jaymacfla

My suggestion would be a line for the hotly contested items. You get to go through a tightly monitored/roped off line where they hand you a ticket with the top 10 items in the area that is roped off. Other areas would be set up throughout the store with the same concept, yet different small items. You get to take your cart, but no assistance can be rendered by anyone that does not hold a ticket. You get to move through the line and select items as long as you keep moving and do not hold up the line. Reasonable limits will be like 5 towels, 10 DVDs, etc....All of the hotly contested items would be gleaned from years of data and video footage. All Larger items (TVs, etc) would be one per customer. A quick, but not intrusive check of the cart by an employee would ensure that over-filling of the cart would only lead to the cart being taken to a special holding area, until the overages are peacefully surrendered. Rolling out the hotly contested batches in waves(event 1 2, 3 etc) would also work for these lines. All agree that nobody should have to fight over a towel. All "top 10" lines would be advertised in the store in advance of the sale or event, with a map of their locations.

Being a "Full price Freddie" is not in my nature, but I have been known to pay full price for a rarer item if I have someone needs it, like last year's PS4 that we were able to grab because were were already in line.

For years, we have seen the mounting evidence. In videos, news articles, and personal stories, Walmart is not the place to go if you are planning on a safe and sane Black Friday. Stores like Best Buy and Tiger Direct (CompUSA) have successfully pulled off safer events by starting lines and handing out tickets and/or vouchers. What has Walmart done to protect it's shoppers? If 2013 is any indication then the answer is nothing. Everyone is filming the free-for-all with personal cell phones and posting the riotous activities on all of the major websites. On a larger scale, Walmart can tone down the terror on the floor with orderly lines and tickets, blended into the wave shopping that seems to be so popular these days. We all know that people fight over towels as much as electronics, so make any item that has historically been problematic a ticketed item as well, although smaller items can be bundled together to save on manpower. Placing pallets in crowded aisles has never been smart, and placing the wrong items in the wrong places (like TVs and DVDs in produce) can be an unmitigated disaster. What are your feelings on this matter? Did you ever get nearly crushed while trying to save some unfortunate kids stuck in front of the razor scooter pallet like I did? Would changing the way Walmart does Black Friday ruin the experience for you?

Because if there were only online shopping, Black Friday would cease to exist. Think of it as eventually being cyber Monday, where all of the deals are kind of,"Meh".

Not as exciting as a leaked ad, but we'll take it.

I do both. Lining up the smaller items is always insurance against last minute mad dashes where employees purposefully place items in the wrong place to see what confusion ensues.

It is also wise to let your financial system know that you will be making multiple purchases during the week of black Friday. If you shop online, then venture out, you could be headed for trouble if they decline your card in the store. I usually have a backup card loaded and ready to go. Paypal has a Visa card available and may save you in the end.

The late 1990's. In the early days, my mother in law would baby sit, and the wife would sleep in until 1 AM. I would go to CompUSA. They were the early ones who would open at midnight. Rest assured, some teen would always be there for a computer since 4 pm the previous day. I would rush through the store, check out early, and join my wife at Walmart for the real fun. Like some others have said, there was something special about people who were willing to give up the wee hours of the morning and all were kindred spirits.

Have your hot list ready, check out quickly, then go back for the things that will be there longer, like movies and such. Limited quantity items will most likely sell out quickly and sometimes the orders will still get cancelled. If cancellations are an unpleasant memory from previous years, perhaps you are online shopping at the wrong store. Best Buy had a nasty habit of cancelling orders and seems to have made great strides to repair their image in this regard. Be sure to check your WIFI connections, charge up your batteries, and have a wired connection backup plan if you choose to order from a mobile device. I would choose the wired computer scenario over WIFI in any case.

We were out doing recon at Home Depot and Lowes. We were told two very different scenarios in each appliance dept. At Home Depot, the salesman told us to wait until November. The Lowes rep told us that their prices were as good now and it was not likely that November would be better than they are now. Where do you think I would most likely shop? We did find some good clearance prices on fixtures, like an Allen and Roth light fixture for our dining room for $44(Lowes).

Did you ever see a functional drunk who is low key, very talkative and always gets what he is after? Well, every year, Best Buy has "Drunk Guy". He is very polite, will talk your ear off, offer you alcohol( we always refuse), and then either get in line or show up for pre-Black Friday events, equally as drunk. Last year, he showed up (of course, drunk) before Black Friday, and Bought a Samsung S4 (BF special), called the News Anchor "Arsenio" and offered to enhance our hot chocolate with his flask O'plenty. He told me that he was sitting down next to a very nice older woman who was small, yet well endowed. I let him ramble on. Later, my wife came out with her new S4 and told me of this drunk dude that kept hitting on her.....we were both amazed that this guy was able to drive away although we never did see him get into the truck. He later showed up for the line, again making all of his purchases while intoxicated. This has happened for the past 3 years and I wonder if her will make it again this year hopefully sober....

Did Home Depot ever fix their security issues? I just received two different Debit cards from the same bank because of their issues.

Ebay might be an alternative for you. They are always selling Victoria's items. I wonder if the freebie mail-out will come this year from VS.

CVS used to be the place to hit up later in the day on BF for the discounted fragrances.

No, it was not us. We have had a dry camp since 2006!

One of the funniest BF moments I have ever heard dealt with friendship and then deception. One Husband and wife team were #1 in line at Best Buy. A second Husband and wife team showed up behind them and the struck up an immediate friendship. The long hours passed into the night, and the second couple offered alcohol to the first couple, since it appeared that the second couple was drinking. They talked on and on, even playing card games, and when the first couple couldn't hang on any longer, the second couple suggested that they get some rest in their car and would be awakened in plenty of time before tickets were handed out. Later that morning when the sun awoke them from their alcohol induced stupor, they had come to the realization that they had been tricked by the second couple who were also able to slip in a couple of friends of their own in time to reap the rewards of staying completely sober the entire time.

Last year, our camp blew over in 50 mile an hour wind gusts. It was all caught on the channel 4 news......

Photo #1. Beep Beep! Driver says, "No Door-busters for you!!!" Photo #2. "Pull me, I am the real stretch Armstrong!!" Photo #3. "First, I lose my towels to an 86 year old granny, and now I can't find my husband!!!" (Husband is right behind her where she left him earlier).

I don't know exactly why, but I find this post as kind of sad. Call me a purist, but to qualify as a traditional Black Friday shopper, you need to be out and about on that day, otherwise you are a general consumer who happens to be online during the same day that most others are actively participating. With that being said, I am an avid supporter of your right to do so, and only hope that the online experience can be as fruitful for others. I know that the online experience has been spotty in the past, but is trending towards a more reliable alternative as servers and stock levels of merchandise increase. Good luck this year.

Sometimes it is the simple giveaways that are the most meaningful. Before CompUSA turned bad, they always gave out hot chocolate to all of the patrons waiting outside. Best Buy has done this but very rarely. I always keep some handy for cold line-mates and news reporters.

Already there.....

Others may view it as a selfish and greedy move, further alienating their customer base. Most, like another poster hinted will probably take the trial if offered and then cancel when Black Friday is over.

I would predict a 6PM start time.

Was there a leak of the leak??? Congrats to all!!!

http://www.wxyz.com/news/macys-earlier-black-friday-6-pm-thanksgiving Macys is feeling the pressure also....