fluffkin79

Fewer kids would be easier. You may not have a babysitter for everyone, but would anyone be able to stay the night with a friend or relative? It's hard to plan anything for Walmart. If I remember right, last year some stuff was supposed to start at midnight and other sales started at a different time (5-6 am?). Of course, nothing is consistant at Walmart stores so some stores kept things covered or in the stock room until the appointed time, others put stuff out early, and I read some reports of stores forgetting to put out pallets of sale items for hours or days! (Maybe they just got a late shipment?) Last year I got to Walmart later in my trip - I think it was around 6am. I was hoping to find some movies and video games but I heard from other customers that the movies were all gone BEFORE midnight and the video games all came out right at 12am and there was an insane rush. People were grabbing at random and running to get out of the way, and a couple fistfights broke out. I wasn't looking for kids PJs, but I did find some girls jeans left over at 6am. An hour or so later I made it to another WM where I was able to choose from a few leftover movies and video games. It was picked over, but I managed to snag a few descent titles. As for advise: Make sure everyone got some sleep and bring snacks. Bring your own double stroller if you have one (or can borrow one) because there is no guarentee you will be able to get a cart. You can use the stroller basket as a shopping basket. If it's not too crowded, one of your bigger kids could push another cart or stoller so you have more space to contain your little ones and hold your loot. I'd try to show up around 11pm to see if anything got put out early. Honestly, if I had my kids with and couldn't get the stuff I wanted in my cart before the craziness started I'd probably leave; at least stand off to the side as the clock strikes midnight (or whatever time the sale starts). Maybe your 8-year-old can help you? If things are crowded, but calm, s/he could grab the things you want and bring them to you while you stand off to the side with the little ones. Or maybe s/he could keep everyone in the cart or stroller while you grab the items you're after? Maybe other shoppers will give you a hand, too. I would! Right when the sales start everyone is focused on getting their goods and getting out, but for the most part the people I've talked to in line on BF are friendly and happy. If you are waiting for the pallets to be unveiled, try to strike up a conversation with another shopper. They may be willing to help you get what you are looking for. Or maybe not, but it's worth a try. If you are trying to keep things a secret, good luck to you! You could try to bring reusable shopping bags to put the stuff in then cover it with a blanket in the cart, but be prepared to be stopped and questioned by security. (I wouldn't recommend trying to conceal things in a stroller, but I have taken DD's blankie into Kmart and Walmart to cover things in my cart when my kiddos are with. Nobody ever said anything about it. If you don't want to use a blankie, you could use your coat or grab a men's robe and 'change your mind' at the checkout.) Checkout gets interesting. I have had my kids use the bathroom while I check out, but BF is too crowded for that. My kids are willing to sit at the end of the checkout lane with their backs to me, would your kids do that? Of course, online shopping while the kids are in bed is much less complicated. If your in a tough spot and really need new clothes for the kids, check out the Target clearance forum. I've had great luck getting my kids' clothes from Target, often for less than BF prices. I already have my kids' Christmas gifts from clearance, too. Whatever you choose to do, good luck to you!

We haven't drawn names for the family exchange yet. Those are the people I usually end up shopping for on BF. Well, for them and for myself! My kids are (hopefully) done thanks to Target's toy clearance and clothing clearance from various stores. I have plenty to give them, but may still need to pick up a "it's-so-great-I-just-gotta-have-it-gift", especially for my oldest who is getting older and pickier. I just found my mother-in-law's gift last week. She metioned something that she wanted to get, and the next day I saw it on clearance at Target. It was only 30% off, but it seemed destined to be hers.

Were there any new shoe markdowns this week? I'm looking for kid's sandels and gym shoes at 75%.

When I was taking the clearance stickers off my new stash I saw that some items went 30-50-75%, and others went 25-55-75%. It didn't matter to me this time because eveerything I got ended up at 75%, but I wonder if this is a sign of things to come. At my stores summer did it's normal 30-50-75-90, but last Halloween only dropped to 70% (even though the signs said 75%) before going 90% so I know they have been trying different markdown levels here. Did any stores mark down toys to 70% instead of 75%?

Sounds like my story, but I was able to stop at 2 stores. I wanted to go to another, but I was able to convince myself that we don't need more. I got the 2 things I really wanted (wooden Circo train track and Hello Kitty texters), and a few extras. Here are some I haven't seen listed yet: ####086022550 LIV School Break dolls 3.48 ####087050184 Air Hogs Zero Gravity car 6.24 ####087060550 Mighty Beans Light Saber 2.48 ####087101848 Nab It! game 3.48 ####204000499 Lego Kingdoms Outpost Attack set 4.98 ####Tangram set (can't remember what it's called) 4.xx They were working on marking things down when I got to the second store. It was scattered all throughout the aisles. I saw a clearance shelf tag under a Lego Star Wars ship (Millenium Falcon?), but weren't any stickers on the box so I thought that it was in the wrong place and left it alone. A while later I started following the markdown team down the Lego aisle. I saw them red sticker 2 sets, the Star Wars set was one of them. There were 2 markdown carts, my cart, and another women coming down the aisle the other way. I picked up the set closest to me and politely stepped aside so the other woman could get past me, but she stopped right in front of the Lego set I was headed for, picked it up, and asked the boy in her cart if he would like to have it. He did. See what I get for being polite, LOL? So we started at opposite ends of the Lego aisle, 2 sets got marked down, and we each got 1. I guess I can't complain too much. After that I really wanted to try another store, but I already have plenty of toys stockpiled for my kids and their friends (at least a year's worth) so I was a good girl and came back home.

They were busy condensing toys this morning, but not marking anything down. Most toys were 30-50% including Furry Frenzies, but I am just going by the sticker; I didn't scan it. I did find a few at 75% (not sure how fresh the markdowns are): Tron, Mighty Beans, Kung Zhu, and a few other random little things.

Great haul! Just a note on the water guns - you might want to check them out right away. I bought some of this brand water guns on clearance last year and they didn't really work at all. They were the smaller ones, like in your "Big Blast Battle Pack". Of the 8 I got only 2 actually squirted water. I didn't take them out until this summer so I wasn't able to return them, and I had a yard full of dissapointed kids. Hopefully yours are better than mine were.

Have you considered an experience gift? Take her to an amusement park, water park, concert, show, etc. Maybe you could let her invite her best friend along.

Thanks for the tip on the crayons. How did you know that these were 90%? Where there some in the Easter aisle?

Sears seems to have a few different prices for individual portrait sheets. From the info I read they can range from 7.99(reg. price according to some coupons) to 9.99 (online reorder price), but if you use the current $7.99 portrait package coupon then additional sheets are 19.99 (says so right in the fine print). My question is this: If I go to the studio and buy just the promotional 7.99 package, how much will they charge for additional prints online? Will they stick to the 19.99 or will I be able to get them for the regular 9.99? And will all of my poses be available online? Has anyone tried this? Does Sears still send the "extra" pictures for you to purchase when you pick up your order? If so, how much are they charging these days? It's been a while since I have tried a Sears Portrait Studio and I want to be prepared. What I really want it a small order of my daughter's pictures - maybe 5 sheets in 2 poses (1 8x10, 2 3.5x5 or 5x7, 2 wallets) and I am trying to compare studios. Do you know of any other cheap places to go?

Did I miss kids jeans going 75%, or did someone just clear out my store? I found boys Hanes sweats for $1.48 today and some paperclips in their normal spot for .38? (75%). I was hoping to pick up some more bulk Gatorade but it was gone.

I have no idea if this is a fresh markdown or not, but I found a new purse today 75% off. There were a lot of accessories on the wall with various markdowns. If anyone sees kids jeans go 75% be sure to post.

Does anyone have a picture or description of the girl's 20" bike that is on clearance? We need one this year so I looked, but most of the bikes I saw had no price on them at all.

Tell me more about the storage totes. What size, how much, and were there a lot left? Has anyone else seen a good selection?

I didn't notice them at the first 2 stores, but at the Parma OH store there was a lot of girls corderoy pants (pink, purple, brown, and tan) for 3.24.

I found a Embark 7-piece luggage set for $25ish. Very happy since we needed new luggage. It doesn't seem as sturdy as the other set they had there on Tues, I am happy for the price. I also picked up 2 Franklin softball and glove sets (Cars and Tinkerbell), some lunch boxes, water bottles, and a Batman backpack today at 75% off. I'm glad I picked up that bicycle helmet at 50% a couple days ago because they were all gone today. I did see some 3-wheel scooters, but the 2-wheel princess ones were gone.

After reading reports on here I went to check out kids' clothes. There was some 75% off (including coats), but most was still 30-50% here in both toddler and big kids sections. The kids slippers I have been watching are now 75% off and they had both DDs sizes (yippie!). I also lucked out and found a couple random repacked things - boys mittens for .31 and a DVD/VCR for 56.01 (orginally 79.99). I picked up a new bicyle helmet for DD7 at 50% off (9.98) since she outgrew last year's and I don't want to pay full price. I was hoping for some cheap luggage and sporting goods, but they were still 30-50% today.

Wow! You found even more stuff that I never saw. When did you find these? I found a Lighting McQueen Ball and glove set on Thursday, but it wasn't 75% off yet. Did these get marked down on Friday or is it totally different from the Franklin one you got?

I know someone already posted a pic, but it looks like I got all the stuff that sabbie didn't so here's mine:

We use wooden circo track with our wooden Thomas trains and track - it works great. Thomas diecast and trackmaster may not work with any wooden track. Most wooden track works together - Thomas, Brio, Imaginarium, Circo, and some other brands (including the generic we found at Walgreens a couple years ago).

Is that not normal? LOL

Be sure to check out the shoe dept. There were a lot of shoe marked 75% off. This is a great time to stock up on the next size or two. We are pretty well set for shoes but I couldn't resist ###093013914 Circo Dedra (red sparkly slip-ons) 3.24 ###093012929 Circo Deloria (brown and pink "cowgirl" boots) 4.98

My first stop was Stongsville, OH. I got there around 9:30 and was worried that I was too late when I saw 2 women walking out with full carts. No worries, there was still plenty to be had. They had Dora doll houses, Big Buzz Lightyears, lots of Rupunzel table sets, and many other goodies. The only things I couldn't find was a tag reader (guess it wasn't ment to be) and the Kid Tough video camera. I got a cartload including Dora computer doll, Chuck and Friends Garbage truck set, Thomas Early Engineers sets (both of them, yeah!) and engines, Gears! set, Zhu Zhu and Kung Zhu sets, Polly Pocket sets, Kota & Pals Dino (DS loves these!), and 2GB MP3 players. I even splurged and bought a youth sized Browns football for 6.xx (only 50% off, GASP!). Then I went to Parma. We got there around 10:15 and the pickin's were slim. There were 2 aisles dedicated to clearance toys so I am guessing there was plenty there, but it was a lot of empty space by the time we got there. I did manage to find some police hats that my kids love for around $1.50, a Matchbox repair semi ($6ish), Zhu Zhu baby ($1.24), Only Hearts Club dolls, Zooble, and a few smaller things. I made it to Macedonia around 1:30 and found another cartload, listed above. For someone who didn't really NEED anything, I really found a lot. I wasn't sure that I would find anything for DD7 because she is getting to the point where she isn't so interested in toys, but I found some things I think she'll really like (Justin Bieber, Hannah Montana, Zoobles, Zhu Zhus, Only Hearts Club). I was thrilled to find so much Thomas and Dora stuff as those are my younger DD and DS's favorites. Now I just have to find somewhere to store all of this stuff...

Really? There was a lot of empty space on the shelves, but I still managed to find a cartload around 1:30. Maybe we were just looking for different things. I got: ###086021464 Hannah Montana "barbie" dolls 2.41 ###086022004 Hannah Montana wigs 3.48 ###204033369 Thomas trains (Wooden Railway, talks) 3.94 ###204033186 Thomas Engine (wooden) 4.98 ###204070010 Thomas "lego" (megablocks?) set 2.52 ###086022114 LPS stuffed animals 1.75 ###086080724 Stuffed dog that has puppies in her tummy (sorry, forgot it's name) 6.24 ###204030239 Handy Manny shop 2.48 ###204033156 Baby dino (can't remember if it was Kota and friends or Furreal) 3.74 ###204031458 Dora Babysits Boots Doll 7.62 ###086002621 Glow Etch-a-scetch 3.74 ###086021423 LIV Boutique with 3 outfits and accessories 3.27 ###086080444 Zhu Zhu elevator-thingy 3.77 ###087060030 Toy Story alien-seek binoculars 2.48 ###086120513 Only Hearts club girl and pony 4.74 ###087101926 Justin Bieber truth-or-dare type game (I kinda hate that DD will love this) 3.74 There are a couple more things on my receipt that I can't figure out right now. There were also Thomas Train sets (Beginning Engineers?), Dora dolls (the computer world and singing/dancing ones), Toy Story shooters, another Justin Bieber game, and mini-robot things left that we don't need. At least there were a couple hours ago.