PentiumMMX

My night began at Wal-Mart at about 10PM; my sister and I hoping to get a jump on the cheap movies. However, it seemed like everybody else had our idea; as the DVDs and such where already out and a mob of people where already picking it clean, but we did manage to squeeze through the crowd and get a few we wanted (And I found a few to give as Christmas gifts). We also wanted to look at their cheap games, but thanks to a lack of communication between employees, we didn't know where the games where until we where already in the checkout line (Some said they are already out on the floor, others said they wouldn't be out until 5AM, and some said they're already sold out of them. This reminded me of BF 2007; when a lack of communication between employees had me running around like a rat in a maze to find the Guitar Hero bundle they had on sale). However, we got out of that madhouse pretty quickly; as I took my sister back to her house. After driving all across town to find some place that was open, served coffee, and had free Wifi I could use to look up when Gamestop was opening (Because I wanted to get that PS3 bundle they had, and knew it'd be easier than fighting the crowd at Wal-Mart), eventually settling with heading back to my house and doing all this. Once I knew they where opening at 5AM, I proceeded to wait it out at home; since I didn't feel like standing out in the cold for over 3 hours, because my jacket wasn't very warm (It's good because it's really easy to move in, but bad because it's way too thin) and my warmest pair of jeans just wasn't enough. At 4AM, I proceeded to head over to Gamestop, to make sure I get a parking spot before it got packed with people going to Wal-Mart (The two stores share a parking lot) and begin to wait outside for an hour; joining a small group of about 4 people who where already waiting. To pass the time, we talked about the crazy things we had seen earlier in the morning; one lady mentioning she was at a Wal-Mart in a bigger city earlier in the morning, where she saw a fight break out over a $2 towel, of all things. As we waited in the cold, we also discussed what we where there to get; which thankfully, everybody out there at the moment where after completely different things, which meant no competition. Just 5 minutes until they opened (The group of people waiting having grown to about 20 people), the store manager came outside to explain how the sale was setup, any special offers not listed in the printed ad, and letting us know what the ground rules are, to ensure a much safer shopping experience than a certain store on the other side of the parking lot. After 5 more minutes, we where let inside; a kind employee greeting us and asking if we where after any of the system bundled they had on sale, so they could pull it from the back and have it waiting on the back counter while we looked around (Which is something else that impressed me; the manager really thought this one through). They also had both registers running to keep the line moving quickly, so the wait wasn't long at all. I was out of there in less than 30 minutes, with what I came for in hand; which felt pretty good, after how many times I left Wal-Mart empty-handed because of a number of reasons over the past 7 years I've gone to these sales. All in all, it was a good morning; it being brought to a satisfying end when I finally got to get some much-needed sleep, after being up for nearly 24 hours straight (My cat decided I needed to get up at 6AM on Thanksgiving, and I didn't get a chance to take a nap that afternoon before going to meet up with my sister).

My worst was easily BF 2007 at Wal-Mart. The main thing I was after was the Guitar Hero I & II bundle for the PS2 (I had been wanting to get those games for myself), so I saved up my money to go and get it. When I got there, they where easily the most disorganized they had ever been on Black Friday, because none of the employees knew where anything was due to a lack of communication between employees; I asked over around the Electronics department for what I was looking for, and they referred me to Crafts, which referred me to Toys, which referred me to the bakery, so on and so forth until I eventually ended back up in the Electronics department. By this point, I actually saw a manager, who told me they had already sold their last copy of it; which I really didn't believe at first because of all the other employees giving me false information and the run-around. Seeing as that was the hot item that year, I don't see why they didn't get more copies in; they had plenty of the guitar controllers to go around, but not enough copies of the game. However, I feel they've gotten better since then; they've had everything much better organized since then

The deals are nice and all, but for me, it's always been about the thrill ride; waking up before the sun, drinking some coffee to wake myself up before storming into the madhouse that is the local Wal-Mart, as I swiftly making my way through the crowd to get the goods before they're gone. I always look forward to that once-a-year adventure

Definitely more; seeing as I didn't spend anything last year (I was only there to help my mom get everything she was after, and because I haven't missed a single BF since 2003)

I've been going every year since 2003. While my sister feels that the deals aren't worth the trouble, I simply enjoy the madness of it all; it's that once-a-year early morning thrill ride I look forward to

I've officially began my Christmas shopping today. Unlike in the past, it'll be easier to sneak things past everyone else since I have my own car now (Unlike in the past, where it was a pain to get a gift for my mom when she was always there with me)

It all begins on Thanksgiving morning; I get dessert ready, then go meet everyone over at my grandma's house for lunch. After our meal, I look over the ads one final time and begin to prepare my battle plans; getting my alarm clock set, deciding who will go after what when we arrive at the store, and anything else of importance. That morning, I usually get up an hour or two before Wal-Mart starts their sale; giving me and anybody else coming along time to wake up and get ready before we hit the road and enter the madhouse that is our local Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Once we finish up, we typically go back home (Sometimes picking up breakfast on the way home, and sometimes hitting another store if we feel like it), and then enjoy the rest of our weekend.

I bring my wallet, my usual green jacket (It's thick enough to keep me warm, yet thin enough to be very easy to move in), and my phone. I don't take much, because I usually don't need much.

I hope to find a PS3 at a reasonable price this year; since I sold my 360 a few weeks ago to pay some bills.

I've already started preparing a list of what I want to get some people for Christmas, and I'm going to start building up some money for the sale soon. My planning is in early stages, but if everything goes according to plan, I'll at least have more money for it this year than the year before.

I've received quite a few weak gifts over the years, but what takes the cake is just about anything my aunt on my mom's side of the family gave me in the past; from little kid books when I was 8, cologne when I was 12, and many other things that where not that great. Thankfully, she started giving me money instead after a while, which was much better

With the whole "Santa" thing, I believed up until I turned 11; with a combination of my sister telling me the truth (I didn't believe her at first; after all, she did convince me as a kid that PG-14 movies existed, among other things) and the fact I did not get anything I asked for at all lead to the realization. Also, it didn't help that I found a receipt for one of my gifts from Santa lying on the floor just a few years prior; which was further evidence. Still, this shocking revelation lead to me finally discovering why my Mom got up so early on the day after Thanksgiving; it lead to me coming along on my first Black Friday trip... Speaking of snooping for gifts, my sister and I used to snoop around the house as kids to find our Christmas gifts early; no matter where my Mom though to hide it, I was able to find it with ease, and if it was out of my reach, I'd find some way to get it down. That's when she started using Layaway, which for me, ruined the fun...

I enjoy the thrill ride of fighting the crowds. That's easily the best part of it in my opinion, because it's not everyday a trip to Wal-Mart or wherever feels that epic

This year, it'll officially be 6 years since the first time I went. A lot has changed since then...I feel old just thinking about it

I'm not quite sure what I'd want, although some Doctor Who box sets would be nice...