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Staying Safe While Alone In Line


jackpotladi

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I'm trying to convince my husband that I'll be ok waiting in line for 2 days & nights, until others arrive. He's worried about my safety after hearing about shoppers being held up & even shot last yr. while camping out for the Wii. I'll leave credit cards with him until store opens, so won't have anything of value on me, but can others recommend anything else I can do to ensure my safety? I don't have anyone to go with me & I'm very tiny & he's afraid someone will kidnap me or something. Seriously, crime is a real problem around here & even worse during the holidays.
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I'm trying to convince my husband that I'll be ok waiting in line for 2 days & nights, until others arrive. He's worried about my safety after hearing about shoppers being held up & even shot last yr. while camping out for the Wii. I'll leave credit cards with him until store opens, so won't have anything of value on me, but can others recommend anything else I can do to ensure my safety? I don't have anyone to go with me & I'm very tiny & he's afraid someone will kidnap me or something. Seriously, crime is a real problem around here & even worse during the holidays.

Welcome to the community!

 

What store will you be going to? Dont name location but please name store. What time will you be wanting to go there? If you are wanting to go Wednesday night then I would say it is not safe doing it alone. No telling when others would arrive. If you go sometime Thanksgiving Day then I would think you would be safe as other shoppers will be there.

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seems like the lines start forming earlier and earlier each year. I am not happy about that. I wouldn't be suprised if in a couple of years the line starts forming on the Monday befor Thanksgiving:(

 

I wish we could go back to the good old days of starting the line early on Black Friday, like around 4:00am. That way I can veg out infront of the TV after Thanksgiving Dinner; the way God meant for it to be.

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Wednesday night is way too early to line up, let alone going solo at that time. I would say Thanksgiving afternoon is when people should start arriving.

It may or may not be too early to line up. I know last year we had reports of lines starting Wednesday night. I think this year it will be the case where we will see more and more people lining up on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. The reason I say this is because of last years reports and when I did a scan of Black Friday news articles there were already over 60 articles nation wide talking about BF and different BF sites. As we get closer then the media articles will be in more numbers.

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Take a cell phone and and some peper spray. carry NO cash and NO CC cards.I would NOT recomend a female out alone for 2 nights. ONE ok but that first night there wont be enough people around and it seems to be asking for trouble.. Also if you DO go out for 2 night let the store AND the police know you are there....better safe than sorry

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Why don't you pick up a WII now or when ever you see them in a store. They usually arrive at the stores around luch time. I would keep checking the stores.

 

Thats what i'm going to do! I don't think the prices are going to get any better, they are to sort after.

 

Good luck!

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It may or may not be too early to line up. I know last year we had reports of lines starting Wednesday night. I think this year it will be the case where we will see more and more people lining up on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. The reason I say this is because of last years reports and when I did a scan of Black Friday news articles there were already over 60 articles nation wide talking about BF and different BF sites. As we get closer then the media articles will be in more numbers.

 

My Best Buy last year had people in line on Weds night...we went on Thurs morning at about 7:00am and had been second in line until the first people got a call and had to leave so that made us first....but I think that you would be fine going on Thurs morning...during the day and then you would be sure that more people would be there soon...I would not go on Weds night...to dangerous.

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I agree with everyone else. You are crazy to risk it...knowing you are in a high crime area. If it is the wii you are looking for I already got mine. Check the flyers every Sunday morning. When you see it in the flyer go wait in line at the store. The flyer should say how many minimum they have. I do black friday every year, but I would never wait alone overnight. It isn't worth it to risk your safety. Good luck
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I don't think it's a good idea to go on Wednesday, with or without cash or credit cards. People intent on doing a person harm is going to assume that anyone waiting outside a store for Black Friday deals is going to have a lot of cash or credit cards. People have been known to get injured or even killed for not having anything for the thug.
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Take a cell phone and and some peper spray. carry NO cash and NO CC cards.I would NOT recomend a female out alone for 2 nights. ONE ok but that first night there wont be enough people around and it seems to be asking for trouble.. Also if you DO go out for 2 night let the store AND the police know you are there....better safe than sorry

How would she pay for the stuff? Debit card is as good as cash and a credit card. Department cards are still good too.

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I would almost think it would be good to have a little something of value on you -god forbid- just in case. That way you would have something to give up if someone were to approach you.. I know my DH wouldn't be too happy about me going alone, he would go with me. I don't think there is anything in a store that if I was honestly concerned over my safty that I would risk it. If you don't have someone willing to go with you, I may reconsider going.
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I would just wait until Thursay morning. I think it is to risky for you to be out there alone all night and who knows when the next person may come. Maybe if you drive by wed and see people already waiting then you would probably be ok, just because of saftey in numbers, but other than that why risk it.
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I'm trying to convince my husband that I'll be ok waiting in line for 2 days & nights, until others arrive. He's worried about my safety after hearing about shoppers being held up & even shot last yr. while camping out for the Wii. I'll leave credit cards with him until store opens, so won't have anything of value on me, but can others recommend anything else I can do to ensure my safety? I don't have anyone to go with me & I'm very tiny & he's afraid someone will kidnap me or something. Seriously, crime is a real problem around here & even worse during the holidays.

Are you thinking you won't find a Wii before then or that there will be price cuts?

My DD found one last month just while they were out shopping about. So keep an eye out now and maybe you won't have to wait in line.

 

But if you do find the need to wait in line remember no price break or merchandise is worth risking your life or injury. Even if you have nothing of value with you a potential criminal wouldn't know that before they attacked you and if they found out it may provoke them to do something worse to you. Stay home and be safe until daylight- for you and your husband's future. :yup:

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Are you thinking you won't find a Wii before then or that there will be price cuts?

My DD found one last month just while they were out shopping about. So keep an eye out now and maybe you won't have to wait in line.

 

But if you do find the need to wait in line remember no price break or merchandise is worth risking your life or injury. Even if you have nothing of value with you a potential criminal wouldn't know that before they attacked you and if they found out it may provoke them to do something worse to you. Stay home and be safe until daylight- for you and your husband's future. :yup:

I think she was simply referring to the problems that occurred last year when the Wii was introduced.....there were many instances of violence against people who exited with the valued and scarce item.

 

On BF, though, I doubt that there will be anything like Wii problems. In all the years I've camped out for BF, I've yet to encounter a single problem, other than line jumpers.

 

Here's a suggestion......if you have intentions of camping out for an extended period, possibly do drive-bys periodically to check the line or lack thereof....if you live close enough to the store you want to camp out at. Spend the rest of your time at a close-by 24 hr. Wal-Mart or coffee shop or the like.....or use your home as your home point.

 

If your store is too far away to do the above, you could always go to the store and just park in the parking lot and remain in your vehicle, locked up of course, until others appear. If you get bothered by unwelcome people, you can always start your vehicle up and drive off.....and find a cop.

 

:)

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It may or may not be too early to line up. I know last year we had reports of lines starting Wednesday night. I think this year it will be the case where we will see more and more people lining up on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. The reason I say this is because of last years reports and when I did a scan of Black Friday news articles there were already over 60 articles nation wide talking about BF and different BF sites. As we get closer then the media articles will be in more numbers.

thanks Jim, I'll be getting there Wed. around 3 PM, so not sure if anyone else will be there that soon or not. I'm a little nervous about being there alone that first night. I figure lots of people will be coming sooner than last yr. though, judging from all the hype & hearing people talk, but so far, nobody wants to join me on Wed.

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Why don't you pick up a WII now or when ever you see them in a store. They usually arrive at the stores around luch time. I would keep checking the stores.

 

Thats what i'm going to do! I don't think the prices are going to get any better, they are to sort after.

 

Good luck!

I'm not looking for a Wii. I was just stating what happened to people last yr. who were camped out for the Wii. The gunmen went right down the line of people & demanded their cash, etc. One guy refused & so they shot him!

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Well the store should be open on Wednesday at 3 pm - that is for sure so I wouldn't worry about then. I think that if people see you there that early there will be a good chance you will have someone join you that night. You can also "tip" the news station about how early "someone" is standing in line for BF and they will be hanging around to film for a while which will also alert the authorities to you out there as well.

 

Frankly I am of the opinion that if someone wants to commit a crime they are going to do it regardless of who and where. If everyone was afraid then why go shopping during the holiday's alone heck people get mugged going to their cars. You can't stop living life. I would tell your dh if he is so worried he should go with you, although that probably wouldn't stop anyone dead set on potentially mugging you. Lot of criminals carry guns and don't have any problems holding up a man either.

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Why not wait until Thanksgiving? Can you try a different store in a different area? That gunman was bold if he went down a big line of people - that's for sure. One thing about BF is that the police are usually hanging around and if that crime happened during Wii time then chances are they will be out in full force during line waiting on BF. You could always call and ask at the police station. Just mention the Wii incident and see what their plans are for BF to keep everyone safe.
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Wednesday night is way too early to line up, let alone going solo at that time. I would say Thanksgiving afternoon is when people should start arriving.

Its a good idea if you are living on a place near Mexico´s frontier. For example, San Diego, Laredo, Mc Allen.

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It may or may not be too early to line up. I know last year we had reports of lines starting Wednesday night. I think this year it will be the case where we will see more and more people lining up on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. The reason I say this is because of last years reports and when I did a scan of Black Friday news articles there were already over 60 articles nation wide talking about BF and different BF sites. As we get closer then the media articles will be in more numbers.

Maybe stay in your car until others show up?

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depends on what neighborhood you are going to.

 

when i first read the topic i thought it was a bit silly. i do understand there might be some concern from your husband, but personally i don't see anything to worry about.

 

the only questionable place i would have concerns over is walmart, but i have concerns for my well being there on regular business nights. ;)

 

again, that all depends on where you live, etc.

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Wednesday night is way too early to line up, let alone going solo at that time. I would say Thanksgiving afternoon is when people should start arriving.

This doesn't apply to Los Angeles, California. People started to line up at 9:01 PM after the store closed on Wednesday night.
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