TazErase

Keep in mind, in NY there was a greeter in Walmart that was trampled. He was an adult and couldn't handle the mad rush, WTF do people think young kids can stay safe?

I agree. As much as my younger kids bug me to take them year after year, until they are old enough to stay safe and do something to help out, I see no reason in taking them to stanhd out in the cold all night. Yes to make them happy my wife will drop them off for an hour or so just so they THINK they were on line for Black Friday, but they are home sleeping by the time the action really starts. Last thing I need as a father is to spend the time trying to locate lost children or having them slow me down, rather than racing around shopping and getting out and hitting the next store. Last year one of the people on line with me had her daughter with her. Her daughter got bored and needed to get some movement rather than be bored on line so she was playing in the parking lot. She broke her leg falling and then almost got run over by an @$$hole speeding off when he saw the lines and decided to leave. IF you're going to take kids, be responsible and keep a close watch on them. Better yet, find someone to watch them since if you take them with you they are most likely going to get hurt.

Well there logo is red, but I highly doubt they will be having any Red Light Specials, lol

Never under estimate Staples. They don't usually have the best laptop and computer deals but for external hard drives and other computer accessories they are usually the cheapest, and often well stocked, unlike most other retailers that have 10 in the store just to get you in.

Problem is many of us already have our stores staked out by the 23rd.... I usually don't get to Walmart until about 8 or 9am any way, after Best Buy, Circuit City (ok scratch that from this years list), Staples, EB Games, and other stores.

I would have to agree, the days of the $229 laptop are gone with the lack of any serious competition. There will be other laptop deals out there but but not like there used to be. Don't under estimate Staples, I did some price comparisons in the the past few years and Staples has other good electonics such as external hard drives cheaper than Best Buy, without having to get to the store 20 hours early, Staples is well-stocked on most sale items. I've been camping out at Best Buy for about the past 10 years or so, this year I may break tradition. On the other hand, I'm not sure what the lines looked like last year at your Best Buys at opening, but I was actually able to walk around the store last year without getting caught in a "wave" of people. There were only 30% of the people from previous years. Last years line when it opened was about the size it has been in the past at 10pm Thursday night, so they may have a few "HOT" sales just to get people line up and get them in the door even if they only have 10 of the item per store. The idea is to get the people in, and if someone stands all night on the Best Buy line there is a good chance they may go for a non-sale item before they leave empty handed.

Earlier posts mentioned the $4.99 Dynex DVD Rs from last year and they were referred to as just and better used for frisbees to throw around their yard for the kids. Even if they had the Dynex for $1.99 you'd still be better buying a better brand. I got some HP DVD Rs at Staples for $9.99 and Radio Shack had TDK DVD Rs for $9.99 as well. Cheap is nice, but not necessarily always better.

I got both the $379 Toshiba and the $349 HP, but the the best is actually the $479 Toshiba (using my new one now). I had enough people with me to get 4 laptops and 2 desktops. I am personally keeping the $479 Toshiba and the $299 eMachines. It might be a bit late to help you decide which to get now since you already made your purchases but I'll show the comparisons any way. HP 2GB RAM.... Toshiba 3GB RAM HP no web cam.... Toshiba web cam Personally I have 4 laptops that we use, 3 of them are Toshibas and 1 is an old Compaq (made by HP). Once I bought the first Toshiba I have never seriously considered any other brands. HP has improved over the past 5 years or so, but I have been so happy with the Toshiba brand and never had any problems with any of them. Also, again it might be controversial but I prefer the AMD processor over the Intel. Of the 2 deals you were asking about, the HP has an Intel dual core while the Toshiba has the AMD dual core. Both are nice machines and depending on who answers you will get conflicting answers although I have not seen any posts here yet saying the HP is the better deal.

Disappointed here too. I picked up 4 laptops and 2 desktops but it was a lot more money than I planned on paying for the items. Each person was only allowed 1 of each type of item, which was nice for those further back, but kind of hurt the reason for being there so early. Luckily I was with 3 other people and we were able to get most of what had planned (with the exception of the bonus doorbusters I truly expected to be available). Also the line which normally stretches all the way down the entire mall and beyond didn't even reach the end of the mall this time. I'd say less than 1/3 as many people on line from past years. Extremely disappointing for Best Buys sales so hopefully they see that the one with the cheapest laptops gets the most customers and returns with $229 laptops and $199 desktops again next year as they have for about the past 5 years. Actually it was somewhat nicer being able to actually move around the store this year to get unticketed items rather than having such a large crowd and not be able to move at all in the store. I'll be doing Black Friday again next year just not sure if Best Buy will be among my stops. Between the problems with Mall security trying to arrest me for trespassing for being on the property on Thursday when all the stores are closed and not having all the good deals they usually have, unless something changes next year I'll find someplace else to spend the $5000 I had saved up, of which over $3300 was spent in Best Buy this year. ($2972 in store, $540 online)

Best Buy actually explained similar price differences to me earlier this week while I was doing a recon run. Best Buy and BestBuy.com, although owned and run as a single company often compete against eachother and will have in-store only sales or online only sales. Although it sounds strange, a lot of companies have similar practices especially on sale items.

I did however get back on line as soon as I saw security allow others to stay and although I am shown in the local paper as the unofficial first person on line. I later officially was still the 6th person on line and got 4 laptops and 2 desktops, as well as tons of other items from Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, Sears, Macy's (wife would not let the $29.99 set of pots go without getting one, lol), Gamestop (finally got my Wii for the kids), and a few others. Best Buy did in fact change their policy at my location as far as the tickets go. It was 1 ticket for each TYPE of item for everyone on line until they ran out. Meaning each person could get 1 laptop, 1 desktop, 1 camera, 1 gps, etc. Has my wife, daughter (10 yrs old), and nephew (13 yrs old) and we all were allowed to get tickets, but only 1 ticket for each type of item. Currently on my new laptop that I got for $479 this morning at Best Buy. Very nice machine so far although I have yet to really test it out since I've been sleeping, putting the new items away, wrapping some, and just taking it easy today after a very busy 60 hours from the time I woke up for work on Wednesday night.

Just wanted to apologize to all for my receiving inaccurate information. I was honestly told all this info and it was even confirmed by a second source. I did not go out and get arrested for being first on line and "trespassing" just for the hell of it. I was there because I trusted my sources who have in the past always given me correct info. I could just hide or change my name on here, but no, I wanted to apologize to all of you as face the fact that the info I was given was incorrect and let you all know I'm sorry for relaying info that I truly believed to be 100% accurate.

My sources work for BB so I trust they know what deals there will be. I am trusting in what I was told only because I personally know my original source and he would not intentionally give me false information unless the false info was leaked to him. I would never give false info unless it was from someone I trusted. I am heading back soon to get on line again although with the current deals I would not bother unless I still had enough trust that more is coming. I am not asking you to trust my sources since you have no relation to them but although I am disappointed so far I find it hard to believe I would have been intentionally misled and I certainly wouldn't mislead even a singel person on purpose.

They tried that last year and would not let my daughter get any tickets so I printed the page to bring with me this year. Unless they say 1 per household, then I'll have to say she's my niece or something, lol. She's been saving her own money to buy a laptop this year.

I wish I knew the answer to that question. I would expect they will have a commercial later tonight or announce it on their site, but by then I'll probably be back in line. The idea is to get people into the store, I don't think they will just surprise people with it that are already on line. They will have to announce it, and in a big way. Keep checking the home page on gottadeal, they are usually the first to announce any changes and are very on top of any Black Friday sales.

By my estimate this security guy will probably go off shift sometime between 6 and 10am. They can't have him work 24hrs straight. I am going to get some sleep and head back later on. I am not sure what these other 2 packages are, but they are being kept super-secret even from the employees. My guess is it's the $229 laptop and either the $199 desktop or $299 Sony. This is based on previous information I had and had confirmed only that there will be more by an independant source not associated with my original source.

I just had it confirmed from someone else, there are still at least 2 more computer packages to be added for BF.

Well just got arrested by security for trespassing on mall property and they don't want me back until 1AM Friday morning. According to them they have never let anyone get on line until that time...... I guess he doesn't remember the last 4 years I've been among the first on line at that exact location!!!!!! Total B.S. but it looks like I won't be getting anything in Best Buy this year :-(

Quote: Originally Posted by chimeralife Hate to be the bearer of bad news but what we see is what we get. I was talking to the manager of our local doing recon and meet and greet and got the skinny. There is no netbook, 299 lappy or 199 desktop. The $350 HP is $350. The mix up with $279 was a big technical goof that probably got someone fired. It read '$279 in savings' so the absent minded data entry geek put $279 as the sale price instead of $350. Good news? I saw stacks and stacks of the doorbuster computers. Happy Hunting! maybe the manager is just messing with you?!?! I confirmed these deals with my local BB and he said there would be secret items added including the $229 laptop. Maybe they are waiting until later today so they don't have as long a line until they announce it, then everyone will go out at 8PM or whatever time they post it rather than camp out immediately after they post it Thursday morning. That is my only solution to why they aren't showing up yet.

I'm already on line. Just stopped off the see what additional items were added. I am still holding out hope that my source was correct on those other 3 doorbusters. I'm getting concerned now that I don't see them and believe me I will not be a happy camper (literally camping out at BB) if my source proves to be wrong. Personally without those items I would rather be at home sleeping not waiting for a sale that won't be coming. Just stopped in to go to the bathroom quick and get back on line. The $229 laptop was supposed to be a Toshiba laptop not a netbook. The $480 laptop is my main reason (besides the other 3 doorbusters I am going to check to find out what happened with my "reliable" source). I am standing in line for 30 hours waiting for the $480 package, if I'm willing to do that I would gladly pay more for it if I could stay home in bed and I would have paid up to about $600, maybe more for that package to stay home in bed. Quite a bit to lay out to make $100 or so. Personally I wouldn't bother. I want it for myself, and even better now that I see it has a built in webcam. Also I plan to get the $299 eMachines, and still hoping for the $199 package. Looks to me that if there is no secret sale (besides having to get arrested for attacking a friend I thought I could rely on) it is because Circuit City isn't much competition this year. This year may go down officially as one of the worst Best Buy (for that matter all retailers) worst BF ads. I am not giving up hope yet because my friend has been a very reliable source in the past. Maybe they will add more later in the day. I'm counting on it.

Just for a couple of cds and dvds??? Is it really worth it? I tried that one year when I started at a different store instead of BB and gave up when I saw a 2hr line at the checkout.

Well what do you expect? OK yes we ARE crazy, but when they get on line for the sales we not only will be crazy, but we will be in front of them!!! lol. When they decide to start showing up and we're all in the fronts of the lines then they will be envying you not looking at you like your crazy. I get it every year. People in the back are like "did you hear what time they got here? they must be crazy" and then another says "yeah but they're first in line, I hope they aren't getting the items I wanted" lol. Remember how crazy you are and be proud of it, as you empty Best Buy of all the laptops deals lol. Well the time has come. I'm packing now to get ready to go. I'll talk to you all again in a few days. I plan to come home to use the bathroom later tonight since I am less than 2 miles from BB so I'll try checking back with you guys later (when I also come on to see what other "secret sales" they have available). Best of luck to everyone, and HAPPY HUNTING!!!

Wish everyone would do that and not go to Best Buy. Would make things easier and I wouldn't have to camp out as long :)

I tried getting it yesterday but they said they didn't even have them in stock yet. It showed as an in store only ad available now, not coming soon. I aslo tried getting the $479 Toshiba laptop that was showing as available now but there too no luck. At least I got to meet and tlk to themanager and get some info on how things are going to be done this year at their location. Also thanks to Big Slade posting the link showing that they do not have to be 18 to get a ticket I printed it out and will bring it if they try stopping my daughter from getting 1 since the HP laptop also states 1 per customer, not 1 per household like in the ad.

eMachines for $199. From what I have been told 3 of the secret items are $199 desktop, $229 laptop (Toshiba), and $299 (Sony). Let's hope my info is correct as it usually has been in the past. I'm 99% sure about the Toshiba for $229 though since I was given the model number as well.