First Black Friday!
So, I wanted to hit TRU and the ad said they opened at 6am. I decided to be there by 4. I got so excited that I couldnt sleep and I ended up leaving the house at 3:10 am. I passed Best Buy on my way and the line was already about 50 deep. Walmart, Target, Circuit City did not have a single soul in line.
I get to TRU, expecting a few people and there was NO ONE there..not even employees, LMAO! I felt kinda dumb, but I didnt know that TRU wouldnt be as crazy as some others in the country.
So, I decided to sit back in my car and catch up on some reading. That was one of the best parts of the day...to be able to read uninterrupted..even if it is 4 am and in the cold. As the mother of 3 girls 4 and under, Im sure you can figure out why that is such a luxury :)
Anyway, around 5 am, I see one or two cars drive up. The people get out of their car and just walk right in and start shopping. HUH?? The ad said they open at 6. So I get out of my car and there is a teeny tiny sign on the door that said "Open at 5 am" That was awesome! Apparently no one knew about them opening early and I was able to get in and out by 5:15 am. I got a ballpit and a few other things that wasnt in the ad (the ad sucked btw).
Thrilled with the thought that I did not have to stand in line at TRU and that Im done before I even thought I was going to be started, I decided to be brave and see what was going on at Target. I get there at about 5:40am and there is a line about 75 deep. As soon as I get into line, it seems like hundreds of more people just materialized behind me. By 6 am, there was a line around the store. I had a lovely conversation with the lady in front of me who was there to get a PS2 for her son. (I saw her a bit later in the store and she was crying b/c they didnt have any). Anyway, as soon as the doors open, the people who waited in line walked in calmly and orderly. There were a few people who just waited in their cars and tried to rush the door as soon as they opened, but they got denied. I didnt particularly need anything, but fell in love with the fleece throws they had on sale for $17. I got myself a Hello Kitty one (yes, im juvenile) and all three of my girls a Dora one. Even though they were in the ad, the display was on a back end cap and no one could find them. When people saw me with them, they were asking where to get them. I didnt have the heart to tell them that I cleaned them out of the Dora ones (they had plenty of the others). The toy dept and electronics dept was slammed. Target had every register open and it was a smooth process.
Then, since I was STILL ahead of schedule, I ran over to Radio Shack and got DH some of the $5 goodies. It wasnt busy at all..in and out in 5 minutes. Radio Shack is next to Best Buy and heard alot of people coming out of Best Buy pissed off and complaining.
Then I went to Walgreens to get some of the cheap light bulbs and batteries. Again, in and out in 5 minutes. I then walked right over to Krogers next door to get donuts to take home to DH and the girls. As I was coming out, I saw that next door at Big Lots didnt look to crowded, so I decided to put my Walgreens items and donuts in my car and walk over to Big Lots.
Here is the funniest part. I go over to what I thought was my car...I mean it was a green 1998 Saturn sedan right where I parked. I open the door (I never lock my doors in my neighborhood..bad, I know) and throw my donuts and Walgreens bag in the front and turn around to go to Big Lots. I get to Big Lots thinking that they were probably out of the free mini radios since that have been opened for 2 hours. NOPE! I got one and they had several left. I didnt buy anything, though.
So, I leave, get into my car and drive home. As I pull in I look over and see that my Walgreens bag and donuts were missing. I thought "Why would someone steal light bulbs and donuts, but leave all the Target and TRU bags?" I was real mad (because I was real hungry), so I drive back to that parking lot, hoping to catch someone eating my donuts. As I pull up to where I was parked, I noticed a car that looked exactly like mine parked right next to where I was parked. I peeked inside and saw my stuff! LMAO! I quickly opened the door, got my stuff, and booked out of there! I was so embarrassed! I guess I was so tired, it was still dark, I just plain wasnt paying attention when I put those bags in someone elses car. Can you imagine how funny it wouldve been if that person had left and found a donut surprise in the front seat?
Overall, it was great. No rude people, traffic was fine. A little later on, I went back out to exchange one of the fleece blankets (DD wanted Strawberry Shortcake) and the lines were just fine and people were behaving. I got real brave and went into Walmart. They didnt have anything I wanted and the lines were horrible, so I left.
Thanks for this great site! Im sure if I had needed/wanted anything from Best Buy or CompUSA, Id be singing a more sour tune right now. From what I hear, people are mighty disappointed that they didnt get what they went for.
