mcwalker

Walgreens usually has a few items "free after voucher or rebate" on Black Friday that make good stocking stuffers for someone (child or adult or either depending on the item). Also watch Rite Aid, CVS, and other pharmacies for a smaller number of similar offers on small items every week.

Map has been updated again 10/16/ 2013 to include those who responded since last update. Here it is as it stands now. (plus two people in Anchorage.) http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/Map2013-10-16.jpg

I have done BF in four very different locations so far. Last year we were visiting in-laws in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, so I did my shopping there. I have been around the area a few times and I am accustomed to seeing the Mennonites and Amish of the area. I wasn't entirely surprised to see Mennonites out at some of the stores in the middle of the night, but I was surprised to see some Amish also, especially at the Target on US 30 east of town. The front parking lot at the Target was busy so I found a space in a smaller lot to the side of the building. I was surprised to see that this lot has a small shed to one side where horse and buggys can be "parked." As I was pulling out of my space around 3:00 in the morning, a horse and buggy in a hurry turned and we were facing more or less head on with the glare of his high headlights in my eyes and we both came to abrupt stop. As it is easier to back a car than a buggy in a parking lot, I backed up to let him by. Definitely a unique BF experience.

The cheap LED flashlights could make a good stocking stuffer.

Glad I saw your message. The same thing happened previously but I had not understood what had happened. I have fixed it now. Apparently what had happened was someone clicked the "All Items" label in the map legend, which activated all of the markers, then they dragged something and all of them got dragged out of place. PLEASE do NOT touch the "All Items" button in the menu. If you want to move your own marker, be sure that it is the only one that is highlighted with a white circle. I used a few where I knew their placement to drag the entire group back into place. However, as this happened before and I didn't realize what had happened then, some of the markers placed early on may be a bit off their intended location. Feel free to correct your personal markers if that is the case, just make sure all markers aren't all highlighted when you do it. Thanks!

Wow, can't believe I got it! I studied the dates for prior years: Harbor Freight was relatively consistent, so I chose it and I started to say 10/14, but decided it was less likely on a weekend or holiday so I chose the day after--10/15. Today marks the real start of BF season!

8 PM is becoming the new standard, so not at all surprising. However, anytime before midnight is a shame I think. They even comment in their press release that it is after people (including employees) have finished their Thanksgiving meals with family, but an 8:00 PM opening, with staff arriving and lines forming earlier, is disruptive of Thanksgiving for many or most people. Opening at midnight would allow employees to arrive after 10PM and most people to get in line sometime after 8 PM.

True, but you can use multiple coupons sequentially if you can get your hands on them. I tend to find BB&B overpriced without the 20% discount and never buy anything there without using one of the 20% or $5 off coupons. They have had some nice rebate deals in the past, which when combined with the $5 coupon came out a real steal.

20% off is available most all the time at BB&B with the coupons on the back of their flyers. I have even seen them take out of date coupons. There is also frequently a $5.00 off minimum purchase of $15 coupon that is best when the total before tax is between $15 and $25, then use the 20% coupons above that. Also, you can use multiple $5 coupons, but MAY have to check out multiple times to do that.

I feel like an old pro at this now, but in fact I am a relative newcomer compared to most of those who have replied so far. My family was philosophically opposed to shopping on Thanksgiving weekend, which we usually spent at a farm house west of Fort Worth enjoying traditional family fun. I started in 2006 when my family decided to have a get together at a hotel in Chicago instead. My nephew and I went out to stores in that area while the others slept. According to my profile, I joined GottaDeal on Nov. 14, 2006 as I was researching how Black Friday works and how to take advantage of it. We returned to New York with a trunkload of BF deals squeezed in with the luggage and I have been at it every year since, so far in four different cities.

Here is the latest version of the map, updated Oct. 12, 2013 to include all posts to date: http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/Map2013-10-12.jpg ...and for our two friends in Alaska, they get their own map: http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/Map2013-10-12alaska.jpg Anyone in Hawaii? Minnesotta? Colorado? Keep those pins coming!

I am not generally in favor of "blue laws," but I wish all states would pass a single blue law prohibiting stores from being open from midnight to midnight on Thanksgiving or from asking employees to work between 1:00 AM and 11:00 PM. No business or jobs would be lost, it would just keep the day free of working and shopping for most people. (Some stores such as pharmacies, convenience stores, and food stores could still open at least part of the day.

Generally worked fine and looked good, except for the delay. I recall some significant delay last year, too though. Maybe just inherent to these systems.

The Jewish-owned B&H Photo Superstore is just a block from my office in Manhattan. As a Jewish owned and operated business, they observe strict hours and normally close by 1:00 or 2:00 PM or all day before Jewish holidays. I checked their website for their 2013 Holiday schedule. They will be open on Thanksgiving from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (which means they are not closing early for Hanukkah) and they will be open regular hours on Black Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (to close for the weekly Sabbath). They are always closed Saturday. Hanukkah isn't even mentioned among the seven Jewish holidays that they observe. (Also closed on Christmas.) So Hanukkah is not affecting their schedule at all. B&H is a gottadeal.com parner store.

I assume that is Carbondale (unless they have crabs in Illinois). I put a marker for you on the map (along with all others). St. Petersburg, right? I see that you put a marker there.

#1 Join the battle for the Brightly Colored Boxes! #2 Target referees separating the boxers. Go back to your corners! #3 Heater? Check! Ads? Check! Tents? Check! Port-a-potty? Check! (out of sight.) Musical entertainment? Oh yea, Check!

I have edited the map to add markers for those who posted but did not put a mark on the map (up to the time of this post). It looks like some of the markers shifted to the southeast for some reason (including my original marker), and I have moved them back when I thought this happened. Apologies if I have moved a marker out of place. This is how the map looks now: (plus two people in Anchorage, Alaska who win the prizes for farthest north, farthest west, longest BF night, and perhaps coldest weather!) http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/Map2013-10-06.jpg Any of you who have not responded, feel free to "put yourself on the map" at: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zUnZpeEjK4QE.kMntm4dhOm_k

Cargirl, Just curious: is that Minneapolis, Minnesota? If so how do you spend half of BF in Minnesota and the other half a thousand miles away in Arizona with time to shop in both?

You did...and nice Koala!

And here are Brad's predictions: http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridayPredictions

Here is the map as it stands today (October 1). (Note Anchorage Alaska in the upper left corner.) Anyone else want to add your mark? https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zUnZpeEjK4QE.kMntm4dhOm_k http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/Map2013-10-01.gif

Sounds like what some of us need for Christmas are NEW FAMILIES!

BabyBear24kGold: My paternal grandparents lived in Weatherford and my grandfather had two farms/ranches along the Brazos River (Lake Granbury). My parents still own one of those farms and we often went there for Thanksgiving in the past. (I grew up in Dallas, but have lived in New York City for 30 years.) A few years ago I did my Black Friday shopping in the stores around I-20 and the Granbury Highway there. I thought about heading to Fort Worth for more selection, but did OK at the stores in Weatherford. mcwalker

Hi Brad, I sent you a PM to volunteer.

Harbor Freight 10/15