jaymacfla Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 http://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/campers-already-out-beaumont-awaiting-black-friday-deals-0 As indicated on the webcast this evening, there are already people lined up at Best Buy. This may be a record. I will also try to find out if this is the location that sent the last person packing in 2013, as many management companies have now set time limits.http://cdn.patch.com/users/1396761/2014/11/545d90fdcaec3.jpg
jaymacfla Posted November 9, 2014 Author Posted November 9, 2014 They are a part of a multifamily group who has been doing this for 6 years now. Last year, they arrived on the 14th.
jaymacfla Posted November 9, 2014 Author Posted November 9, 2014 You can actually track down old news reports on these ladies. It used to be quite a thing to go camping the week prior to Black Friday. I remember when Brad featured the group in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area of Florida a few years back, but this has to be the earliest start time and actually shows an extreme amount of dedication. Notice how few supplies are laying around. The trick is that they trade out, and do this in shifts. To say that they are actually camping is a stretch of the imagination. They are merely holding spots. Where are the tents? Our group always has to field questions due to others in California who "Line hold" and do not sleep overnight like we do. The reporters always find it fascinating that we actually stay the entire time.
ObiRich Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 Must be nice to have nothing else to do than that. I bet when the store opens, their little group of placeholders grows from the two to a dozen or more. 2
jaymacfla Posted November 9, 2014 Author Posted November 9, 2014 Must be nice to have nothing else to do than that. I bet when the store opens, their little group of placeholders grows from the two to a dozen or more. They currently are known to have 10 members from 3 families.
misstaken Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 This is interesting. They would be frozen solid if they tried that here without some kind of shelter, even just going in shifts. It snowed last night! 2
julz0420 Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 Holy Crap!!! That is crazy. Best buy ad isn't even out yet lol. We are looking at lows in the teens next week, along with a rain/snow mixture next weekend. I couldn't do that.
bribri25 Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 Yeah, I just told my DW there were campers already and then said that ad wasn't even out yet. Noone can ask them what they are standing in line for, because they don't even know!
shopping4my3son Posted November 9, 2014 Posted November 9, 2014 Honestly I think it's beyond ridiculous. Almost 3 weeks ahead of time is a bit much. I think they are in it for the attention. 5
stacya Posted November 10, 2014 Posted November 10, 2014 yes, the fact that they don't even know what they are camping out for is ridiculous...I agree with PP, it's all for the attention...so what happens when the ad comes out and they realize it's crap, and they don't need anything in it? Not impressed by stupid people... 1
ObiRich Posted November 10, 2014 Posted November 10, 2014 They currently are known to have 10 members from 3 families. And 1 hour before the store opens, all 10 of them will show up and want their "saved" places in the line. 1
jaymacfla Posted November 10, 2014 Author Posted November 10, 2014 Don't people work?Being a camper myself (actually having real camping equipment with me) I get asked that question for the few days we are out there. A few years ago, the question was raised in the Florida Times Union where the Question was "Three days in line for a $199 TV?" It really doesn't matter how long the people stay out there. the questions will always be the same.
Bopeep Posted November 10, 2014 Posted November 10, 2014 I understand camping out for a few days, if that's your thing. I can't see it ever being my thing. If I'm camping out, there's not going to be concrete under my tent, and there better be a lake withing walking distance, LOL. Because of that, I have to say my time is worth too much to me to spend 3 weeks in front of Best Buy.
Nate Dogg Posted November 11, 2014 Posted November 11, 2014 I say, except for the occasional bathroom break, make them stay in line the whole time. That is what we do. I got in line on a Monday one year (I always take my vacation that week whenever possible), then when the ad came out there was nothing we wanted so we broke camp. The people behind us were super upset since they came out days early because they thought we knew something they did not. It will always make a good story, though. 8
bribri25 Posted November 11, 2014 Posted November 11, 2014 I say, except for the occasional bathroom break, make them stay in line the whole time. That is what we do. I got in line on a Monday one year (I always take my vacation that week whenever possible), then when the ad came out there was nothing we wanted so we broke camp. The people behind us were super upset since they came out days early because they thought we knew something they did not. It will always make a good story, though. Lol!!
Spice9195 Posted November 11, 2014 Posted November 11, 2014 Being a camper myself (actually having real camping equipment with me) I get asked that question for the few days we are out there. A few years ago, the question was raised in the Florida Times Union where the Question was "Three days in line for a $199 TV?" It really doesn't matter how long the people stay out there. the questions will always be the same.A few days is perfectly fine but 22 days? Unless they're selling new cars for $100 then no way. 2
brandibug Posted November 12, 2014 Posted November 12, 2014 This is for nothing more than attention. It almost makes me wish that camping out were no longer allowed and people would get run off until an hour before store opening. It's kind of ridiculous. I wouldn't want people loitering around the entrance of my store for days. 2
bribri25 Posted November 12, 2014 Posted November 12, 2014 I want to see the store go out there one night on the week of BF and while they are sleeping, put a new sign on the other side of the door "LINE FORMS HERE". 9
jaymacfla Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 http://www.jrn.com/fox4now/news/Campers-setting-up-shop-for-Best-Buy-specials-on-Black-Friday-282641531.html And the Silver goes to .......Florida!!!
riven3d Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 http://www.jrn.com/fox4now/news/Campers-setting-up-shop-for-Best-Buy-specials-on-Black-Friday-282641531.html And the Silver goes to .......Florida!!!i dont call him a real camper either, he says he has a FT job where he will leave the camp site to go do his job. 1
jaymacfla Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 When people trade out, there is a problem from the purist's viewpoint. I will stay the majority of the time,(showers, you know) along with a few others. The only reason they can do this so far out is to trade out, which would make anyone mad because they are manipulating the system. If you have been able to trace the last 3-4 years in Fort Myers, then you would know that two other families were in competition with each other. This guy was there, and was #3 for the last two years running. It is a classic case of one-upmanship. You either have to yield and go to a less competitive spot, or arrive earlier each year.
jaymacfla Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 With Florida now reporting, will our Diehard campers from Ohio be far behind? We will see who takes the bronze this year, so stay tuned!
gabrielaerojas Posted November 18, 2014 Posted November 18, 2014 IKEA in Miami did something pretty strict when the store opened this August. The line to get a free sofa started on Monday at 5 am I believe it was (the store opened that Wed), they wouldn't allow you to trade or leave your spot, only bathroom breaks, and you couldn't even sleep in your car. And there were security guys "scanning" the lines to see if someone had left, traded, etc. I wonder if these rules are a bit a strict or if they should be somewhat put into practice during Black Friday to try to be "fair"? What do you guys think? 1
zoemonstr Posted November 18, 2014 Posted November 18, 2014 Trading out is ok as long as it is for 1 space in line That way they can only get 1 of everything not 10 and sell them on ebay. That way it not just the homeless or unemployed that get what they want. 2
jaymacfla Posted November 18, 2014 Author Posted November 18, 2014 The problem with trading out is that stores do not normally enforce rules especially if the people are well known to the store. The other person trading out at Best Buy in Florida goes by the name Valentine. 1
jaymacfla Posted November 20, 2014 Author Posted November 20, 2014 http://www.keyt.com/news/dedicated-shoppers-already-camping-out-for-black-friday/29776738 Yet another California entry into the Fray from Santa Maria.
conj Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 IKEA in Miami did something pretty strict when the store opened this August. The line to get a free sofa started on Monday at 5 am I believe it was (the store opened that Wed), they wouldn't allow you to trade or leave your spot, only bathroom breaks, and you couldn't even sleep in your car. And there were security guys "scanning" the lines to see if someone had left, traded, etc. I wonder if these rules are a bit a strict or if they should be somewhat put into practice during Black Friday to try to be "fair"? What do you guys think? I misread that at first and wondered what the big deal was about a free soda... definitely over the top for a carbonated beverage. 2
Rockfordmom Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 I thought it said "soda" too, I re-read it 4 times. I was wondering who would sleep out for 2 days for a soda! LOL 1
Recommended Posts