Brad

https://www.amazon.com/gp/holidaytoylist/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_HTL1_1a1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=4AXG2H2NSVPGHN175VDZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=854c68de-f05e-47e3-9cc7-71ae7eee6db4&pf_rd_i=165793011

As I've done the past few years, I've looked at the data from the past several years including when the ad was leaked for some popular stores and what date Black Friday fell on each year. Based on these numbers and this year's Black Friday date (November 24th), here is the "average" day you can expect these ads this year: November 5: Sears, Sam's Club November 6: Kohl's, JCPenney, Meijer, Macy's November 7: Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Kmart November 8: Office Depot, Gander Mountain, Walgreens November 9: Staples November 10: CVS Pharmacy, Bass Pro Shops November 11: Dick's Sporting Goods November 12: Menard's, GameStop November 13: Lowe's, Old Navy November 15: Home Depot November 24: Black Friday 2017 You can go back through the last 11 years to see the leaked dates for many stores here: http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/Dates Of course you may remember that the last few years we had a crazy 36-hour periods that saw ads from Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Kohl's and many others all released right after each other. I expect something similar this year around November 6-8 (and the data above backs it up), so be prepared...

Here is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-915-000239-Harmony-Companion-Remote/dp/B00N3RFC4G/ They have another version with a screen on the remote as well. Can work with Hue lights, Nest thermostats and other devices.

I was on a conference call yesterday with Amazon and a bunch of their product line managers and other higher-ups and they are really going all in on smart home stuff for the holidays. So expect a lot of deals from them, especially on bundles with things like an Echo speaker and smart lights to get people started.

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/MoreSales/FarmFleetToyland

I have both Google Home and an Echo speaker to control various devices but I mostly use the Google Home as the Echo is there just for any Alexa-exclusive deals that pop up. The Google Home controls the Philips Hue lights that I have both inside and outside. I also have Nest cameras and their smart thermostat which can also be controlled by the Google Home. My TV has Android TV which means I can tell the Home to show any of my camera feeds on the TV if I'd like. My Harmony remote control can also control the lights if I don't want to use voice. For music I have Sonos speakers throughout the house and they are finally starting to allow devices such as Echo speakers to control those, but I'm still using the app.

It's looking like smart home products are going to be pretty big this year so we're going to have a thread for these items. Feel free to post questions, ask for recommendations and post reviews of any smart devices you have. This would include things such as Echo speakers, Hue lights, Nest cameras & thermostats, Ring doorbells, etc...

November 1-16: Countdown to Black Friday November 17-24: Black Friday Deals Week November 25-December 2: Cyber Monday Deals Week December 3-14: 12 Days of Deals December 15-22: Last Minute Deals

There probably aren't many kids that young who know about the SNES and would care enough beyond "hey, this is worth a lot, i want it". But you can feel free to reward your friendly GD admin for positive behavior instead

We moved servers again this afternoon, so please post here if you run into anything strange (error messages, long loading times, etc...)

http://investor.staples.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96244&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2306026

http://news.walmart.com/2017/10/09/walmart-reinvents-the-returns-process

Hmmm... maybe I'll join the secret Santa this year. I'll have to think about it...

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/MoreSales/FleetFarmToyland

Time for the next t-shirt contest! To be entered to win, reply to this thread with captions for each of the 3 photos below which were taken last year. Contest will be open until 9pm ET on Sunday, October 15th. I will then randomly choose 10 members who entered and you'll win a 2017 Black Friday t-shirt. As always, limit one shirt prize per member this year. PHOTO #1: PHOTO #2: PHOTO #3: And don't forget that if you want to order more Black Friday shirts, you can do that here. http://i.gottadeal.com/main/images/merch/contestshirts.png

The 10 winners of this contest are: jaymacfla radritch stevierocks ISU ME Tara3117 howpomp atipton129 Elmck Stowasser queenkishaa Look for a PM from me to claim your prize. Another contest coming soon!

You can check out their older ads on http://blackfridayarchive.com

Scans: http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridayScans/HarborFreight PDF: http://i.gottadeal.com/blackfriday/scans/pdf/GottaDeal-HarborFreight-BF2017.pdf

DISCUSS BLACK FRIDAY THIS YEAR & WIN GIFT CARDS TO THE STORE OF YOUR CHOICE! We're giving several of you on the forum $100 gift cards for doing what you all love to do anyway - talk about Black Friday! Here's how it works: Through November 27th (at 11:59:59pm EST), every time you post in one of the Black Friday forums (such as this main Black Friday Discussion subforum, any of the store-specific subforums, Posted Black Friday Ads or Online Black Friday subforums) you'll earn one entry into the contest. We're not going to require your posts to be a certain length to qualify or anything like that - we just want a lot of great discussion. We know there are times when a one-word reply is fine. All posts in all threads in these forums will count, including other contest threads. Be aware that it's pretty obvious if someone is attempting to "game the system" by posting repeatedly to get more entries. If that happens, we will give you ONE warning via PM. If we see the behavior continuing, you will be disqualified from winning a gift card. I don't expect this to be an issue (it wasn't during the last few years), but I wanted to make it clear that myself and the mods will be watching for any abuse. Any member who is banned is obviously no longer eligible to win the contest either. This includes posting multiple times in a row in a single thread when one post would be enough, replying to many threads with nothing but "thanks!", etc... as I said, it'll be obvious if anyone does this, so don't do it. There is plenty to discuss without having to cheat your way to more entries. So create interesting threads, reply to other members' questions, give your opinions on everything that is being discussed. This is a discussion board - let's have some interesting discussion here! On Tuesday, November 28th I will randomly select 5 winners from all eligible entries and each of you will receive a $100 gift card to the retailer of your choice! And as a benefit to those who were here early this year, all the posts in the forums up until now will also count towards this contest. Also look for opportunities to earn double entries as we get closer to Black Friday. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to answer them.

Echo Spot: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073SQYXTW/ref=fs_ods_rk Echo 2nd Generation: https://www.amazon.com/All-new-Echo-2nd-Generation-Charcoal/dp/B0749WVS7J Echo Plus: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RWFCHB/ref_=fs_ods_fs_aucc_sr Echo Connect: https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Connect-requires-device/dp/B074TTVQYP Echo Buttons: https://www.amazon.com/b?node=17045325011

Time for the next t-shirt contest! To be entered to win, reply to this thread with at least one item you are hoping to score a deal on this year and the price/discount you hope to see in the ads (or online) for it. Feel free to post more than one item if you'd like. Contest will be open until 9pm ET on Thursday, October 5th. I will then randomly choose 10 members who entered and you'll win a 2017 Black Friday t-shirt. As always, limit one shirt prize per member this year. And don't forget that if you want to order more Black Friday shirts, you can do that here! http://i.gottadeal.com/main/images/merch/contestshirts.png

The 7 randomly chosen winners are: jewleyp BFgrl79 arci122 Pnambic srivassh Jeanne515 laddhorn We'll see when the first ad leaks if anyone was correct

Filed this morning. Some stores to close, others to become more "interactive spaces" whatever that means... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/09/19/toys-r-us-bankruptcy-store-closures/680135001/

Press release (PDF): https://corporate.kohls.com/content/dam/kohlscorp/2017/Amazon%20Returns%20at%20Kohl%27s%20FINAL.pdf Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) today announced that 82 stores across Los Angeles and Chicago will be offering free, convenient returns for Amazon customers starting in October. Kohl’s will pack and ship eligible Amazon return items for free, providing an additional service and convenience to Amazon customers within select Kohl’s stores. - Can't compete with Amazon? Find a way to get some Amazon customers to come inside your store and maybe they'll buy something I guess.

https://consumerist.com/2017/09/18/toys-r-us-expected-to-file-for-bankruptcy-this-week/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow Bankruptcy filing expected this week...