me my bags once I went through the door. Which is VERY odd, nothing like that ever happened to me before. And theres been times we would walk out of best buy with a lot of stuff and thats never happened before. Its almost like they werent expecting someone to walk in and buy a lot of dvds and video games. Im thinking c'mon its BF! Of course people are gonna be buying a lot of stuff. Get used to it! It kinda hurt a little cuz it almost felt like I was being accused for stealing or something. All I know is I grabbed my bags, she told me to have a good day, normally I would say you 2, but I just looked at her and left. I wasnt gonna give her any satisfaction, for treating me like that. I should have walked back in and returned everything. And if they asked why, I would have been like well it felt like I was being accused of stealing and I dont wanna buy anything from a store thats gonna treat me like that. But anyways, 2005, was super walmart 1st BF, DH and I had to park where the omish park their horses, and by the time we got back into the car, his car smelled like horse manure lol.

My fav part of BF 2006 was when we went to Walmart. We did not have to stand in line and it was warm (I live in North Dakota and usually it is 5 degrees or lower). The safety patrol was directing people to where the sales were. It was great. I really can't wait for this year. Plus with Walmart we could walk around and really check out the sales and we were out of there quicker than Menard's.

2000 - 19 year old working at KB Toys...I cursed my boss for making me come to work at 3:00AM and work a 15 hour day so the crazy parents could line up at the store the night before and save a couple of bucks.

2001 - Pregnant - stayed home

2002 - crazy mom standing in line at 3:00 and shopped for 15 hours trying to save a couple of bucks =} Now I'm hooked.

I love BF. this will be my 3rd year. The only problem that I have is that no one ever wants to go with me. They have no money, or its too cold. And it is hard for me to get everything i want. But that wont stop me, I guess I am going solo this year.

I love BF. this will be my 3rd year. The only problem that I have is that no one ever wants to go with me. They have no money, or its too cold. And it is hard for me to get everything i want. But that wont stop me, I guess I am going solo this year.

A few people have asked if they could go with me, but I only go with my mom - were fast, and plan our attack the night before, we really dont want anyone holding us back from getting to the other stores ASAP. The more people you have the harder it is to stay organized and move on quickly. I feel for you though, I wouldn't want to go by myself but if I had to - I would :cheesy:

I am so excited for this year - I cant wait!!!!!!

'ehm, this was a classic moment for me last year..

brought a friend with me (first time I'd ever done that) and we were walking up to Staples which I've been going to for almost 4-5 years now. There were three people there already, it starts earlier and earlier each year with the media getting involved, and we said hello and what not. They were on the left side of the door, and we sat at the right side. I knew they had never been there before, their choice of seating explained it well enough. They were all snuggled in and it was cold. They were staring at us the entire time as we setup camp (chairs, laptop, sleeping bags, etc). Then to break the silence I said "You guys are still first in line, but the line starts over here." they were puzzled and got a bit upset, I tried to repeat myself so they didn't think we were trying to cut in line. "No, you guys are before us in line, but the line goes down the right side of the door." You see, only a few feet behind them was nothing but dirt and grass with no overhead, were everyone would eventually be if they showed up and lined up behind them. To the right is a nice paved walkway in front of store shops, you know they typical strip mall layout. I felt kind of bad having to tell them, but they packed up their stuff and made their way over to our side.

was the first time my BF seniority paid off. =)

P.S.: no this was not a trick or anything, they were still first when it was time to go in.

My favorite memory......NOT GOING! Not fighting the crowds, not standing in line, none of the nonsense!

My favorite memory......NOT GOING! Not fighting the crowds, not standing in line, none of the nonsense!

WHAT!!:eek: Some people don't go to BF? OMG! Are you kidding? :D :tongue1:

My favorite memory......NOT GOING! Not fighting the crowds, not standing in line, none of the nonsense!

What is the purpose of reading and posting in a Black Friday Forum if you don't care or take part in it? I just don't get it. :(

What is the purpose of reading and posting in a Black Friday Forum if you don't care or take part in it? I just don't get it. :(

Lots of people shop BF but online. Sounds like no fun to me. I go even if I don't need anything!

Definitely a BF shopper...

Heres my story.

Standing in line at Kohls...we were 5th in line, my husband and I. Doors open, here come these 2 ladies from out of nowhere...one lady pushes into me. OK, so I didnt say anything. Get to the door and I am right near the frame of the door. Lady starts to shove me again. So, I push back. No sooner do we get in the door, she says to me "you better watch it little girl, or I will pull your ponytail!" What did that b!tch just say? I turn around and this fat little grandma is looking at me. She was ready to fight. My husband grabs my arm, drags me along and asks me why I am so feisty. Why **I** am so feisty. Hmph. He was just afraid grandma would get hurt :-)

I got my crap though. Every last thing I went in for, I walked out with.

OK, I'll bite. In 2006 I went out on a search for a video camera. Started out early at Staples and found out they sold the allotment they had within the first 15 minutes. Then headed to the other side of town to Best Buy which opened an hour later. After standing in very long line to get in when doors open, only to find out all the tickets for the cameras had been dispersed already. I started looking around only to see many people with more than one ticket in their hands. I then approached a manager and told him my anger as the ad clearly[/B] stated one ticket per customer. He of course told me there was nothing he could do. Then a young man about 20 approached me as he waited in line with his sister and mom that he had an extra ticket if I wanted one. I politely told him I would be very happy but only if he wanted to give it to me. At this time his loud obnoxious mother intervened and told me that she didn't wait in line for over 3 hours to just give away her tickets and that if I wanted one I would have to PAY HER. I was flabergasted. I politely told her that in no way would I pay her for a ticket but if thay had one to give away I would take it. (Obviously they were not going to buy 6 video cameras!) The son was the educated one here and said in no way was I going to have to pay for a ticket and gave me his ticket. I thanked him graciously and wished him a merry christmas. The mom who should be the teacher, on the other hand, needs a learning lesson on the spirit of giving from her child!

I don't really have too many stories to tell, but I went to Best Buy for BF 2006 and not only did I get everything on my list, I made friends with the GM and another associate. In fact, I thought the young 20 something associate was doing such a great job dealing with the crowd, questions, line cutters, etc. that I pulled the GM aside and jokingly told him that he should give the kid a raise. To my surprise, he pulled him inside the store for about 15min. and the kid came back through the line asking for the guy that suggested he get a raise. My buddy pointed me out and he came by to say thanks, the manager gave him a raise because of me and shook my hand. Anyway, I found out that he actually got a promotion too, because the GM came back out and offered me his old job, but I turned it down because I had just found a new job about a month before and I don't really want to work at best buy, because then I can't participate in BF!

Last year was my first year and I have to say getting the last vouchers on all the items i wanted at CC was an awesome filling. Also enjoyed talking to the people standing in line. This year our group has grown from the wife and me to all the kids. We are getting the direct connects ready and have my brother doing the online thing. Study up on the hints and advise pages, this is good info. Yehiiiiii.:cheesy:

WHAT!!:eek: Some people don't go to BF? OMG! Are you kidding? :D :tongue1:

WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY:yuck:
THAT IS THE FUN:D

Your stories are all so wonderful, the last few years its always been really quiet when I go, hoping for action this year! LOL

It was 2005, wow it seems like last year, but my brother and I are at CC and we are about persons 45ish in line. The line is already around back and coming up again around the parking lot. Milwaukee, WI 76th street CC if you know where that is. So, a mother and daughter, maybe 12 years old at the most, come trying to get in line near the time of opening. Politely people inform them, me included, that they should get to the back. I think they were overwhelmed at the people.

I talked with them briefly as the mom probably thought she was sweet talking me, but found out the daughter wanted a Game Boy Advance for $50 I believe it was. I thought CC would have lots of them and I was there for one myself. When the doors opened my brother and I parted ways to get what we came for helping each other as we split the store in two. I grabbed a couple game boys and as we were waiting in line I see the daughter without a Game Boy.

The daughter was timid, quiet, and shy that morning and mom was being more than what a mother should be. I walk up to the daughter, I am 6'3" so that did not help matters. I hand the daughter the Game Boy and tell her to have a Merry Chirstmas. The daughter smiled and I dont even know if mom noticed me.

My mom, sis, aunt and I compile our shopping lists and break them up by department. My sis had toys last year. She was getting the CPK that were on sale when she noticed a little old lady trying to get one but kept getting pushed out of the way. She asked the lady what she was looking for then jumped but into the chaos and found what the lady wanted

2006 or 2005 Meijer had Stingray bikes(only 5) on early bird and we got one decided after pushing it through the store for an hour we didn't really want it found a friend who really did and gave it to him. We saw probably 6 different people with that bike by the time we were in the check out. It was just funny!!!!

My best moment was when I was featured on ABC news! Yup that was me :D . Thanksgiving night on the national news. Then the second best thing was when I was at Target on BF, this husband and wife team yelled across the store, " We saw you on the news and you inspired us to come out today!" It was really cool. I was actually recognized a few times over the weekend because the local news channel here kept running the clip over and over again. My family said it all went to my head......nawwww, not me! :p

it was 2005 I think the year of the walmart lap top, I was in the line as our store is a 24 hour one at 1:00am . I was number 5 so i knew i was getting one, made friends rather fast with every one around me as I always do. I've posted before that I take a slew of people with me as runners, That year I had my 17 year old daughter, her BF, my mother inlaw and the one girl who works for me. The two girls mission was DVD players I needed 2 and they were on a pallet, My mother in law was Jewerly and I was after 2 chains the girl who was with me was stationed at the TV/VCR combo's.

Now I am proud of my daughter as when they ripped the black off the pallet, there was a mad rush and the Walmart employee was being trampled. She handed the 2 we needed to her friend and then stood there with the employee and Handed out portable dvd players to people. She yelled at these people that if you calm down we will pass them back to you.

The Walmart employee was so relieved that she helped her, Well then I used the other people who were with me to get things people in line with me were waiting for, I think we ended up getting 5 people the portable DVD cases, computer cases, Gameboys, Cabbagepatch dolls, while the first 25 of us stopped the rushes for the computers, The only thing good about going to the same store year after year the employees remeber you,and work with every one who is stopping people from rushing.

Last year I bought Donuts for some of the employees and handed them out as I cruised around at 1:00 am looking for my pricematching items.

Now we have a new WALMART opening closer so I don't know if I will go to that one or the old one or even go there at all

Last year was the best! Stood outside Ultimate Electronics... with my cranky mom. Once they let us in we headed for the portable dvd players, I needed 2. Well.... little pricing problem at this store..... they put the 9in ones under the $37.99 sign. The lady at the register said okie dokie... and did the price change... the ones under the sign were to be $149.00. We were so tickled after that.... we didnt remember much else from the day. They came with the case, all the chargers, the car straps, and they had the rotating screens. They were awesome.

last year my wife wrecked her four wheeler after dinner and couldn't go for the first time in years... she tells me to go.. no sooner than i get in the first store, and she's callin saying take me to the hospital.... ankle was broken

WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY:yuck:
THAT IS THE FUN:D

lol. The one thing I don't understand: how can people be on this site, but not go BF-ing??? :tongue1: :D

last year my wife wrecked her four wheeler after dinner and couldn't go for the first time in years... she tells me to go.. no sooner than i get in the first store, and she's callin saying take me to the hospital.... ankle was broken

Ohhhh! Been there (4-wheeler wreck, put me in the ICU for a week!) But to miss bf! That'd had to hurt (not your wife, you!)

Hey all. Last year, I went out to my Wichita, KS Circuit City and was able to snag some good deals. But man oh man did I sure have to fight for what I got. It was insane. People were lined up single-filed before the store opened. The employees came out about an hour before opening to hand out flyers for the big ticket items. I was upset though, because even though there was an obvious line, large groups of people began crowding the front door anyway. The employees said nothing about it, and when the store opened it was a literal mad-dash in the store. I would not be surprised if it violated fire codes...was rediculous.

Here is my simple plan, and is it really that hard for these retail stores to figure out. Everyone will line up early days before BF. the stores should rope off the line or maybe give out numbered bracelts. If you cut in line, you are out. Now, people camp out for the ad deals, so why not place all the ad deals in a striaght line down an aisle or two, have it roped off as well, and just as cattle are directed through a pen, have all those in line go through slowly and pick what they want. Everything has a minimum anyway, and the big stuff like tv's, you can grab a purchase ticket or something. For those people not in line for the good stuff, allow them to enter the store as usual, and they would not have access to the ad deals, as that would be roped off for the people in line. There would be no running into stores, getting pissed off and smacking another person. I know this may seem fun and the thrill for many (I don't mind it too much), but it would make everything civil and give those people who deserve it the most (the people willing to give up a day with family) the fair, unhasseled opportunity to get their deals and continue shopping.

Seems like such an easy plan. Oh well, I guess they work in retail for a reason...


I think your idea is genius!!!! Especially the handing out of braclets...this should occur at like 2am or something, before the terrible line jumping occurs. If a store followed your method, dude, i'd so be lined up there this bf....fairness!!!

2005...my daughter and I went shopping on BF as usual. This was her first trip she was 14,..ok so WM had the dvds on sale as usual,..poor girl got knocked down to the ground and couldnt get up,..a friend of ours grabbed her hand and pulled her up,..an associate of the store felt so bad they made sure she got all her dvds and made sure she was alright,..she thought it was funny,..thank goodness she didnt get hurt....then a few minutes later she ran for a uno attack which was on sale,..i stayed with teh cart and we took turns running for different items,..so she ran for hte uno attack and got the last one just as she started walkign an old lady like 70 grabbed it out of her hand and ran away with it,..we laughed so hard we couldnt get it from her,..it was so funny,..

My favorite memory last year was walking in to my WM at 11:30 pm Thanksgiving and wandering checking around. I talked briefly to a stocker there. I told him I was there for BF. He told me they sale doesn't start until 5:00am and I told him "I know".... He just looked at me oddly and walked away. The look alone was Priceless, kind of the "You are nuts" look. If I decide to do the WM thing again this year I hope I get the same look.

I also love BF......but its not for the weak at heart...LOL Last year I got into a little dispute over a basket at bath and body works. Another lady wanted the last specific scent basket I picked up. She went as far as to scream at me, curse me and cause one h*ll of a scene. I couldn't help but to smile so sweet and say "Merry Christmas to you too honey". She yelled F*'n B***h all the way out the door...... poor thing, I think she may have had issues.

My last BF shopping experience was very good. I finished placing all the Staples online orders by 5am and then took my neighbor (a newbie in BF shopping) to CompUSA. We were around the 30th in line. I got the $20AR 160GB HD and FAR BT headset and walked out in 5 minutes after the store opened.

This reminds me why compusa failed so miserably last year. The ads looked good, but in reality, the total cost out of pocket was far too great with the multitude of rebates that you had to endure.

I also love BF......but its not for the weak at heart...LOL Last year I got into a little dispute over a basket at bath and body works. Another lady wanted the last specific scent basket I picked up. She went as far as to scream at me, curse me and cause one h*ll of a scene. I couldn't help but to smile so sweet and say "Merry Christmas to you too honey". She yelled F*'n B***h all the way out the door...... poor thing, I think she may have had issues.

That is exactly why walgreens and cvs do so well, for they sell tissues for the issues, and mouthwash for the potty mouth.:D

My favorite moment:
Only going to 1 store (Sears) where I had called ahead, found out they carried the same camcorder on Best Buys BF ad,waiting a short time in line, gettting a $10 gift card & 110% price match. $142 camcorder that retailed over $300. Was at work by 7:00am.

My favorite moment:
Only going to 1 store (Sears) where I had called ahead, found out they carried the same camcorder on Best Buys BF ad,waiting a short time in line, gettting a $10 gift card & 110% price match. $142 camcorder that retailed over $300. Was at work by 7:00am.

NICE! :eek:

Not a good moment but a memorable moment ... My 2 year old split the bridge of his nose open on the fireplace the night before. We didn't get home till 1:30 am and I had to leave our house at 4am for Black Friday shopping. After shopping till afternoon I was totally exhaused and had to clean up the dried blood that was all over the carpet because DH didn't know how to.

Last year I was 5th or 6th in line at Walmart for the opening. I had my eye on the big TV BUT I didnt plan very well figuring I wouldn't really get it. I ran and actually got the last one in the store. Problem was my mom ditched me to go to BB and I didnt have a truck to take the TV home. I was frantically calling every person I knew who could have had a truck to help me but it was 5am and nobody was up :-( I clutched the TV for at least half an hour trying to figure out what I was going to do. A lady ended up coming up to me asking if i was really getting the TV. I told her I wasn't sure because I had no truck so I was waiting for someone to call me back. Well she asked me if I would consider giving her the TV for $75......I......so I did! I figured I might as well since I had no way of getting it home. I love telling the story of selling a TV that wasn't *technically* mine at Wal-Mart.

One of my favorite things last year was watching the cops stop people from cutting in line when the doors opened. People that just walked up there and thought they could go right on in. It was really funny to see their expression and watch them try and argue their way in.

ok so I shouldn't even post this but I will. I should have done this last year but here I go. Last year on November 17th yes that close to black Friday I went to bingo with my mother in law at a casino. during the 10 minute intermission I go to play the slot machines with my $27 dollars and curse myself and the little lady next to me who is laughing hysterically at me because I played a $5 bet. And I am sorry but I am a tight WAD!!! I always play 75 cent a roll and playing $5 really hurt my feelings considering I only had $27 to play/eat with, then my machine is locked up with this big golden lock on it and I am surrounded by 5 security people and one really nice lady who asks if I would like any thing to drink. Then my machine says jackpot winner. HA! So I just hit a jackpot and the whole time I am complaining about losing my $5 in one roll. The poor little lady next to me freaks out and starts screaming and hugging me and laughing me. I break out in hives and I don't remember much after that until BLACK FRIDAY!!! Yeah the time when I have to control myself not the I have $10,432.50 more to spend then I though I would have. I try very hard all night long to be good. I go to midnight madness at Waterloo, NY were the back door to my van will not shut so after fighting and ,making a scene I finally get it shut. I shop there until I feel just about dead and then I meet the rest of my party at Walmart in Watertown, NY and buy 2 big ride on toys. I go to open up my van and guess what the door will not open!! At first I am just laughing and the poor walmart boy with this ride on jeep and 4 wheeler is just looking at me is just like wow this woman is a nut. Then my cousin comes out to help me we finally get the door to open and I am so overtired (because who sleeps on black Friday) that I start to cry and hug her for getting my door open. I was sobbing it was hilarious. This little walmart guy says "wow usually people are mean to each other on this day I can't wait to tell the guys about you." so we all start laughing. I go back in to the store and find my mother so I can finally go home and she sees me and thinks something happened to me and hugs me so I have to explain to the whole party my embarrassing moment and then I leave to go home and go to bed. I felt so dumb but I was just so tired I hadn't slept in 2 days.

Hmmm...Favorite black friday moments? Well there is 2003 when my husband and I were first married and I made him go with me. SWORE HE WOULD NEVER GO BACK.

2004 I was 8 months pregnant. Did I go? Absolutly! Waited out side in FREEZING weather while my lil one kicked the crap out of my bladder. Managed to get EVERYTHING I wanted that year including a TV. Stood in check out line for 2 1/2 hours having contractions. DH swore he would not go back.

2005 Did not get to go due to work/family issues.

2006 Took DH left the lil one with my mom and dad. Manged to get everything I wanted. DH swore he wouldn't go back.

Yesterday....DH asked where we were starting! **LOL** LOVE IT!

Hmmm...Favorite black friday moments? Well there is 2003 when my husband and I were first married and I made him go with me. SWORE HE WOULD NEVER GO BACK.

2004 I was 8 months pregnant. Did I go? Absolutly! Waited out side in FREEZING weather while my lil one kicked the crap out of my bladder. Managed to get EVERYTHING I wanted that year including a TV. Stood in check out line for 2 1/2 hours having contractions. DH swore he would not go back.

2005 Did not get to go due to work/family issues.

2006 Took DH left the lil one with my mom and dad. Manged to get everything I wanted. DH swore he wouldn't go back.

Yesterday....DH asked where we were starting! **LOL** LOVE IT!

LOL! Seems like my best friend. He tells me everytime, "This is stupid, why are we running? I'm never coming back with you ever!" 20 minutes before I leave to get in line (usually around 4:30-ish) I call him up. "You wanna go?" "I'll be right over! I'll bring the generator, you bring the laptop, TV, and Game system." Never fails!