TazErase

Last year TRU opened at 10pm Thursday. Old Navy opened at midnight and was open Thanksgiving. It was great. In the past the mall made us sit outside in 10 degree temperatures until about 4am Friday morning. Last year we had access to the bathroom in Old Navy as well as a place to warm up or just walk around rather than sit on the line the entire time. Since Old Navy is right next to Best Buy, when they opened for Old Navy they let everyone on line for BB line up inside the mall at midnight. In my previous 14 years of doing Black Friday it was by far the best for the fact that we were warm and had access to a bathroom except from 8pm (or 9pm, can't remember) until midnight when they reopened. I really hope Old Navy does the same this year. In addition to being first on line for BB, I moved 1 chair over to the Old Navy line and was first there as well. Went in grabbed my items, got my free video game, and was out within 5 minutes. We were able to put the items we intended to buy in Old Navy on BF in a corner so all I had to do was grab my pile and get to the register. In fact we don't usually do Old Navy but because they were open and it was convenient.

Hey, don't put down the DSC-P10.... lol. Might be a paperweight, but it is a very expensive paperweight, lol. I bought the same camera in 2005 I believe. I refuse to just throw it out since I paid $400 (retail was $500 so I got a good deal, lol) and the 512k memory was $300 at the time but I found it for about $200 on Ebay. Same here though, my kids now have a blurry photo taking paperweight, lol. In fact they prefer to use their cell phones for photos than this bulky paperweight.

If I get 1 I'll make sure to take my jacket off when they take my picture for the front page of the newspaper. At my location they always interview the first in line as well as put their pictures (3 last year) in the newspaper.

I would love to see this happen, but there are still many that wait for that ad and will find someplace else to get the ad if GottaDeal didn't post it. IF I make it to Walmart at all it's usually not until 10 or 11am and at that point if I get the deal I get it if not I don't worry too much since it isn't in the top stores list I made... Oh, Brad, that reference to the loose lightbulb... are you trying to say Walmart execs have some screws loose or something? lol. I totally agree though, they should release it earlier because it does cost them business from many of the hardcore BF shoppers, then again with a 24hr Walmart I have yet to see someone setup a tent in the electronics department, lol.

Let me guess, the Galleria at Crystal Run? What time and stores do you go to? At the location I go to we often get reports on Middletown, Kingston, and Danbury.

In most cases the only deal the stores can usually offer is an Itunes gift card or store card with purchase since they are not allowed to offer it for under the price they are under contract with Apple to sell it for.

1) I agree, to save 2% in taxes by driving through the night really isn't worth it. Better to get in line in Texas and get the better deals that spend all that time driving home. 2) Traffic is usually very light on Thanksgiving. 3) Most gas stations should be open, at least here many are able to accept credit cards at the pump. Some states like NJ where the law requires the attendant to pump the gas would probably be more difficult to find open. Final opinion... It would probably be much smarter to do your shopping in Tx, get on lines earlier to get the better deals and not have to race and be concerned about not making it. To save $20 but lose all the sleep and risk everything, it would be better to stay where you are and get to the stores earlier. Also, there is an increasing pattern of stores being open Thanksgiving Day as well as opening earlier for BF some as early as 10pm Thursday or midnight.

I think the idea is so that they don't have everyone with tickets waiting on a single line, I can understand the theory, but it doesn't work in practice when you have the same person standing on 3, 4, or 5 lines because they got more than 1 doorbuster to claim. They should try working out something to have the items moved to where they can get people out the door quick rather than have them go from line to line to line in the same store.

That's exactly what I am trying to find out. When I called today they said they have never heard of that and as far as they knew their lines "were streamlined" for people to get out quickly and avoid standing in more than 1 line. I told them I can understand it's BF and there will be lines, but not multiple lines for people getting multiple items. If any of you have specific problems at a specific location please PM me so when I call I can tell them what locations are not "streamlined" as they claimed on the phone today.

Last year my local Best Buy required seprate lines for computers, cameras, Nook, TVs, etc. If you had this or other problems please let me know. I am calling Best Buy corporate to alert them of some of the issues last Black Friday.

OK just checked to see where Rockland county is, from where you go in Kingston, it's less than 30 minutes difference to my location. We've often had people come from NYC here because of the fact that the lines are much shorter. I used to live in the city and Best Buy often had lines forming by about Friday night before BF, of course down there they often didn't need a bathroom and would use the side of the building. Trust me, I do not miss being out of NYC, lol. What stores do you often go to? We have all the major retailers and about 80% of the smaller retailers within 5 miles. I usually hit Best Buy, Sears, Staples, (Circuit City before it closed), JC Penney, Kmart, Home Depot, Lowes... all by 7am or whenever their opening time is.

Contact me in private, I don't like to reveal my location for the simple fact it will only increase my own competition. I have been either first or second for Best Buy for about the past 5 years or 6 years.

Going to be the best webcast to date. It's 1 thing to tell what people wrote as questions but much better if they can call in and ask the questions. Going to probably have to keep repeating yourself telling them to lower the computer volume though. For those that do call though it is not much different then talking on a phone. Can't wait till Saturday night, hopefully there will be a few new ads before then but I think it's still too soon for the really good ads.

I'm there now, see you guys in 15 minutes when the rest of you join in.

I've bought Colby items in the past, they are so bad they aren't even worth recycling. You'd be much better off putting a few more dollars and go for a decent (doesn't have to be top of the line) brand that has a trusted reputation.

1. Proceed to the BACK of the line.... did you bring your car to get there? 2. It's nice and warm in here, wouldn't you like to get in here... NOT! 3. What a wake up call, 10 thousand people yelling for tickets and I didn't get any.

Defineately doable, and has been done numerous times in the past few years. I bought a Garmin about 2 years ago for $99. HOWEVER...... I would highly recommend 1 you can upgrade with new maps in the future. There are numerous roads that have been made in the past 2 years that when I use my GPS it shows me driving through a field and tells me to find the nearest road. I have bought a new GPS for my wife that has lifetime updates which is actually the better move. That's something I highly recommend you look for on any model you choose to buy unless you want to pay $89 for the updated maps in addition to the GPS system.

You seem to be the closest to my hunting grounds, lol. Not sure which stores you go to but every year I hear reports about the lines there. Although where I go we have lines, they start much later and are not as long as the Kingston or Middletown areas.

Please just make it clear where the webcast will be whether on Skype or Ustream. I just got a Ustream acct. so hopefully I'll be ready on the 22nd regardless of which you use.

I'll make sure I'm on 8pm est, my skype ID is ErnestSuter.

I believe Skype where they can call in with a phone number costs money where the regular Skype is free. Maybe have some people with knowledge of Skype also be in forums, or post instructions in the forums of HOW to set up a Skype acct. and get into the chat.

Skype is much better. Let me know what you need. I should be available any night with a little notice as to the time.

I'll be In New York.

As I said before and I'll say it again, it is a stupid move for Walmart to keep their ad from being seen once the others are posted. I doubt I'm the only one that plans weeks early for BF and by the week before I have my list set based on what is closest to each other and what times they open so I can be almost everyplace when they open, lol. Walmart has not made my places to shop on BF list in a while because I don't know early enough what if any good sales they have.

Just saw on another BF site, they received their Walmart letter today. However they sent it to the wrong website with no "authorized" release date of when they can officially publish the ad. My guess would be Brad will get it either today or Monday. Also the letter mentions something about a special sale the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Looks like in addition to special BF sales and weekend sales, they are trying to add Sunday only sales, possibly also with doorbuster prices.