Ladybug Mom

My most memorable BF story of insanity comes via my mother during the Cabbage Patch Craze on Black Friday 1982. She was in a near riot in Zayre's Bangor, Maine. They had them advertised for $21.99...she originally got 3 of them, but someone actually punched through the packaging on one of the boxes and ripped the doll right out of it. One of her friends got a huge bloody scratch across his face...it was insane. Everytime I talk about heading down for BF, this story always imerges! I must say I was one happy little girl that Christmas!

Hey Rojo! I'm going down to Bangor from Canada as well This is our 5 year running! Like the previous poster said, if there's something we really want that's a doorbuster we'll usually "Divide and Conquer" if not we find the store with the most doorbusters we want and get in line early. Bangor is pretty tame compared to a lot of other US cities. I think you'll find anywhere with computer deals to have the longest lineups, like Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart. We got in line around 4:30am last year for the great buys at Staples and had no trouble at all, they actually let us stand inside the front doors where it was heated until they officially opened at 5am! Good luck and have fun! Ifyou have any other questions about BF in Bangor, PM me! Cara

We travel 4 hours!! Make the drive down on Thanksgiving Day stay over night to be there bright and early!!!

Thanks Ashley!

Can't wait to see TRU, KB Toys,Target & DH wants to see the BEST Buy.

I was wondering the same thing...I'm in Canada so I can't check it out in advance!

We left the hotel at 4:55am with all 3 kids to hit TRU for 5am! The actually opened the doors before 5am, but we manged to get everything on our list as well as a friends list. It was so organized, all of the Early Bird specials were in the main aisle on palletts. We literally walked the perimeter of the store right back to the cash with a pitstop at the Thomas train tables for my 2yr old (this is where we got our pic taken for the local newspaper). Then we got to Walmart before 7am, managed to get a Gameboy for $39, after Walmart we headed off to Target, for some more specials and then to a huge craft Store I can't for the life of me remember what it's called (maybe Michaels?) and managed to get a bunch of Thomas stuff all for 30% off!! So it looks like we hit 4 stores before 11am with 3 kids in tow! I wonder how many I'll make it to this year without any kids?

Oh and the runaway carts, I parked beside a cart corral the other day at WalMart and 3 carts were jammed up against my van! :mad: You know what irks me even more is people that hit other peoples vehicles with their car doors!!! I was in Maine last week and as I was parking once again at WalMart, and this lady let her 4 yr old open their car door. He slammed it right into the minivan next to her. She screams at him to get in the car as she prys her door from the van. I see the whole thing and see a very visible dent. She gets in her car and drives off. I take her plate number and write a note and leave it on the van with my email addy. Some people! I then go in and shop and return to my van, as I was getting settled the guy next to me opens his door and slams it up against my van! I get out and stare the guy down, I'm pi$$ed! Tell the guy to be more careful next time, luckily it's just a little scratch. The hazards of parking lots!

I was just saying to my playgroup moms this morning, that's one of the things I hate most about Christmas shopping in general. I end up running into people I haven't seen in a while and not getting anything accomplished due to these "reunions". Now I shop out of town so I can be anonymous!

No BF in Canada, we make the trek to Maine every year! You're correct we do have Boxing Day it's Dec 26th, I always tell DH if he can't find me anything on sale to just wait for the Boxing Day sales. I NEVER EVER pay full price for anything!

Personally I hate them! Only because I can't use them living in Canada! We even have a PO Box in the US but they won't even mail them to those! So what does everyone else think do you like getting those cheques in the mail after Christmas, or would you rather the stores just give you the bargain upfront? Cara

Here in Canada we're paying $1.06/litre the price just dropped 10cents a litre 2 days ago, which works out $3.37 US a gallon, so you guys still have bargain gas south of the border! Won't stop us, just encourage me to make sure I " fill 'er 'til she spills" before heading home!

My DD is 9, we got the DS when the price dropped in late Aug when we were in NH. She absolutely loves it! She has her own dogs now that I don't have to worry about feeding and taking out for walks! Gee I wish there had of been a pink one though!

Oh I forgot to mention beware of the MIB's (Mail in Rebates) us Canadians can not take advantage of these! Some deals may seem like a great buy, but without the MIB are really not!

As a fellow Canadian, albeit on the East Coast, I do my research in advance. Plan to be in the US on Thursday evening. We stay in a hotel that night and BF night so we can get our 48 hour exemptions at the border. Soon this site will start "leaking" scanned flyers and other BF early bird specials. Be forewarned to will need to get up before the crack of dawn to get the best deals! Last year I drug my 3 kids with me including my 3 week old son (he was the easiest)! Good luck! Cara in NB

I got this same chopper on BF 2003, it's useless, I blew the motor chopping a carrot! I have to say the Electric Knife I got for $4.77 has been great though!

I got this same chopper on BF 2003, it's useless, I blew the motor chopping a carrot! I have to say the Electric Knife I got at the same time for $4.77 has been great though!

OK, I have to admit I'm Canadian, but love BF. My first experience with BF was in 2003, now I will never miss it. I do have to share my 2004 experience with you. My DS was born on November 3rd, man I was hoping he was early! Our plan from the get-go was to take him and leave our older 2 with MIL. It was bad enough DS's birth certificate still hadn't arrived, so I had to drive 3 hours to the capital and pick it up in person so we could cross the border. Then..... MIL gets the Shingles...there was no way I was cancelling BF shopping! So we loaded the MPV with all 3 kiddies and off we went to Portland, ME. Arrived there only to find one restaurant open Denny's, not even a Mcd's on Thanksgiving evening. Settled into our hotel room, and woke the kiddies at 4am to get ready to hit the sales. Our first mission TRU! We arrive at 5am and the doors are already open. I start to panic! DH and I divided and conquered, he bought for the child I had with me and vice versa. Success! We found everything on our list thanks to the 2004 ad's from Gotta Deal we were able to research from home, and somehow managed to get our photo in the local paper. I think the reporter thought I was insane, I call it dedication! I just wish I had put on a little mascara! LOL So ladies (and gentleman) you just never know we you need to look your best! This year? BF weekend shopping with my girlfriends, no kids!!!