Share Your Story & & Win Black Friday Survival Kits [Winners Posted]

[Brad]

Time for the next forum contest!

To be entered to win, reply to this thread and share one or more of your past Black Friday experiences. It can be something crazy that happened, a particularly good or bad experience at a store, a great deal you scored, one of your annual Black Friday traditions - anything you want!

Contest will be open until 11pm ET on Wednesday, October 9th. I will then randomly choose 10 members who entered and you'll win a Black Friday survival kit.

Limit of one survival kit prize per member but if you win you are still welcome to enter future contests for fun.

For more info on the Black Friday survival kits we're giving away this year (including the bonus mystery prizes inside), see this thread.

[Bopeep]

So many memories.  

 

A few years ago, we had received SO MUCH RAIN. And it rained all day Thanksgiving Day. There was about 3 inches of water standing in the parking lot at Walmart. I literally had to go buy a package of dry socks (I don't remember if I bought a pair of shoes also). It was a good thing Walmart was our first stop .

 

Another weather related memory was from years ago, when the sales started at 5:00am.  I dropped my sister off at Toys R Us, and the line went out to the street (I'm still not sure why they didn't wrap around the building) and left to go somewhere else. I'm not sure why, but her coat got left in my car. So she's standing out in the freezing temps, in the sleet, waiting on TRU to open their doors!  Good times .

 

Then there was the time...Oh, and another time...And then that one time...

[vern28]

I started going black friday shopping at 18 but really made it a tradition with my mom a few years later. If we didnt have the money to shop we would people watch for the pure excitement of it. She passed almost 4 years ago on Nov 21st and I wasnt going to go but my friends persuaded me to go in her honor(the wake was actually on black friday) and I'm glad i did because I would have regretted not going for her.

[magickallight]

Annual Black Friday tradition: Get rid of the family on Thanksgiving and stay up all night shopping on the computer.

[Kanyon71]

Mine has been stay up all night to make sure that the stores/items are marked online for here, buy some things I need while I'm at it and then sleep 2-3 hours get up and go out shopping with my wife.

[his_lil_gemini]

I started BF shopping with my mom when i was a teenager. I thought i was a pro. Well about 6 years ago we were standing in line to pay at Target and I started getting extremely hot. Having on a hoodie and then a coat over that I decided to take off the hoodie and tie it around my waist. I held the coat. I was still feeling so hot. I could feel sweat forming in my hair. It was the weirdest feeling ever. My mom told me to go sit down as I was starting to get very light headed. She finally got to pay and she was telling me to get up and lets get outside in the cold air. I told her i couldnt, but i tried anyways. I remember standing up, grabbing her shoulder and then woke up on the ground with so many people around me! I passed out! first time in my life. A paramedic happened to be one of the by-standers, said i could have locked my knees, blood sugar dropped etc. They gave me water and crackers someone had in their purse. I was able to get up, we walked out, i felt fine and we kept shopping! Thankfully it has never happened again. It sure scared my mom and now every year she makes me bring a snack

[MariahA]

I started BF shopping when I was 13 or 14, and I remember the very first time we went it was still when the stores opened at 4am. My mom and I blasted Christmas music driving to Walmart where we met my sister and her little girl. Mom kept the cart with sleeping two year old, we went for $10 puffer coats and she slept on the pile of them.

[MariahA]

And a few years later, I got shoved into a movie display and got my arm stuck. Thanks 6'3 guy in a dirty tank top, trying to arm sweep all the movies

[speeddiva]

I took my kids BF shopping when they got to around 13. My sons were getting bored so I told them about people hiding stuff around the store in the days before BF to retrieve when the prices went down.

They had to go on a treasure hunt then...they came back about 10 minutes later with a coveted PS4 they found hiding beneath the women’s jeans [emoji23]

[HanShotFirst]

I started BF shopping when I was 13 or 14, and I remember the very first time we went it was still when the stores opened at 4am. My mom and I blasted Christmas music driving to Walmart where we met my sister and her little girl. Mom kept the cart with sleeping two year old, we went for $10 puffer coats and she slept on the pile of them. And then everything else was either on the seat part of the cart or the bottom. My sister and I were the ones getting stuff and bringing it the cart. Small Town Walmart, it was and usually still is pretty tame aside from the first 5 minutes.

Nothing better than a small-town Walmart for Black Friday.  I've been doing it for years and the only issue I've ever noticed was the towel tossing one year.  People were hurling those things like nobody's business.  We witnessed it from the checkout line.  The cops finally had to step in and bring order to the towel display.  LMBO!

[tracy0504]

I dont remember what I did last BF let alone over the years [emoji23][emoji23]...but I do recall about 3 years in a row going to Kmart for a coveted advertised item and after getting there at 4 am and standing outside in the freezing cold the managers coming out to pass out tickets and claiming the truck that was carry XYZ hasn't come in due to the weather...i felt like it was a "bait and switch" on several occasions...Kmart memory making comes to an end this year as our last one in my area is set to close in Dec...

[MariahA]

Nothing better than a small-town Walmart for Black Friday.  I've been doing it for years and the only issue I've ever noticed was the towel tossing one year.  People were hurling those things like nobody's business.  We witnessed it from the checkout line.  The cops finally had to step in and bring order to the towel display.  LMBO!

The towels and the pillows cause a fight almost every year at this one. I heard there was an actual pillowfight a few years ago. Otherwise it's pretty tame expect for the year of the Hatchimal.

[colemandawn4905]

I took my daughter for the first time when she was 13. Back then the store was closed and became a mad house when those doors opened so we always had 1 person grab a cart and the others ran for the items on our list. Chelle wanted so badly to get her brother and sister the uno attack. She ran as fast as she could n scooped up the last one. As she was walking towards me an elderly woman walked up to her grabbed the game and ran off. The look on my daughters face was hilarious. She was in shock the woman an olde elderly woman grabbed it n ran. Once the shock wore off all she could do was laugh. I laughed too once. Made sure she was ok. Lol

[colemandawn4905]

So many memories.

 

A few years ago, we had received SO MUCH RAIN. And it rained all day Thanksgiving Day. There was about 3 inches of water standing in the parking lot at Walmart. I literally had to go buy a package of dry socks (I don't remember if I bought a pair of shoes also). It was a good thing Walmart was our first stop .

 

Another weather related memory was from years ago, when the sales started at 5:00am. I dropped my sister off at Toys R Us, and the line went out to the street (I'm still not sure why they didn't wrap around the buildings) and left to go somewhere else. I'm not sure why, but her coat got left in my car. So she's standing out in the freezing temps, in the sleet, waiting on TRU to open their doors! Good times .

 

Then there was the time...Oh, and another time...And then that one time...

 

My rain story was sitting in front of Toys R Us. It was pouring and we were in line for several hours waiting for who knows what at that time. Even with an umbrella we looked like drowned rats. Water soaked up to our knees from our jeans touching the ground. Coat soaked. It was crazy. Then we had to go into the mall after to shop. I was never so embarrassed seeing those who didn’t wait in the crazy line n looked fresh n well rested. Lol [emoji23]

[HanShotFirst]

I took my daughter for the first time when she was 13. Back then the store was closed and became a mad house when those doors opened so we always had 1 person grab a cart and the others ran for the items on our list. Chelle wanted so badly to get her brother and sister the uno attack. She ran as fast as she could n scooped up the last one. As she was walking towards me an elderly woman walked up to her grabbed the game and ran off. The look on my daughters face was hilarious. She was in shock the woman an olde elderly woman grabbed it n ran. Once the shock wore off all she could do was laugh. I laughed too once. Made sure she was ok. Lol

LOL!   Old ladies can be ruthless!!!  :)

[kellis4321]

Around 7-8 years ago, i was BF shopping for college room essentials for my daughter.  Stuff like towels, sheets, decor, microwave, etc.  I could not let her go with me so i got my husband to go. Needless to say, when we went, we overslept so I was rushing like crazy.  We went to Target and he got in what he thought was a line.  Come to find out, we were not in a line at all!!!  A very nice gentleman let us go in front of him and we only waited like 5 mins to check out.  WOW!  Then on to the mall, JCP i got everything we went for plus some.  We also found parking up front by the door.  These things never happen to me!  Only with him.  I told him that he would have to start coming with me now cause he has all the luck.  He stated "I will NEVER do this again."  So far I have not been able to get him to go again.  LOL

Edited October 3, 2019 by kellis4321

[starbeck96]

The towels and the pillows cause a fight almost every year at this one. I heard there was an actual pillowfight a few years ago. Otherwise it's pretty tame expect for the year of the Hatchimal.

We live in a small town and a few years ago someone actually got arrested because of fighting over the towels..lol.  The year after that, they had police officers handing out towels, 2 towels per person..lol.

 

A funny story.  We always go to our local Walmart first and then we go out of town to finish our BF shopping.  I avoid the area with the towels because it just isn't worth it.  After we'd gone to all the other stores in the other town, we went to their Walmart.  There, sitting in the middle aisle, was a whole huge box full of towels and a huge box full of bathcloths..lol.  This Walmart is in a college town and I guess no one wanted towels/bathcloths..lol.  So, I was able to get as many towels/bathcloths as I wanted.

Edited October 3, 2019 by starbeck96

[Gator Pam]

My first Black Friday I decided to go out since moving to the Pacific Northwet, I went about 3:00 am to Fred Meyer. There were cars in the parking lot with engines idling, but no one was lined up. Not having done BF here before, I parked my car and took the first spot in line. Engines were turned off and people started lining up behind me.

 

No one complained about me snagging the first spot in line, and those of us waiting had the typical bonhomie and comradeship of die hard BF shoppers. But, I've felt a little guilty ever since...

Edited October 3, 2019 by Gator Pam

[tyreejames]

Black Friday 2006, KayBee Toys was my first stop. I was in such a rush when the mall opened the doors (you then had to stand in line at the store before they actually opened), that I hopped out and locked my car (manual locks only). Only problem is my keys were still in my car [emoji33] I didn’t even waste time thinking of my options, I went and got in line and got all of the things I was there for. While in line, I had my future DH go to my mom’s house and drop my spare keys off on his way to work. I now make a point of placing keys in my crossbody before exiting the car, lol.

[ISU ME]

I think my favorite part of black Friday shopping is going to Walmart a couple hours after the craziness dies down and hunting around for things that people have dumped in random places.  We usually are able to find most things on our list!

[colemandawn4905]

I think my favorite part of black Friday shopping is going to Walmart a couple hours after the craziness dies down and hunting around for things that people have dumped in random places. We usually are able to find most things on our list!

Never thought of that but I’m gonna try it this year. I usually get most things but if I don’t get something im gonna try goin back later.

[BFAddict716]

My mom was literally elbowed a few years ago at Walmart trying to get towels for my grandmother. I dont get it. I think those towels are terrible. We made a rule...no more Walmart towels allowed on the list. So not worth it.

[budgetsRsexy]

I still remember the year my dad finally caved and agreed to come out BF shopping with me. He thought I was being ridiculous as I wrote down the plan of attack Thanksgiving night (“it’s just shopping, not a military strike”, shows you how little he knew) and that I was exaggerating as I gave him the rundown on what to expect while in the car on the way to the stores at 4 am. He didn’t start to take me seriously until he saw the lines formed outside the stores and as he overheard the other conversations while we waited for the doors to open. He definitely had a deer in the headlights expression in the first store but as the morning went on he really got into it and we had an amazing time together. I will never forget him getting home and walking in the door with all our loot. He yelled to my mom “come see all the shopping I got done for you! I got some great deals!” I had a hard time not rolling my eyes as he went on and on regaling my mom with a play by play of that morning. He would have had you think that going shopping was all his idea and that he planned out the entire thing! I still give him crap for that [emoji12] He has been my BF shopping partner ever since and I wouldn’t give it up for the world though.

[bluebear]

My mom and I had been shopping together for several years when my sister decided to join us. On Thanksgiving she checked the ads and made her list. We met at 6 am and decided to go to Staples first, because that's where she wanted to go. As we were walking up I asked what she was planning on getting. "Oh, I was thinking some crayons and coloring books for the kids, and I'll look and see what else I see." Oh dear, she had no idea.

We went in, she looked at the lines and people, and decided she could get crayons anytime (they weren't on sale).

For the next couple years she still used BF as her casual browsing/shopping by herself (away from kids) day. Drove me crazy. Now I get almost everything done online before Thanksgiving dinner, so I just go and let her shop and browse.

[Elmck]

One year I was at Best Buy in Chesapeake, VA. Waited outside for a few hours but thankfully was able to get almost everything from there that I wanted. So I go to get in line and of course I'm talking to those around me. I am not sure how long we stood there. But come to fine out it wasn't a line at all!! Thankfully an empoyee realized and got us all straight. My kids to this day tell  me," Hey, Mom, make sure you get in a good line!" 

[bossy1]

One of my favorite memories is when my oldest son and daughter( 13 and 15) got a BF reality check. I have to preface this with the fact that I have raised my children to open doors, give up their seat and in general show respect for their elders. On to the story,while finding their assigned items working as a team the were run into from behind by an older lady, as they turned around to make sure all was ok, she proceed to give them a dressing down for not running over the people in front of them to get to the next item on their list, then she proceeded to do just that.  My children were shocked when they told me all I heard was" Mom , what could we say or do , she was a little old lady?" At this point in time I had to break the news to my kids that on BF even little old ladies were beyond ruthless and though I still expected them to be respectful and kind ,they could (when BF shopping only) get their product  before worrying about the person after to them . This one incident is what my children still reference when they talk about BF shopping.

[hillbillyswife]

When my sister and I first started back Friday shopping, we were waiting for Walmart to open pallets with Cabbage Patch Kids on them. There was this very young girl that was opening the pallet, when it was time she started to open it, everyone started to charge at her so she climbed up on top of the boxes as people were grabbing the dolls, throwing them to others etc. The poor girl was terrified and was yelling for everyone to stop. A gentleman helped her down and cleared a way for her to get threw. It was crazy

[chester5]

With the change to online deals instead of in-store Black Friday deals (except for Menards!) I have earned the "you are nuts" award from my friends.  My ex has the kids Wednesday evening through Black Friday every year, so I honestly get up for every BF online deal, buy what I need, then nap until the next hour's deals begin.  So, I'm up at midnight for one store, 1am for the next, and so forth.  

[colemandawn4905]

One of my favorite memories is when my oldest son and daughter( 13 and 15) got a BF reality check. I have to preface this with the fact that I have raised my children to open doors, give up their seat and in general show respect for their elders. On to the story,while finding their assigned items working as a team the were run into from behind by an older lady, as they turned around to make sure all was ok, she proceed to give them a dressing down for not running over the people in front of them to get to the next item on their list, then she proceeded to do just that. My children were shocked when they told me all I heard was" Mom , what could we say or do , she was a little old lady?" At this point in time I had to break the news to my kids that on BF even little old ladies were beyond ruthless and though I still expected them to be respectful and kind ,they could (when BF shopping only) get their product before worrying about the person after to them . This one incident is what my children still reference when they talk about BF shopping.

Oh those little old ladies r ruthless on BF! [emoji23] I swear I’m gonna rent one for this BF so they can help me get my stuff and no one does anything to them because they r old n cute lol

[jaymacfla]

2018 Black Friday. Walmart was the place to shop. Never in a million years would i have said that, but it was true. they offered everything we wanted including the phone deals and TVs galore. "Did you want one or two 65" TVs?" was the catchphrase. I was blown away. We even got the hot toys for our grandson. I am looking forward to not camping out if Walmart brings it again this year!