mcwalker

I will either be in Long Island, NY (the Nassau Hub area, relatively close to where I live in Queens) or else in Lancaster or Harrisburg PA (where we may be visiting inlaws). Update: It looks like it will be Long Island NY Nassau Hub area again this year.

As many have said, the key is to use credit cards wisely. Make the cards work for you, not you working for the credit card company. Rule number 1: Never buy anything with a credit card that you can't pay for IN FULL when the next monthly bill comes due. (And really, don't buy anything with a credit card that you don't already have the money in the bank to pay for today, with enough left over to pay rent, buy groceries, and other necessities.) So you may ask, what is the point of having/using credit cards if not to borrow money and buy things you can't afford today? There are a few reasons: -Convenience: you don't have to carry as much cash, go to ATMS as often, deal with change as much. -Security: you don't have as much cash to get stollen or accidentally drop (which happens more often than people realize, I think) -Discounts associated with specific cards such as Target (always 5% off instantly); or JC Penney, Macy's, and Kohls which have periodic discounts only for using their cards. -Points and cash back programs for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express (but consider annual fees and generally get cards with no annual fee). -Buyers assurance programs, that pay you for items charged to the card that fail after the warranty expires or if they are broken or stolen within a certain time period. By the way, airline points are generally worth about 1 cent per point if used wisely. Use that or a lower number for calculating the value of points programs. Regarding the two cards that you got, this is a good start if you use them wisely, and contrary to what one person said, these will be good for your credit rating as long as you pay them consistently--NEVER miss a payment. But, as far as I know, neither of those offers you specific benefits and they are only good at those stores. I would suggest that as soon as you qualify, get a no-fee Mastercard, Visa, or Discover, which can be used most anywhere, preferably with some points or cash back. Then get only no-fee cards with a specific benefit, like the 5% discount at Target, and cancel the two you have now. Another trick I often use is: some cards are offered with no annual fee for the first year (but earn points or cash back). I use these for a year, then cancel them. (My credit rating is still excellent because I never miss payments and have no runnning credit card debt.) As for debit cards, these are good for controlling your spending and are a good choice for many people. I have a couple of issues with them though--most importantly if someone charges to them fraudulently, the money comes right out of your bank account and you have to work to get it back. With a credit card, you never loose anything if it is reported before the bill is paid (and probably get it back later, too). They also don't offer some of the legal protections that credit cards do and don't generally have the point or cash back benefits (with some expceptions that are more limited than credit cards). Finally, check out Gottadeal's (Brad's) credit card site to find good cards and compare the details: http://www.bettercreditcard.com/

Ace Hardware 10/13

On the 720 versus 1080 question, I agree that people too often discount 720 for the higher resolution 1080, even though 1080 may not benefit them given their TV size and viewing distance. In fact, I have the cable box connected to my 1080p 40" LCD set to output only 720p because the TV "hickups" each time you change from a 720 input to a 1080 input while surfing channels. But my Blu-ray player is still set to output at 1080p. That said, the general advice is that 1080 may be beneficial for 40 inch TVs and larger (and certainly from the 50" range and up) as long as you are viewing at a distance that is optimal for your screen size. Also note that all Blu-ray disks are 1080i or p and that if you plan to use the TV also as a monitor for a computer or for surfing the web, then there is a definite advantage to 1080, which is actually lower resolution than your computer monitor.

As with last year, I will be puting together a Comparison Chart of all the cameras offered on BF, which you will find amoung the other Comparison Charts on Gottadeal.com. You can see LAST YEAR's charts at http://blackfriday.thestationchief.com/gdcc.php. I was looking for a new camera last year, but never bought one. I am planning to buy a DSLR this year. As some others have said here, and Brad says in his general forecast for Black Friday 2011, camera deals don't seem to be better on BF than on other days or seasons. That said, you might find one in the BF adds and list that meets your needs and pick it up with your other BF shopping. The extras offered by some stores ($10 gift card for purchase over..." might just sweeten the deal. While there are a few DSLRs offered on BF, and the prices for those are competitive, the selection offered is very limited and people looking for that level of camera should certainly be looking more broadly over time than just limiting themselves to what is offered on BF. I recommend checking B&H Photo (a GottaDeal partner) at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for prices and also (if I can mention it here) Digital Photography Review http://www.dpreview.com/ for highly detailed technical camera reviews.

Actually, there was another thread about this case. (Came up while you were in Oklahoma, I guess.) http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?230166-Black-Friday-Craziness-news-story-update-from-last-year

While you shop, check for return policy so if you see a lower price you can return the higher priced item. You want to be able to return at least through mid-December (mid-January better), and keep in mind any restocking and shipping cost (prefer local return without fee, even if you order from a web site for stores with B&M stores near you.. Keep receipts and packaging (don't remove price or wrap gifts until mid December).

After intending to be well organized last year, my plans pretty much fell apart due to a long wait in a TRU after it opened at midnight. Being pretty much off schedule, I went into a Walmart. I wasn't really hoping/trying to get any big ticket items, but my problem was that 1) almost every advertised deal in the store had already been snatched up (I had not encountered that for all the minor stuff before), and 2) the lines in aisles for the bigger ticket items made it difficult to get around some parts of the store. Since they don't use tickets, it wasn't even clear that people waiting in a line for a single special would even get it. (At least when you wait in a single big line to get in a store, you have a chance at something. Not the best way to address the stampede problem. (I prefer Target and BB for my first stores). Based on the ad I might consider hitting a Walmart first at midnight. Works best if you have a "crew" of at least three people in the Walmart, whereas I am usually alone or with one other person.

Just wondering where you do your Black Friday shopping. Guess you would be first in line in Unalakeet. Or you could start off BF on Big Diomede (Russia) and finish 24 hours later on Little Diomede (not that there is 24 hours worth of shopping on either island).

I cut down a bit on the number of items last year, not so much for economic reasons, but becasue I thought we had gotten a little out of hand a couple of years before that. I will probably stay about even this year, except that I didn't get the nice new camera I wanted for myself last year and plan to buy one this year.

At this point I am interested in: A good digital SLR camera (but not holding my breath for one on BF) A good cheap tablet deal (but probably not willing to get in line early enough for that) Discounts on gift cards (eg $25 card for $20), for children's birthday party gifts ?? A new GPS (this time with lifetime maps and traffic)

I don't know anything about the BF ads, but just a bit of clarification: Target stores subcontract operation of their in-store mobile phone kiosks to a firm called Kiosk Operations, Inc., which as mydizzy13 indicates, is a wholly owned subsidiary of RadioShack Corporation. Employees of these kiosks normally wear black shirts, instead of the red worn by their Target counterparts. Kiosk Operations, Inc. also operates free standing mobile phone kiosks in shopping malls.

I have done a few Black Friday's while traveling for Thanksgiving. I suggest using either Google Maps or Google Earth to seach for store locations, then save locations with markers and print the maps to take with you. In most metropolitan areas, you will find some of the key stores scattered around, but there are usually a few key areas where many of the key Black Friday stores are concentrated. If you plan to hit a number of stores on BF, consider going to one of these areas where many stores are concentrated, even if they are farther than some stores closest to where you will be staying. If you have time, try to take a drive to familiarize yourself with the store locations (and maybe go inside to see layouts). But don't miss enjoying Thanksgiving with the people you traveled so far to see (or take some of them with you for the "dry run" and BF).

Hi Stationchief, As indicated in a PM, I am volunteering again to take the lead on putting together the list of cameras.

Kohl's 5:00 AM Macy's 7:00 AM JC Penney 7:00 AM Sears 7:00 AM all nationwide.

I have been getting $10 off $25 recently. No more of the $10 off $10 in our area.

I wasn't planning to get one, but found a bin full at the TRU in Westbury, Long Island on Saturday after BF and bought one just for the heck of it to give to my daughter , since my nephew and I had been paying with some "regular" ones while standing in checkout line on BF. $14.99.

Jamesy1, If you look at the comparison list of BF cameras http://blackfriday.thestationchief.com and click once on the "LCD" column, all the 3.0" LCD cameras offered on BF come to the top of the list and you can see their other features. Of the BF cameras, the Nikon Coolpix S70 has a 3.5" LCD and a number of point and shoot cameras have 3.0" LCDs. These can all still be found at or close to BF prices.

I wore the shirt I won this year on Black Friday. My nephew, who goes out with me on BF, also wore a shirt I won last year. And later in the afternoon, my daughter donned another shirt I won last year when we went to a Toys R Us Express. Here's the proof: Me in a Toys R Us at 12:50 AM (what a disaster--took forever to check out): http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/IMG00053.jpg My nephew Jonathan in check out line at Kohls at 12:30 PM: http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/IMG00055.jpg My daughter with me in a Toys R Us Express at 4:30 PM: http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af182/mcwalker59/DSCN0255.jpg

I am somewhat sympathetic to the law (to an extent), for the sake of retail employees. Anyway, it makes for an interesting opportunity to be at the early opening for certain stores outside Paramus, then get to Paramus for their opening time.

This could be in the travel section, but it is a true Black Friday-only special, so I thought I would post here. This is for AARP members only. (Anyone over 50 can join for a very modest cost.) I just received an e-mail from AARP announcing a Black Friday sale of $250 off on any vacation package costing $1,000 or more booked on Black Friday only. Following is a link provided in the e-mail to their vacation booking site, though I found no reference to the deal on the site itself: http://expedia-aarp.com/daily/packages/default.asp?mdpcid=0-30029.mktg.email.CM.20101124&j=236586&[email protected]&l=879_HTML&u=3343953&mid=260053&jb=0 Following is some of the text from the e-mail: Black Friday 24-hour Coupon! Save $250 on a vacation package of $1000 or more for one day only; enter code 'BLACKFRIDAY2010' at check out and save. Offer valid for bookings on November 26th only. This $250 coupon offer is valid only on November 26, 2010 (12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Pacific) for a new vacation package booking on www.expedia-aarp.com. Travel must be completed by 3/31/11. The cost of the booking must be at least $1,000 before taxes and fees. Coupon is subject to Terms and Conditions. Offer may be revoked without notice. Void where prohibited.

BEWARE of DANGEROUSLY low prices!

I heard on the radio this morning that Queens Center mall, one of only two or three real malls in New York City, will be opening at midnight Thanksgiving night. The mall includes most of the national chain stores typically found in malls and is anchored by a JC Penney and a Macy's. The Macy's will open at 4AM like other Macy's but the JC Penney will open at midnight. This may make it the first JC Penney in the country to open for BF (unless other malls are doing this too), doorbusters will start at 4:00AM. The mall will be giving out $10 mall gift cards at midnight to the first 300 people in line at the front door. Note, this is a "regular" mall, not one of the discount mall chains. http://www.shopqueenscenter.com/events.asp?id=73508&utm_campaign=holiday_2010&utm_medium=flash&utm_source=prop&utm_content=midnight_madness_2010

JackJack: I can't point to a particular camera for you--there are many good choices. As blurry pictures are a concern, I do recommend a camera with image stabilization. Paying a little more now will make the camera still useful in a few years when your kids are a little older. I learned the hard way that digital cameras are more prone to motion blur than film cameras are, which is why all the makers started putting stabilization in a wide range of cameras a few years ago (just after I bought two cameras). Note: The information on image stabilization in the comparison tables is not complete--many of the cameras have it even though I have not been able to collect all the info. If you see a camera and price you like, I would double check the manufacturer's web site for full specs. [uPDATE: one column was changed to Stabilization and I got that info entered for most cameras after this post.] Also, more serious photographers don't deal in Kodak cameras, but reviews I have seen suggest that they are somewhat better than their reputation amoung photo-philes (but for the best look to Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony (which took over Minolta's line).

Here is the video on Hulu: [video=hulu;SiU7rC_rhIc0OC02es76Ng]http://www.hulu.com/watch/194951/nbc-today-show-shopping-tips-for-snagging-black-friday-deals Gottadeal is the last of a few sites mentioned, so it stuck in people's heads.