mmatter

For big stores, especially like Best Buy or Circuit City: 1. Go to the store a day or two before BF (of course that does not mean Thanksgiving!!), and talk with some of the workers especially one of the managers that may be in the departments. They will usually be more than willing to talk to you about what is in store for BF and give you the scoop on where items will be, how things will be done to get people in and out, etc. That really helped me getting the cheap computers. 2. Make sure you verify which items are the doorbusters so you get to the stores between those hours!!! 3. Make as many friends in line as possible!!!! I was alone on most of my trips, but the friendlier and communicable you are to other folks in line, you can all tag team and get items that each of you want, and if someone gets in before youdo they can get something and hold it until you get in. That worked wonders for me when I went to get some of the presents for my kids.

For anyone looking for a Wii, try this web site, they get instant notification when the web sites have the systems and accessories available. It was a big help in getting mine: http://www.nowinstock.net/wii/index.php

Ebay is probably your best bet. Unless one of the cell phone deal web sites has a better offer for a phone without a plan (wirefly, etc.)

There is a post on www.ps3seeker.com/wii that TRU is going to have thousands of Wiis on December 22nd. They are also assuming the other stores will get more in, but it sounds like TRU is hoarding to sell on Friday.

I am going to charge for holding people's spots in line to go to the bathroom at the local Dunkin Donuts. I will charge $5 per break. I figure I could make 500-700 for the night if I go by the numbers from last year!!

People brought tents with propane heaters and lots of blankets. You should have more than one person there to put the stuff away in your vehicle before the doors open. I sat in line and had a bunch of folks helping each other out with heat and blankets. They also rotated each other to the cars for the heater and also restroom breaks at the local Dunkin Donuts. One of the best tricks I had seen was there were about 10 people who just lined up along the side of the building where the ledge was at, covered end to end with their blankets, keeping each end over the other, and they used a small propane heater underneath the blanket to keep everyone warm for the whole night. It was a great idea and kept them warm. I had 4 pairs of socks on, thermals, running tights, turtleneck and sweatshirts along with my heaviest winter jacket along with 2 blankets. I was great until about an hour before they opened, and my feet were really starting to get cold. I was in line at BB at 10:30, so I was so close to making it without any major issues. My feet took a while to recover the next day.

Be very patient with the BB folks. I ended up being pinned against the security guard at the front door for the 45 minutes before they opened on BF. We just talked and made him feel more at ease with the onslaught of people he was about to face (with about 200 people standing all around us). We were getting him to laugh and stay warm talking to us, so when the doors opened, he made sure he took the folks that weren't crowding him and giving him a hard time (which some people were doing) and he got me in the door 3rd. It pays to be patient, and also to be nice when you get in the door. They helped me right away and found everything I needed within 5 minutes. Now, I only got an MP3 player and the $149.99 pc, but it made my wait much easier by being patient with the BB employees. If you stay calm during the ticket hand out (about an hour before the store opens) they will get you taken care of. I got my tickets and helped identify who was in front of and behind me to make sure the folks who waited the longest got their items. Another good hint, just talk to a few of the folks in front of you to find out what they are there for, and you can poll how many of a particular item they will need before they get to you. I was about maybe 20th in line, and most of the folks in front of me wanted the laptop last year, so I really lucked out.

Our BB gave out any number. I needed two last year and got them without any question. Unless the add says limit one per customer (which our ad did not say last year) you can get as many as you need. If it does limit the amount, team up with other people in line that are looking for other items. You can maybe grab a second item they need, and just trade the tickets. Lots of people in our line last year were all vaired on what they wanted to get, and worked out perfectly for us.

I was at BB on BF last year, and those tickets were given out. However, BB did a very poor job of crowd control. People at the front of the line who waited from 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night barely got the tickets they were waiting for. The crowd that was at the back of the line all rushed up behind the clerks who had the tickets and tried to get the forms before the people who waited most of the night got theirs!!! Luckily I jumped in right where I should have been for the $149 computer, and then proceeded to tell the BB clerk who was behind me so those folks would not miss getting their computers and other items. I am not being racist or anything, but many of the people jumping up to the front were of indian descent and thought nothing of jamming and shoving right in front of you to get what they wanted. I was just happy that I had a great young lady beside me (20ish black american) and another group of techies behind me (all races, great guys to hang out with) that mad the night very fun and worth the trip. It got so bad they had to pull the crowd to the side of the parking lot, and start handing out tickets. At that point, I was pinned at the front door where they were letting everyone in one at a time. I ended up being the third person in the door, and got out of the store within 15 minutes with my computers and MP3 player. This was my wife's first time out on BF with me and was in awe of it all. But she will do it again jsut to see the sheer craziness of everyone. She got the rush and can't shake it!! BB just needs to get a better way to keep the folks who arrived late in their place so the folks who rode the 20 degree weather out got their chance to get their items. it ended up being a freee for all when it didn't have to be.