I am a TOTAL newbie, from Brazil, need some advice....

[disneytati]

Hi, guys!

 

I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I've been to the USA many times, but this is gonna be my first Black Friday!! Well, I am terrified.... I think I'll be totally lost, and I don't even know where to start. So, could you answer some questions, please? It would help me very much..

 

1. Is it possible to shop in more than one store? I wanna go to BrandsMart, but another store like Walmart, Target or Walgreens would be great.

2. Are there any strategies to buy? Like should I get a kart? It's me and my aunt, so we thought of going to different sections. What time should we get there? Should we prepare shopping lists? Any other hints?

3. Do you think I will survive?

 

Any advice will help me a lot!!!!

[Guest Deals4Me]

 

1. Is it possible to shop in more than one store? I wanna go to BrandsMart, but another store like Walmart, Target or Walgreens would be great.

2. Are there any strategies to buy? Like should I get a kart? It's me and my aunt, so we thought of going to different sections. What time should we get there? Should we prepare shopping lists? Any other hints?

3. Do you think I will survive?

 

Yes it is possible to shop anywhere you want. BUT...I would go to the place that has the BEST deal of any of the stores that you want.

GET IN LINE EARLY! No later that 4:15 Have a game plan, who gets what and where to meet. BE QUICK.

 

Only get a cart if you are getting a lot, or something heavy.

 

You will survive, dont be passive...but dont be agressive. Be DETERMINED. And like most of us, you might have a few battle wounds depending what you are going for. Bruises in the ribs and calf are normal.

Good Luck.

[elena_398]

If you can split up that would be great. One person get some things and the other get the rest, then meet up. Sometimes there are limited supplies of something so plan ahead. Depending on what time a store opens and you really want it, it doesn't hurt to wait in line for a couple of hours. I know I line up by 2am. Last year I showed up a little before 2am and I was 4 in line!

[disneytati]

Yeah, I am trying to check things in advance, to have a game plan. I'll buy a lot of stuff, as people here are gonna give me money to buy stuff for them. You have no idea how expensive such things are here, so for me, it means even more than for you guys. For example: JVC digital camcorder. There, 199 on BF. Here, more than 1000 dollars!!!!! So, I'll charge 350 dollars, they will be paying almost 1/3 of the price and I'll get 150 dollars for myself. I already have a small list, and I'm sure I'll have a big list in November!

 

I wanted to buy things like make up, shampoo, toys, too... That's why I wanted Walmart, Kmart, I don't know... Which store do you guys think is better to buy such "girlie" stuff?

 

Thanks a lot for you advice!!!:)

[elena_398]

Girlie stuff l for younger girls or for yourself?

[disneytati]

Girlie stuff l for younger girls or for yourself?

For myself, like make up, shampoo, skin treatment.....

[RossMAN]

to the forums and I hope you have a great time during your visit to the USA :)

 

1. Is it possible to shop in more than one store? I wanna go to BrandsMart, but another store like WalMart, Target or Walgreens would be great.

 

Yes it is possible but there are several variables:

You should form a game plan

The more help (family/friends) you have, the better

Keep in touch with your help with cell phones or walkie talkies

Measure the distance between stores, consider traffic, etc.

After you have seen the ads, rate the items in order of importance. If you really want a new laptop and Best Buy has the best price then you should obviously go there first.

Get plenty of sleep before Black Friday, go to sleep early and wake up around 2AM.

 

2. Are there any strategies to buy? Like should I get a kart? It's me and my aunt, so we thought of going to different sections. What time should we get there? Should we prepare shopping lists? Any other hints?

 

It depends on the number of items and how large they are. Getting a cart might be a bad idea as you're not as mobile and there may be a line just to get a shopping cart!

 

Bookmark this link which will feature a shopping list, you can save and even print out a list to take with you. This will help remind you and keep your focus on the items you really really want.

 

3. Do you think I will survive?

 

I'm sure that you will, I have faith in you.

 

Welcome again to the forums, please make yourself at home and feel free to post away :)

 

Ross

[disneytati]

But I can wear some younger girl's stuff too...

[disneytati]

to the forums and I hope you have a great time during your visit to the USA :)

Thanks a lot!!! I always have a great time when I go there, specially because I generally go to Disney World!

 

You should form a game plan

The more help (family/friends) you have, the better

Keep in touch with your help with cell phones or walkie talkies

Measure the distance between stores, consider traffic, etc.

After you have seen the ads, rate the items in order of importance. If you really want a new laptop and Best Buy has the best price then you should obviously go there first.

Get plenty of sleep before Black Friday, go to sleep early and wake up around 2AM.

Well, I don't know about sleeping, because our hotel is in Orlando, and the closest BrandsMart is in Ft Louderdale! So we're gonna drive there... Sleep in the car while we wait. Our first item will be the digital camcorder, we will buy 2 or 3! (One for us, and the others for people here) And a microwave, which will require a cart.

 

Bookmark this link which will feature a shopping list, you can save and even print out a list to take with you. This will help remind you and keep your focus on the items you really really want.

A printed shopping list will be awesome!!!!!!!!

 

Welcome again to the forums, please make yourself at home and feel free to post away :)

 

Ross

Thanks :)

[i-bystander]

A Brazilian GottaDealer... awesome!

 

Welcome to GottaDeal, disneytati!

 

 

I see they've answered your questions already, so I'm just here to welcome you. Feel free to ask away if you have more, though. :)

 

Oh, and here's a direct link to GD's BF Shopping List feature.

[disneytati]

A Brazilian GottaDealer... awesome!

LOL I am usually the only Brazilian girl on these websites... I am a member of wdwmagic.com, a Disney Fan website, and I am "the brazilian girl"!

 

Oh, and here's a direct link to GD's BF Shopping List feature.

Cool! A printed list will help me a lot! Thanks!

[Gator Pam]

If you can find the item you want at BrandsMart at Wal-Mart, take the BrandsMart ad with you and price match at Wal-Mart. Especially if you can buy it in advance, and then bring in the receipts and ad on BF and go to Customer Service for a price adjustment.

 

Are you planning on going to the BrandsMart at Sawgrass Mills Mall? (I grew up in Hollywood, FL so I know it well). My experience there has not been good over the years. I really recommend you try to price match the items you are interested in at another retailer. Does Best Buy or Circuit City price match? I'm up in Gainesville, FL now, and will be close to Orlando for Thanksgiving weekend visiting FIL. I'm pretty sure you'll find either of those retailers in Orlando.

[disneytati]

If you can find the item you want at BrandsMart at Wal-Mart, take the BrandsMart ad with you and price match at Wal-Mart. Especially if you can buy it in advance, and then bring in the receipts and ad on BF and go to Customer Service for a price adjustment.

 

I've already booked a hotel room in Ft Lauderdale for Thanksgiving and BF... But this price matching thing is interesting... So I can buy things in advance, and then get the difference back in cash???

 

Why didn't you like BrandsMart at Sawgrass Mills? What happened? My aunt is dying to go there, and I don't think I can convince her to give up now. How about shopping at Sawgrass Mills? Is it worth going there after BrandsMart?

[Gator Pam]

But this price matching thing is interesting... So I can buy things in advance, and then get the difference back in cash???

Price matching is where you bring an ad from one store to another for the same exact item and they honor the competitions sale price.

 

But, many stores gurantee they will refund you the cost difference on an item for 14 days or so if they put it on sale for a lower price then you bought it for within that time. I have heard if you buy items at Wal-Mart a week or so before BF, and put them in lay-a-way, and then show up with all of the ads on BF showing cheaper prices, they will take the items out of lay-a-way and allow you to buy them for the sale prices.

 

I have also heard of shoppers buying early at Wal-Mart that they know are in the ads on BF, and going directly to Customer Service with their receipts for the items and the ads for both Wal-Mart and other stores in hand, and having the price difference refunded. But don't know if stores other than Wal-Mart do this.

 

Why didn't you like BrandsMart at Sawgrass Mills? What happened? My aunt is dying to go there, and I don't think I can convince her to give up now. How about shopping at Sawgrass Mills? Is it worth going there after BrandsMart?

I will disclaim this information by saying that we moved away from south FL in 1998, although I have occasionally visited Sawgrass Mills since then. So things at BrandsMart may have changed since then.

 

What I don't like about Brandsmart is the availablity of merchandise on BF, like K-mart they seem to have very few of the price buster items and run out within minutes of the door opening. Also, for many items, you don't take the item off of the display floor, but have to go around back and pick up the item from a loading dock area. I had too many of the items I bought this way be damaged or not be gift worthy in the packaging when they finally gave me my merchandise. And the wait to be helped in the loading dock area on BF, which is outside and not a/c, can be several hours.

 

The sales people seemed very lackadaisical and not interested in helping you unless you buy several large ticket items. The store is not laid out sensibly, making it difficult to find what you want and difficult to browse.

 

However, I have heard if you are an international shopper, the sales force can be helpful and know policies regarding exporting items. So, it may be beneficial to you in that way.

 

Their service department does have a good reputation for repairs and installation, although I don't know how helpful they can be to you in Brazil.

 

As far as Sawgrass Mills itself, all I can say is you have to know your prices before shopping there. There are some good deals to be found. But, IMO the majority of items are not at outlet prices but regular retial, and many items can be found cheaper at regular price at Wal-Mart.

[disneytati]

Thanks a lot for the advice, Gator Pam!!!

 

Do you think it will help if I go there before BF, to know the place, and know where the tiems will be? Then on BF, I go to one floor, my aunt goes to the other, and we try to go straight to the items we want. I'll walk around Sawgrass too, and see if it's worth staying there for the rest of the day, or maybe trying to go to Walmart after BrandsMart... Maybe if I can be one of the first ones in line at BrandsMart, I can go to Walmart and still get something. I think there's a K-Mart there at Sawgrass Mills, so maybe it would be better to go there, as it's closer, yeah? Or do you think Walmart items will last a bit longer?

[diane175]

Hi Disneytati! I have found most of my best BF deals for makeup and perfume (girlie stuff ) at Walgreen's and Target. If you have those stores around your area I would look at those ads also. My daughter and her cousin are sooooo into all the makeup and perfumes that I go to Walgreens for most of it. I don't know if they price match, but they are usually not very busy after the first hour of opening here. Good luck and SHOW NO FEAR! LOL

[outnumbered]

Oi disneytati, como vai voce?

 

LOL that is all the portuguese I can remember. I had a few friends from Brazil in school a long, long time ago.

 

Welcome! :) My best advice for going to multiple stores on Black Friday is to start at the store that opens earliest first. Say one store opens at 6 am and the other opens at 7 am--go to the 6 am one first, and be in and out and at the next store by 7. If both stores open at the same time, pick the one that has the item you want most, and go there first--it might be gone if you hit that store second.

[disneytati]

Hi Disneytati! I have found most of my best BF deals for makeup and perfume (girlie stuff ) at Walgreen's and Target. If you have those stores around your area I would look at those ads also. My daughter and her cousin are sooooo into all the makeup and perfumes that I go to Walgreens for most of it. I don't know if they price match, but they are usually not very busy after the first hour of opening here. Good luck and SHOW NO FEAR! LOL

Cool!!! There is a Target at Sawgrass Mills, and I'll search for Walgreens around. I've never been to Ft Lauderdale, but I'll arrive there 2 days before BF, so I'll have time to see if there are any Walgreens there. I need good make up, and maybe that will be a good opportunity to buy stuff that would be too expensive here...

[disneytati]

Oi disneytati, como vai voce?

 

LOL that is all the portuguese I can remember. I had a few friends from Brazil in school a long, long time ago.

Great Portuguese!!!

 

Welcome! :) My best advice for going to multiple stores on Black Friday is to start at the store that opens earliest first. Say one store opens at 6 am and the other opens at 7 am--go to the 6 am one first, and be in and out and at the next store by 7. If both stores open at the same time, pick the one that has the item you want most, and go there first--it might be gone if you hit that store second.

Yeah, that's right. I gotta check the time the stores open. My priority is the camcorder (well, actually I'll buy 3 camcorders), and then I'll try to buy other stuff. And I guess such things must be gone first, right? So, I guess I'll get the electronics first, and then go for make up, toys, or maybe clothes... I don't know what I may find there...

[MrsHoneybee]

LOL I am usually the only Brazilian girl on these websites... I am a member of wdwmagic.com, a Disney Fan website, and I am "the brazilian girl"!

 

to the forums disneytati....greetings from an Aussie who now lives in the USA for close to 4 years!

[disneytati]

to the forums disneytati....greetings from an Aussie who now lives in the USA for close to 4 years!

Hey, thanks!!! I am enjoying these forums a lot!!! I am trying to move to the USA next year, it's not as easy as for Aussies, but I guess I'll make it in the end of next year.

[Gator Pam]

!!! I am trying to move to the USA next year, it's not as easy as for Aussies, but I guess I'll make it in the end of next year.

Are you planning on coming for school? One of my ex-coworkers (he graduated this past Spring and returned home) was from Brazil. In fact, as i am the activities programmer at the village housing complex we live at here at UF, I talked him into doing a Brazilian International Cooking Night a few months back. If you're interested, you can see the recipes he and his friends prepared at Tanglewood International Cooking Nights Recipes. We had a great time!

 

Anyway, if you're planning on coming for school, please consider giving UF a look. Perhaps you could could even drive up one day from Orlando while you're there and walk around campus to check it out.

[disneytati]

Anyway, if you're planning on coming for school, please consider giving UF a look. Perhaps you could could even drive up one day from Orlando while you're there and walk around campus to check it out.

Well, at first I'll try to get a nice job, and get my husband and my baby to learn English. If I have time and money, I would like to take my MA there. Who knows?

[kmbrly]

I will disclaim this information by saying that we moved away from south FL in 1998, although I have occasionally visited Sawgrass Mills since then. So things at BrandsMart may have changed since then.

 

What I don't like about Brandsmart is the availablity of merchandise on BF, like K-mart they seem to have very few of the price buster items and run out within minutes of the door opening. Also, for many items, you don't take the item off of the display floor, but have to go around back and pick up the item from a loading dock area. I had too many of the items I bought this way be damaged or not be gift worthy in the packaging when they finally gave me my merchandise. And the wait to be helped in the loading dock area on BF, which is outside and not a/c, can be several hours.

 

The sales people seemed very lackadaisical and not interested in helping you unless you buy several large ticket items. The store is not laid out sensibly, making it difficult to find what you want and difficult to browse.

 

 

 

It hasn't changed.

 

I've only been to the Brandsmart in Deerfield Beach (I-95 & SW 10th). They have a TON of merchandise in the store (so much that it is sometimes hard to manuever around the displays), but they have almost NOTHING of what is advertised.

 

My advise for BF shopping is not waste your time BF morning at Brandsmart. You can shop there anytime. If they have dirt cheap prices advertised for BF, chances are they're not going to have it in stock. Price match it at another store, at least that way you stand a chance of actually getting the item.

 

I did, however, pick up a couple of handy dandy hurricane supplies from Brandsmart. A 5" battery opperated TV for $8, and a 10" battery operated fan for about $15.

[outnumbered]

Great Portuguese!!!

 

LOL...the only other Portuguese I remember from 7th grade is, well, how to call them a son of a ---- and tell them to stick their finger someplace unpleasant. Well, I can say "eshto bem" (spelling????) but other than that, it's the cursing. Funny what sticks with you. I used to know 50+ words. I helped a friend learn English and she taught me Portuguese.

 

Good luck with getting to move here...and how old is your daughter?

[disneytati]

It hasn't changed.

 

I've only been to the Brandsmart in Deerfield Beach (I-95 & SW 10th). They have a TON of merchandise in the store (so much that it is sometimes hard to manuever around the displays), but they have almost NOTHING of what is advertised.

 

My advise for BF shopping is not waste your time BF morning at Brandsmart. You can shop there anytime. If they have dirt cheap prices advertised for BF, chances are they're not going to have it in stock. Price match it at another store, at least that way you stand a chance of actually getting the item.

 

I did, however, pick up a couple of handy dandy hurricane supplies from Brandsmart. A 5" battery opperated TV for $8, and a 10" battery operated fan for about $15.

Really??? OMG... My aunt is so carried away with this store, that I'm having trouble to convince her not to go there first thing on BF. She wants to arrive there at 2 AM!!!

[disneytati]

LOL...the only other Portuguese I remember from 7th grade is, well, how to call them a son of a ---- and tell them to stick their finger someplace unpleasant. Well, I can say "eshto bem" (spelling????) but other than that, it's the cursing. Funny what sticks with you. I used to know 50+ words. I helped a friend learn English and she taught me Portuguese.

 

Good luck with getting to move here...and how old is your daughter?

Man, the first thing Brazilian people teach is how to curse in Portuguese!!!! The correct spelling is "estou bem". It's really difficult to find an American person who knows anything of Portuguese, many people don't even know we speak Portuguese down here, usually people think we speak Spanish.

 

My daughter is 2 years old, her name is Maria Clara. Right now, it's 11:00 PM, and she's eating pizza and watching Barney on the DVD. Wanna see her pictures? Visit my photopage: http://disneytati.fotopages.com

[Gator Pam]

Really??? OMG... My aunt is so carried away with this store, that I'm having trouble to convince her not to go there first thing on BF. She wants to arrive there at 2 AM!!!

I gather your aunt has been there before then? Perhaps you can tell us why she likes it? It may help change our opinion of the store.

 

However, I strongly suggest you check the ads for Circuit City or Best Buy for BF here on the site when they come out. You said you want a camcorder from BrandsMart. Do you know for sure it will be a BF item? You may find the same or an equivalent camcorder at CC or BB, or maybe even Wal-Mart. And, if W-M has it, you can buy it in advance, then go back with your receipt and the BF ad showing the sale price, and get the money refunded. I truly don't know if CC or BB price matches or refunds money from prior purchases on BF, but I know W-M does.

[disneytati]

I gather your aunt has been there before then? Perhaps you can tell us why she likes it? It may help change our opinion of the store.

 

However, I strongly suggest you check the ads for Circuit City or Best Buy for BF here on the site when they come out. You said you want a camcorder from BrandsMart. Do you know for sure it will be a BF item? You may find the same or an equivalent camcorder at CC or BB, or maybe even Wal-Mart. And, if W-M has it, you can buy it in advance, then go back with your receipt and the BF ad showing the sale price, and get the money refunded. I truly don't know if CC or BB price matches or refunds money from prior purchases on BF, but I know W-M does.

She's never been there, but a friend of hers went there last year, and loved it... blah... blah... blah... That's why we are going to Ft Lauderdale, and now she says the whole point we are staying there is to shop at BrandsMart... Anyway, I told her we gotta check the ads and see where we have the digital camcorder. It's on sale now, $199 ($228 with a $20 rebate). She's hopeful that on BF it will be the same price, but without the rebate. I just can't wait to see the ads!!

[outnumbered]

Man, the first thing Brazilian people teach is how to curse in Portuguese!!!! The correct spelling is "estou bem". It's really difficult to find an American person who knows anything of Portuguese, many people don't even know we speak Portuguese down here, usually people think we speak Spanish.

 

My daughter is 2 years old, her name is Maria Clara. Right now, it's 11:00 PM, and she's eating pizza and watching Barney on the DVD. Wanna see her pictures? Visit my photopage: http://disneytati.fotopages.com

She is so cute! My daughter will be 2 in November. You can see pictures of my kids on my member page.

 

Yes, now that I see the spelling I remember. The "s" is spelled that way but pronounced "sh." Or at least that is how my friends pronounced it. I made that mistake at first myself, thinking Brazilians speak Spanish--they quickly corrected me, after laughing at me. I really enjoyed learning Portuguese and wound up taking Spanish in high school because it was the closest language to the Portuguese that I already knew some of already. I wish I could remember more. I think it's funny that the first thing two seventh-grade girls taught their American friend to say was how to swear, but it sure got me interested in the language.