Cannon1

As being a GD'holic, I've noticed the past few years Home Depot, Lowes, & Sears have been increasingly hitting harder as competitive cousins on BF. Please post any 'word y'all may have. In my case, I've gotta direct my DW in the right direction to avoid socks:yawn: , shoes:no: , and the like .

Tickets are a necessity to maintain accountability-stress aside of all the bum-rushers we've seen over the year(s). If a store lets everyone in pell-mell, they deserve what they get, p-o'd customers & in my case, two w.m. locations don't have my busness for years. Free market means cringing "oh please allow me a chance at your product"? No muchacho, you don't provide a safe, secure, organized environment (for the most part-c'mon), you'll get no repeat busness. Great timing for this post huh? Oh, and thanks for the security cameras, allowing RV's to park overnite, and handing out 'how to apply for state & federal employment benefits while you stick to minimum wage practices. (Me thinks I rant too much and need to buy something on sale - now!)

0330. Over 150 folks in line. (BB accross street had even more). 0430. Issued tickets for high dollar sale items ahead of time to people in line. EXTREMELY Pleased with this method. 0530. Plainclothes agents stepped out of their places in line; had mgr & employees identify who the bum-rushers were-where the mgr then addressed the violators that they would not be allowed into the store. 0630. $800+ well spent, and at work by 0730!!! EXCELLENT PRACTICE - ALL STORES SHOULD DO THE BELOW Bumrushing. I had not experienced 'scumbags pouring out of the parking lot :10 min prior to a store opening to bumrush a store before it opens-frustrating the honest BF customer(s). CC at VaCntrCmns did the best job I've seen on crowd management having plainclothes folks, and the entrance cordoned off for the folks who had waited over 5 hours in the cold. Ticket Issue. You were provided a ticket issued in line - 'No tickie-'No laundry (meaning you didn't get the purchase), ALOT of chuckle-heads once, in the store, waited with us (again, in line) only to be refused an item, because they didn't have a ticket!!!! IF their 2007 sale items are good - I WILL spend my money at Circuit City again.

http://www.primeoutlets.com/ Since first year, there was ALOT of traffic congestion by 10:30pm prior Hence, recon your route ahead of time.Local & county law enforcement was on hand, and plan on increasing their presence this year. Literally, there were 6 mile backups in southern directions (Fr Rchmnd), and northern (Fr Hmptn Rds). Hint: Parking was at a premium, by 11pm overflow parking just south at F Lion was being used, but traffic was not being directed/still allowed into Prime Outlet. Meaning, if you elected to pull into Prime Outlet's parking, you spent 15min circling about, then went to overflow. Midnight opening definitely had it's advantages. Friends were 40mi away at Rchmnd CC. Made only one stop at 'Prime (LeCreuset @ $300+ w/%45 discount). Was at Rchmnd CC by 2am-#3 in line. Will have as 1st visit on list again this year. Oh, and seasonal temps on first experience. Williamsburg was balmy/60 degrees, while inland at Rchmnd was 40 degrees with parkas & blankets - just 40 mile away!!!

Prime Outlets (Williamsburg, VA). 2006 had 1st BF. Opened at MIDNIGHT. ALL stores participated. (Bose, Carter, LLBean, etc...). Convenient, with a opening at 12 am, allowed folks to be in & out, and still hit other stores prior to their opening.

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!!!!

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!

By no way are you off by not going out. Suggest you try on line shopping combined with anything that you know you just cant do without getting in the store without paying an arm and a leg. Best of both! That's how I've done it for two years now and am officially the office and home 'go to person. 2006-$800 online purchases of which over $600 saved via google C_O_ or mail in rebates (some took till Feb to receive!!!). And approx $400 in store purchases of which over $150 saved on B_F_.

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.

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...

Man, had to wait for this page to load and gotta get to work. BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT. We have a '96. Replaced the engine at 182K by the dealership. And thats it. The Mercury brand is quality. The looks are sharp, and the mechanics and road handling are the best. I've got in a quest as well, but always always knew we made the best purchase.

Got it, toaster oven, Here the rebate form was displayed/taped right on the box-their customer service was nothing to brag about though.

pgrunner, pm me sometime on how that virtual CC works, I'd like to try that. Thanx

It's good to see retailers giving their comments and insights on the G_C_. I'm hooked on it, since some have ended their 10/30-20/50, I haven't made those stores my first choice for repeat purchases since they ended, unless it was a good experience (buy.c_ was very fast thru out Christmass). The G_C_ site makes recalling purchases on the spot quicker than snail mail monthly statements (i.e.: am on a road trip, at some hotel I'd rather access g_c_ vs my bank). I realize that most credit cards charge the retailer on every transaction, I seem to recall that Amex was something like 7%, but if thats added to the consumer cost, it's pretty hard for me to detect-while using this g_c_, between froogle search/multiple store $$'s posted, it makes it alot easier for me to decide-who's who & where savings are. Plus I save time by just submitting one password, and avoid having to create multiple accounts/type all those digits everytime=ease. All-in-all, 1) When a retailer offers g_c_, I'm going to select them over an non g_c_ site. 2) When a retailer offers 10/30,20/50 over any site (cost within reason), I'm going to select them. 3) When shipping is involved-none of the above apply, I'm going with the free ship offer, then fall back to the first two priorities if available. Now if rebates could just be as easy!!

I hopped on & enrolled the family as well, thank you!

Man, I think they just cr-pd out this holiday season, I was really hoping for something big before new years, but no one in our family bought from them this year. bummer

Errr, Uhmmm Le Creuset? Enameled-Cast Iron. We got a smooth top last year and an initial buy of L_Cr_ cookware. Then continued the theme this Christmas. They are expensive, (do any kind of search), but we are confident that these will be heirlooms to pass on to our children. ALL our pieces are a red motif (not flame), and if you're fortunate to have an outlet nearby, the savings on this VERY expensive stuff is substantial. The bennies-lifetime blah, blah,,,; the heat retention is the highest I've ever seen=less energy$$; and the look factor.... Again, this is not cheap, years ago we started with the economy stuff, then we advanced to calaphon/etc...; now, we really can't think of anything better to go to. It doesn't 'scratch our smooth top, we use inside our oven as well. Just a final idea of prices (scary) the two pieces I picked up on black friday were a 3 1/2 qt oval & a 9 1/2 qt oval @ $214, and that was with 40% off. L_C_ has another 'sale happening in mid-Jan07. Just an http idea of what you're looking at for the cast iron: http://www.lecreuset.com/usa/products/guide.php?brand_id=1

Posted in other post. I went to BB, CC, HD, CompUSA, OfficeDepot, EBGames, & some others today, NOTHING got my wallet out of my pocket.

I went to CCity, BBuy, Gamestop, EBGames, Office Depot, and CompUSA today, NOTHING got my wallet out of my pocket.

Weelllll JJ, it sounds like a "pass on that" deal. (I wouldn't buy it) There's ALOT better out there Kosar, check cnet.com on reviews.

From what I understand, (some) places are going to start phasing out, i.e.: handhelditems.com 10/30 expires 26Dec. What's going on at Dicks Sporting Goods? I guess I'll hop over & scan.

Hey, great! I hadn't spent that much since Nov24!!! We love YK and it's going quick!!!!

Since it's an office, and if you don't mind the noise. I hate to say this, but, wm has a $20 canister vac. I picked it up just for us to keep our seldom used office area clean/covered my butt for a present. It is very loud though. No bells & whistles. But since a canister, we don't have to be concerned with the right type bag, etc.... Just open & empty. Oh and again, it is realy, realy loud.

Well, its size being a turtle = buy by the bag i.e.: "Play Sand" which is at most major stores (WM/L's/HD). Just in case.... When building a 10'x14' sand box, lining with tar paper & other various sundries, if you think 'by the bag will fill up, sure=$$$$. THEN you buy by the truckload, which is really easy, you pay for the sand (2 tons) and you pay for the truck/driver. The two other considerations will be:1) Travel in and around your yard (ruts, avoiding leach field/septic systems, etc....), and; 2) The sand better be close by, cause you are going to spend alot of time shoveling!!! I finally tore ours down after 10+ years and the sand came in handy for several projects so no waste... but alot of shoveling again!

This is all for a package to use in a rush so centrally located or going to be away from the home, i.e.: track, gym, etc... Shoes-Ryka is a good brand for women, But I use new balance since am a male with over 20K miles running. Bra-Sports Bra Under Shirt-Wicking type, loose fit (alot like tight, if you've the "body" but ask what the upper body looks & feels like after :45 min run (hint-band aids to protect 'sensitives) Shirt-Long sleve for cold but light weight (usually lycra-composite) Head Band-Keep out of eyes Wool Cap-80% of heat escapes out of .... Ear Band-Cold weather wrap around type Socks-ankle high/cushion. Gloves-Most like wicking-type, but I find benefit out of lightweight cotton to wipe sweat out of eyes. Shorts-Loose fit/soft, but are long enough to prevent chafing inside thighs. Reflective(s)-most shoes have, alot of shorts have, so either with the shirt, or wristlets. Sports Band-IF wanting to listen to radio/cd etc... Towel-small extra lightweight/absorbent when running indoors on track/machine. Laces-most shoes have good ones, but the type that have ridges (successive fat width then narrow widths) which keep laces from unraveling during exercise. AFTER the exercise Lock for a gym locker or for gym bag if keep in a public space (under desk, etc)... Cases of water-or at least a water bottle. Flip Flops-to hit the shower with Sport Bag-carry all the above, (Balzak at ebags). Towel-Plush, heck body just took a beating-time to spoil self. Deoderant/Personal Care kit-(nail file, etc) plus another hair brush. Travel Kit-for soap/shampoo/inside the sport bag. Loose fitting comfort clothes-hoodie w/hand pocket, sweat pants with pocket, etc. A dedicated hard cover blank-page book. Good to keep track of miles. A 'pedo might work well, but I usually know route(s)/run w/others, or will drive before/after to figure distance. Any ideas on sports drinks, I usually cut in half with water since most elevate heart rate. Maybee some snack bars to have afterwards as well.