krstee

I'll actually be in Smithfield, NC for Thanksgiving (dh's parents live there) - so I may consider starting my shopping there before I head back to my town to wait for the BF deals.

I'd rather pay $39.99 than $399.99 for something to play DVDs. My dd is 3, and I don't want to put a TV in her room, but I get sick of watching her movies, so this would work for us. HOWEVER, I'd probably never get one at BB - since I avoid that place on BF since the lines are so crazy! I just hope that Walmart/Staples/Radio Shack/Target have a similar deal.

Sometimes the items that are on the BF ads (the really awesome deals) are not out before BF, so you can't always rely on buying them early. Ex - last year I got the Cabbage Patch doll for my dd (and her friend for a gift), and as hard I tried to FIND those specific dolls before BF I couldn't. On BF morning, I was in Wally world really early (2am) and when the CP dolls were put out, it was obvious that these were different sku's (special onetime deals) than the other CP dolls they had out. I wish you luck on your first BF. It's exhilerating and exhausting at the same time. Hope you get what you want!!! :)

DH found out about the FP camera, and suggested it to me. I told him how much they retail for - so he wasn't so excited about it for our 3yo dd. If I can find a smokin deal on that (I don't think she'd like the FP-3 player), then she'll get one. Otherwise, we'll have to find something else.

Thanks for the giggle. For me, I'd defend myself, but I would probably not attack anyone who'd taken something from me. I'd be peeved and do what I could to get it back (security, other shoppers, etc) but it's just an item - it's not worth my life or my health/wellbeing.

me too! (fat chance since we just bought a digi camera this year - although it's not a DSLR...)

I never really paid attention to the ads for this store, as I never lived near one, but it looks like one is coming to a strip mall close to my house. It's going in where a Winn Dixie used to be (before they pulled out of NC). If they have some good toy deals, it might be a nice break from Walmart (biggest discounter in my little town).

I got a 20" TV from Walmart on BF about 6 years ago and it's still working well. I also got a VCR at the same time. Can't remember the TV brand (it was the hot $98 deal) but I did get the Symphonic VCR. Both have done really well over the years, and just recently we got rid of the VCR, only b/c we don't have any more VCR tapes.

Yeah, probably - but I still don't like the idea that they are doing away with it. I have used it numerous times - not just for BF. I am bummed that this great program is going away.

Not everyone is in a financial position to spend $2000. For some people that $29 mp3 player is the equivalent of a big screen TV and it is worth every bit as much. Myself, I have about $300 in gift cards for Target and Wal-Mart and a few other stores set aside. If they don't have what I want/need on sale there I will use them for groceries and use my grocery money for gifts. We have been very frugal in the past BF, and I am sure that I haven't spent more than $100 each time. It's not really how much you spend (believe me - I'd love to have $2k to spend at one time), but the deals that I score that make BF successful.

I went to my Super WM on BF, and it was open when I got there at 1:30 am. This is the first Super WM I BF shopped, so I don't know if others in my area do it - but it sounds like it depends on the store management.

Will Target take internet printed CVS coupons? DH is about to refill his 'scripts and I just found a coupon for $25 for Kerr Drug. Not interested in that drug store - so if Target takes it - I'll bring it in too. Also - when you transfer your script to (which ever pharmacy that has this offer), can you "double up" if you have more than one script? I was thinking that if I have 2 scripts, I can fill each at a seperate time and take advantage of the deal 2x... Anyone try this? Update- I just called my local Target pharmacy - and the woman I spoke with confirmed that they will accept competitor coupons, up to $25, for new or transferred scripts. I told her that I received a coupon in the mail from Kerr Drug. That's when she told me that they accept all competitor coupons - so I assume that they won't reject the internet printed one. Now - I just have to figure out if I can use more than one....

Last year was my first alone BF - my sister and I used to shop together when I first moved here, but now we don't live close enough to make it worth while to either of us. It's a bummer - cause I love going with someone. DH stays at home and watches our daughter - and there's really no other family that will go. My neighbor was supposed to go with me last year, but she backed out at the last second - so solo I was. It was ok though, since I made friends with people while I was waiting - and they actually helped me get the things I wanted at WM. I'd say go for it... it's really not that bad.

Born and raised in Phx - born in Scottsdale, and moved to North Phx (32nd st/Cactus) til I was outta highschool. I also lived in Tempe and Tucson. I graduated from UofA and then moved to NC. Edited to add: I now live south of Raleigh in North Carolina. I work for FedEx and my hubby works for the State of NC as a judge. I love NC - and can't see myself moving back to the desert though - l love all this green!

I too was at WM first last year - stupidly got there around 1 am for toys. Looking back, I could have at least had a nap before I went - but I was too nervous. Our Super WM was already open (didn't close - a 24-hr store), so I was able to go inside and wait. I ended up befriending others there, so the pallets that I needed something from, but wasn't close to, were covered by 2 other ladies who picked up a toy for me. Our WM had all the BF pallets covered in black plastic wrap - so you couldn't really see what was in them. (Well..... you weren't supposed to know - but if you were tall, you could tell). The crowds just slowly got bigger - and by 4:45, the store was packed. There was a HUGE line for the electronics department - but all of the laptops had been accounted for. I do believe there were people trying to cut in line - and a lady I had been talking to got cut in front of before they handed out the laptops - so she got pissed! I was able to get out of WM and over to Staples and get in line (unfortunately it was outside - I got spoiled waiting inside at WM) for the other things I wanted. I totally scored - and the workers at Staples were very quick and nice. Overall - it was a GREAT BF - and I was done before 9am.

I only hit 2 big stores last year (WM and Staples) and didn't PM, so I didn't need the ads, although the binder's a great idea. If I do more stores this year, I'll probably do that. (It's a great idea to keep all ads together as well as for something to look at while waiting).

In the 6 years I have been doing BF shopping, only once have I attempted BB. My sister and I went to Walmart first and then one other place before stopping for a bagel and to watch them open the doors at BB before attempting to head in. It was a bad mistake to even try to shop there. After the crazy people who ran in the store to get what ever they wanted (I think this was before they started doing tickets beforehand), everyone else came in and almost IMMEDIATELY there were huge check out lines. We waited 3 1/2 hours in one line to check out. CRAZY!! Don't know if I'll do BB any time soon (I guess it depends on what ads they have... )

Last year, I tried to take some pictures of the crazy lines at Walmart on BF but they were so long, the pix I took didn't do them justice. I was wondering if anyone else planned on taking pix of their crazy lines or crowds so they could share them here? For me, I may try again - but it all depends on where I end up shopping.

Last year, I an MP3 player for about $20 (after all rebates and what-not). Not a SCREAMING deal, but great for me. Got all the cabbage patch dolls I needed (gifts for a few of my daughter's friends).

Last year, I didn't go to bed after we got home from Thanksgiving at the in-laws, so I just showered and headed out to wait at Walmart (thank goodness this one was a 24-hr one and I could wait inside). After I finished all my shopping (I was by myself and DH was at home with our daughter), I came home and crashed for a few hours. After I got up, we went out and did some more shopping. DH hates crowds, so I am suprized he wanted to go on BF.

Hoodies sounds good - those mornings are SOOOO cold waiting. I'd love to get one, if they were available.

I am afraid to shop at TRU on BF. I'd rather brave Wallyworld - crazy, eh? I have seen too many ravenous moms and dads run over each other and get into fights over toys. (Wait a minute, was that TRU or Wallyworld... hah hah!) Anyway - the closest TRU is about 30 minutes away, so unless they have a great online BF deal, it's no deal for me.

I was at WM last year around 2am - and there was a line already formed for the laptops - it began at midnight. There were already about 8 people when I got there. I was not shopping for a laptop, so I was able to observe the line better. It got CRAZY and when it started, they only had 11 laptops to sell. There were A LOT of MAD people in line.

I used to work at an Office Max (back in college) - now I like Staples better. Prolly cause OM is not close and Staples is just 4 minutes away...