Gator Pam

:::wry grin::: It's sort of explaned in the Newbie Guide that's linked above, but if you have never been to Target, I can see how the phrase doesn't mean anything to you. Target is a large discount retailer, similar to Wal-Mart and K-mart here in the states. They try to have a nicer shopping atmosphere, and some people who disdain discount retailers like to refer to the store as "Tay-jay". Sort of a mock French accent to denote snobbishness, kwim? Anyway, one thing Target does that none of the other stores do on a nation-wide basis is mark down overstock as clearance. Except for seasonal items, the items are not necessarily marked down the same week, but if an item goes on clearance at one Target, you can pretty much be sure it will go on clearance at all of the Targets across the country within a month or so, as long a the item does not sell out before being marked down. When Target puts an item on clearance, they usually move it from it's regular shelf location to a stand of shelves on the end of an aisle that is referred to as an endcap. Each aisle in the store has two endcaps, and the ones that are close to the outer walls of the store (the perimeter) is where Target tends to put their clearanced merchandise. So, those of us who frequent Target several times a week looking for clearance deals have coined the phrase, "perimeter perusing." I hope that helped define the phrase. If not, ask for clarification.

Do you mean scout out Sawgrass Mills in advance? Sounds like a plan to me!

Feel free to join us at Freebies and Bargains. The forum is free to join, but you are limited to 10 posts a day without becoming a paid subscriber. Here is a dated post I made about the ins and outs of Perimeter Perusing at Target. Some information has changed, such as Target no longer price matching and the mark down schedule has changed slightly. But it's a terrific intro to the addiction. Target Shoppers Newbie Guide

Price matching is where you bring an ad from one store to another for the same exact item and they honor the competitions sale price. But, many stores gurantee they will refund you the cost difference on an item for 14 days or so if they put it on sale for a lower price then you bought it for within that time. I have heard if you buy items at Wal-Mart a week or so before BF, and put them in lay-a-way, and then show up with all of the ads on BF showing cheaper prices, they will take the items out of lay-a-way and allow you to buy them for the sale prices. I have also heard of shoppers buying early at Wal-Mart that they know are in the ads on BF, and going directly to Customer Service with their receipts for the items and the ads for both Wal-Mart and other stores in hand, and having the price difference refunded. But don't know if stores other than Wal-Mart do this. I will disclaim this information by saying that we moved away from south FL in 1998, although I have occasionally visited Sawgrass Mills since then. So things at BrandsMart may have changed since then. What I don't like about Brandsmart is the availablity of merchandise on BF, like K-mart they seem to have very few of the price buster items and run out within minutes of the door opening. Also, for many items, you don't take the item off of the display floor, but have to go around back and pick up the item from a loading dock area. I had too many of the items I bought this way be damaged or not be gift worthy in the packaging when they finally gave me my merchandise. And the wait to be helped in the loading dock area on BF, which is outside and not a/c, can be several hours. The sales people seemed very lackadaisical and not interested in helping you unless you buy several large ticket items. The store is not laid out sensibly, making it difficult to find what you want and difficult to browse. However, I have heard if you are an international shopper, the sales force can be helpful and know policies regarding exporting items. So, it may be beneficial to you in that way. Their service department does have a good reputation for repairs and installation, although I don't know how helpful they can be to you in Brazil. As far as Sawgrass Mills itself, all I can say is you have to know your prices before shopping there. There are some good deals to be found. But, IMO the majority of items are not at outlet prices but regular retial, and many items can be found cheaper at regular price at Wal-Mart.

Thanks Crissy! Are the deals better online, or should I go to b&m stores for them?

:::nodding::: Neither Paul (hubby) nor Beorn (12 year old son) seem to shop for gifts, so I always choose my gifts from them on BF. I do hope Beorn learns to be more considerate as he matures, or I can see myself forewarning his future fiance.

ITA! My son has both, and the SP plays all of the Advance games, as well as older Game Boy Color games. The built in rechargeable battey in the SP rules! My 12 year old son has been very patient about gaming systems. He has several of the Gameboy hand-held systems, a Sega Dreamcast with very limited games (terrific system, I wish games were still made for it!), and a Gamecube. He's now at an age where I am willing to get him a newer system, and he seems to prefer the Playstation 2 and it's selection of games. But, I hear the Playstation 3 is coming out soon. Should I wait? Is it that big a difference in the system for a teen? Beorn (ds) has not expressed interest in it at all, but I don't think he even knows about it.

Husband, Paul, and my 12 year old son, Beorn. Beorn is particularly difficult to shop for as he has mild Asperger's Syndrome and never really expresses interest in anything for a gift. He's never written a letter to Santa, or a wish list. So I have to observe him and guess at what his current interest is.

Does anyone here do Target Perimeter Perusing, and visit the online sites about hidden 75% to 90% off Target b&m clearance? That's what gets me through the year until BF. The following site helps a lot, and if you like discussing the deals I can post links to several message boards, or if allowed and anyone is interested, I could start a Target thread here... Target UPC Clearance List

If you can find the item you want at BrandsMart at Wal-Mart, take the BrandsMart ad with you and price match at Wal-Mart. Especially if you can buy it in advance, and then bring in the receipts and ad on BF and go to Customer Service for a price adjustment. Are you planning on going to the BrandsMart at Sawgrass Mills Mall? (I grew up in Hollywood, FL so I know it well). My experience there has not been good over the years. I really recommend you try to price match the items you are interested in at another retailer. Does Best Buy or Circuit City price match? I'm up in Gainesville, FL now, and will be close to Orlando for Thanksgiving weekend visiting FIL. I'm pretty sure you'll find either of those retailers in Orlando.

Are the 24 hour Wal-Mart SuperCenters open on Thanksgiving Day? If so, will they price match an out of area K-Mart ad?

Thanks! I tried that, but did not like how it brought up new posts for all of the forums at once instead of in the forum I was in at the time. However, when I returned this time, a down scroll button appeared on the left of threads I have already read which says it will take me to the oldest unread post or some such. It wasn't there before, but woorked great this time. :nodding: I found that after I posted, thank you again.

I always price match at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. But, we don't have a K-mart nearby anymore. If I can get ahold of an out-of-area K-mart Thanksgiving Day ad, wlould the 24 hour Wal-Mart SuperCenter where I shop price match it on Thanksgiving Day?

:::sigh::: I am the only cook for the Thanksgiving meal at FIL's, and since we sit to eat at 2:00 PM, I can't be dragging from being at the stores really early while I finish preparing the meal. A few years ago, I had submitted an article to Woman's World magazine about preparing the Thanksgiving meal in my FIL's kitchen, in response to their request for articles about Thanksgiving mishaps. I was told it would be published, but never did see it. I'm glad I kept a copy for myself in Word on my hard drive.

Interesting. The Wal-Mart I shop on BF (not my own WM, as we always travel to spend Thanksgivng weekend with FIL) have the pallets wrapped, but in a clear plastic so you can definitely see what's on them.

Hi! I'm new to gottadeal.com and am searching for a new user FAQ. When I go into a thread, how do I get to unread posts only without going to the last post and working backwards? How do I add avatars to my username? Things like that. TIA!

Ditto! This is exactly what I do.