PentiumMMX

This bugs me too; I missed out on the Guitar Hero bundle last year at Wal-Mart because of the employees sending me in circles

The one closest to me closed down over 6 years ago; I highly doubt it'd come back. Still, it'd be cool if it did

On a similar note, I had to fight off the urge to dance once I saw that Wal-Mart has started selling apple cider again. Not much longer before they start selling Eggnog...

I'm trying to keep calm about it. It's a little hard, but I'll manage (42 days until Black Friday is nothing to me; I've waited much longer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to get released)

The Big Toy Book is a huge ad for Toys 'R Us, featuring many toys and games on sale for low prices, including some of the year's hot items.

I'm waiting for Wal-Mart's ad, because that's basically all there is in my town that has stuff I'd be interested in (There's also Gamestop, but they never have anything I want on sale for BF).

Even after I stopped believing, I still did stockings. Typically, it's filled with mostly candy and a few small gifts, like packs of trading cards and such.

That first one was funny, and I also enjoyed that 4th one ("Black Friday! Best Buy Style!!!"). Now to patently wait for the sale...

I'm hoping that some store will have an Xbox 360 on sale. It's unlikely it'll be marked down for the sale, but you never know

My worst one would have to be my very first Black Friday, back in 2003. I wanted a Gamecube so bad (Somehow, my Mom failed to see that $80 for a then modern system with a free disc containing 4 games was a good deal), but that wasn't why I was there; I went with my Mom and sister to find a Symphonic VHS\DVD player, which was on sale for the same price as the Gamecube bundle. Out old VCR finally died, so we used this to take it's place and to be used as our first DVD player. One of the flaws was how we didn't have a plan outside of getting the DVD player; we haven't agreed on a meet-up point if we get separated, nor did we have any way to communicate with each other (At the time, we only had one cell phone). Thus, I got lost in the crows, carrying a VHS\DVD player when I wish I was carrying a Gamecube bundle. It turned out they had decided that we'd meet up at books...without telling me, so I was hovering around the electronics department, trying to find them. It wasn't really scary to me, but more like a "Where the bloody hell are they?" moment. Also, they already had the VHS\DVD player, so I really had no reason to head over there. We then finished our shopping, bought some donuts, and went home. However, that was only the beginning of our problems. The DVD side worked, but the VHS side was dead on arrival, so we just spent $80 on a half-working unit. We returned just as the sale was winding down the the crowd had completely cleared out to exchange it for another one, and it worked for about a week. So we just returned it and used the money to pay towards a slightly more expensive Emerson VHS\DVD player, which lasted us about 3 years before it died. I learned some things from that Black Friday; Always work out a plan and avoid anything made by Symphonic (Or another no-name company). I still wish I had gotten the Gamecube I wanted, but the experience of seeing what Black Friday was like first-hand made up for that. Since then, I've always went to bed early on Thanksgiving night so I'll wake up in time for the sales.

My tree is typically decorated in a mix of traditional decorations, action figures, and small toys (It's not uncommon to see Batman on the tree)

If it is the hot item this year, expect it to be like Tickle Me Elmo was when it came out. Thankfully, I don't have to shop for anyone that young, so I can stay away from that area.

Since I subscribed to the newsletter here, I've made my plans as soon as the ads start flowing in (Planning when I get up and go, what areas I'll hit in what order, and if I get separated from my group, where we'll meet up in the store)

I remember buying a Symphonic DVD\VHS combo unit at the first Black Friday sale I went to (2003). It was dead on arrival; I had to return it, and this one actually worked...for about a week. Then I returned it and went with the Emerson DVD\VHS combo, which lasted me nearly 3 years before it died. If Wal-Mart has anything by Symphonic on sale this year, it's best to avoid it (That is, if Symphonic still exists).

It makes you wonder what Big Lots is going to have on sale...probably a bunch of crap nobody wants, hence why it's at Big Lots in the first place.

My most memorable experience was last year's sale at the local Wal-Mart. They advertised that they would have the Guitar Hero bundle (The one that has the first 2 games together) on sale for $40, so I saved my money up for the sale. Once I got there, the crowd was tame at this point (I got there as the doors where unlocked, but before the sale actually began). Thus, I went to the Electronics department, asked if they have the Guitar Hero bundle, and was told it wasn't over there, it was over with Crafts (Where the Game Boy Micro systems where the year before). I head over there, and I'm told by an employee there that it's up front with all the HDTVs. After about 10 minutes of getting the run-around due to a lack of communication between employees, I discovered that they had already sold out (One of the managers confirmed this, because he handed out the last copy). Thus, I settled for a copy of the first game by it's self. The organization for the items was superior to the year before (Where the Game Boy Micro systems where stuffed in a back corner with craft supplies, among other oddly-placed sale items), but they seemed to neglect to tell employees where everything is (I wasn't the only person who got the run-around).

I have plenty of hiding spots in my room (An ugly chest of drawers I never use, under my bed, an old PC case with a padlock...the list goes on)

I've been going for nearly 5 years. My mom, who got me into Black Friday sales, has been going for as long as I can remember.