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Best Buy Black Friday Ticket System, FAQ and Sample Ticket

bigjimslade

By bigjimslade
in 2008

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bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi everyone! I did this last year so I will do it again this year. Below is everything you ever wanted to know about how tickets work at Best Buy (BB) and a picture of a sample ticket so you will know what they look like.

 

FAQ:

 

What is a ticket at Best Buy?

 

A ticket is a paper that BB employees will pass about 2 hours before the store opens. The ticket holds the product for the ticket holder for the item on the ticket until 11am local time on Black Friday. BB does this to cut down on fights and riots in the store.

 

What are the tickets for?

 

No one really knows what BB will put on the ticket system for BF. In the past they have been for items that are in high demand but have limited stock for. In the past few years items included desktops, laptops, cameras (Digital and SLR Film), MP3 players, GPS, TVs (HD, Plasma, LCD, Tube), Printers, and sometimes household items like washer machines.

 

Is the ticket system company wide or just a local program?

 

The ticket system is a company wide system. The tickets come from BB HQ and are sent under strict security to the stores about 1 week before BF.

 

 

When do they pass out the tickets?

The tickets are passed out the morning of Black Friday about 2 hours before the store opens local time.

 

What happens when they pass out the tickets?

About 2 hours before they open the doors for black friday Best Buy employees will come out of the store and start at the front of the line. One BB worker will have a ticket for an item. He/she will start at the front of the line and go down the line saying "Who wants the $149.99 desktop?". He/she will give each person a ticket until the BB employee runs out. Once the tickets are gone for that item then that is it for that item. BB employee will do this until all of the ticketed items are gone or until they have reached the end of the line.

 

Once I have a ticket what happens next?

 

You wait......You wait until the store opens. The BB worker who gave you the ticket will explain to you where to go in the store to pick up your item. Most BB will close there customer service desk to make room for all check out lanes to be open so pay attention on where you are told to go to pick up your item.

 

Is there a limit on how many tickets I can get?

 

Most ticketed items are one per a person per an item. For example if you want 1 desktop and 1 digital camera then you will get two tickets. If you want 2 of the SAME item you wont be able to get it since there will be a limit of one per a person. Some stores will even go the extra mile of checking ID's so be ready to show your ID if asked.

 

Can I get out of line after I get my ticket?

 

My advice to you would be no. At the BB last year the manager told us and the 6 police officers in FULL tactical gear that if anyone leaves they lose there place in line and ticket.

 

What time should I get in line for a ticket?

 

It is hard to say since I don't know what you are wanting to get and where you live. Last year (BF 2007) people started to form lines at BB around 10pm Wednesday and by 12 noon Thanksgiving Day there were already 300 people in line. Most of the people in front of the lines wanted the laptops, desktops and TVs and they were college and high school students. It all depends on the weather as well. My advice....get there early.....Turkey is over rated!

 

Is there anything else I need to know?

 

Keep your eyes on this thread. I have sources at BB that will give me updated info if needed. Also remember that BB HQ gives local managers the power to customize the ticket system to fit there own store and community. This FAQ is only created as a guide only. If you have any more questions please post!

 

This FAQ will be updated throughout the BF season. Below is a sample ticket from BB.

 

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m207/davedfw/gottadeal/bbticketbf2005.jpg

Edited by bigjimslade
bigjimslade

bigjimslade

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I love thier system. Worked great last year. If I have the money and there is anything I want / need, that's where I will be.

They have one of the best systems in the industry. That is why I will only shop at BB. I know things will be in order and fair for the most part. I have noticed last year other stores have taken a page out of BB play book.

bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
  • Author
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I wish they would add a "take a number" when you get there so the holding spots and line jumpers would not have a chance.

I dont know what it is like at your BB but in most BB lines the people inline police the line really good. You could bring your idea to your local manager and see what he/she says.

Bunniq

Bunniq

Posted
Posted

Thank you for the information. This is the first year I will be in the market for Best Buy type items.

 

I need all the help I can get!

bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you for the information. This is the first year I will be in the market for Best Buy type items.

 

I need all the help I can get!

You have anymore questions? Just post them in this forum. Welcome to the community!

dad2trips

dad2trips

Posted
Posted

My BB near Cleveland last year had one catch with the ticket system. When they came down the line they did not ttell you what tickets they had, you had to tell them what you were there for. Really a stupid twist as I had about 6 ticket items I ws going for and had to cal off each item to each sales person very frantically. I was first in line, but one rep still managed to slip by me with the camera ticket I needed. Good thing I heard a person 4 or 5 down in line say camera and reeived teh ticket. i was able tocall the rep back before they moved on and gave them all away.

 

Looking forward already to this year!

bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
  • Author
Posted

My BB near Cleveland last year had one catch with the ticket system. When they came down the line they did not ttell you what tickets they had, you had to tell them what you were there for. Really a stupid twist as I had about 6 ticket items I ws going for and had to cal off each item to each sales person very frantically. I was first in line, but one rep still managed to slip by me with the camera ticket I needed. Good thing I heard a person 4 or 5 down in line say camera and reeived teh ticket. i was able tocall the rep back before they moved on and gave them all away.

 

Looking forward already to this year!

i was second in line and encountered the same problem. i almost missed the picture frame i was looking for but like u got lucky and caught them a few ppl back.

Wow. I never heard of that. At my BB and the BB's I have been to have always sent out store workers who have announced what tickets they had.

iamcraftier

iamcraftier

Posted
Posted

Hey Mayor Jim, at my BB I've seen (for a couple of yrs now) the first few people online start an electronic list for the first 50 or so people online. Actually works very nicely.

 

Last year, after BF, I was number 1 in line when the WII deliver were being sold. I personally kept the line in order. Seemed to make a big difference in the moral, as people came online I unofficially assigned numbers (didn't even let my sister cut the line since she showed up 2 hours after me). Also got BB manager to keep me updated so I could keep the line updated. (Think they remembered me from BF ????) :cheesy:

 

I was voted Mayor of the day on our line and offered a job for crowd control by BB!!!

 

............gotta love the adreneline rush !

dad2trips

dad2trips

Posted
Posted

Every year someone at my BB store black friday line starts a list of who is in line to maintain the order. Usually its someone around 15th to 20th in line because they fear people will cut close to opening time. I guess it would be dificult to really police that being back 20 people. However, every year the manager comes out an hour before the tickets and says, 'I don't care what list you generated, the line is what it is and we will be handing out the tickets in about n hour.' I guess I see his point. If you have a list of 25 people you have potentially ten times that of people who could protest it.

 

My BB store manager has been there at least three years now. I plan on talking to him a few weeks before BF to ask him if he will handle it the same way and offer him my humble opinion about it.

 

GeneralMario - Curious what BB you were at that did the same thing as mine. Are you in NE Ohio?

bigjimslade

bigjimslade

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I have never actually been to BB for BF on account of having to leave my house way earlier than needed haha.. but I am planning on it this year. Any tips for a first timer? :)

Welcome to the community!

 

It all just depends on where you live. If you live in a big city I would say you should get at your local BB store by 6am on Thursday. You should expect to camp out so get yourself a tent.

 

The best thing you can do is stay on this site, read what others have to say, ask questions and contribute when you can when others have questions.

 

If you have anymore questions just post!

  • 2 weeks later...
BFNinja

BFNinja

Posted
Posted

New here to this great forum as well as camping out at BB on BF for the first time!!!

 

I was just wondering if someone could tell me if BB has certain rules regarding the number of tickets family members can get. Reason why I ask is because my wife and I are going to be camping out at BB and we were wondering if they would give us both tickets of the same item or only give us one because we are married. I know we could easily say we are not together but I remember hearing that some stores will ask to see your ID. We both want laptops and just wanted to know ahead of time if we would even have a chance at getting them if we are lucky enough to be one of the first in line.:D

 

Thanks in advance!!!

bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
  • Author
Posted

New here to this great forum as well as camping out at BB on BF for the first time!!!

 

I was just wondering if someone could tell me if BB has certain rules regarding the number of tickets family members can get. Reason why I ask is because my wife and I are going to be camping out at BB and we were wondering if they would give us both tickets of the same item or only give us one because we are married. I know we could easily say we are not together but I remember hearing that some stores will ask to see your ID. We both want laptops and just wanted to know ahead of time if we would even have a chance at getting them if we are lucky enough to be one of the first in line.:D

 

Thanks in advance!!!

Welcome to the community!

 

Each BB follows the same rules that are put out by corp and are listed in the ad. I have head some stores putting a 1 per a family limit on items and other 1 per a person. Also some managers will go as far as checking id's in line. What I would do is about a week before BF I would go into the BB you plan to shop at and talk to the manager. Once you talk to him get his/her name and if there is any problems you know who you talked to.

 

I hope this helps!

  • 3 weeks later...
cambo357

cambo357

Posted
Posted

the sample ticket here has NOT been standard at all BB stores for all years. here is what I have seen:

 

2004 and 2005: cheap photo copy slips, on both white as well as colored paper. it had maybe a poor quality image of the item, a text description, price, and a line where an employee initialed it. this was for all vouchered/limited qty items. once vouchers were had, you could do as you wanted. some people sold/traded them. most just stayed in line until the start of the race. and yet once inside, there was more wait. you had to to go the computer area, wait in a long ass line there, to get your comp. then they had a consultant try to upsell you on everything. even after that, somehow, they were "out of the cheap ones." but they somehow had plenty of them that had been pre optimized, securitized, unintalled, virus proofed, etc, for only $200. they said the voucher actually meant nothing. in total, my crew was getting about 6 laptops and 4 desktops. after much fighting, we finally won. we know it was just a scam, as the add ons are very profit padding.

 

2006: employees came out with a clipboard, and had the qty of the items. going down the line, they took names of those who wanted a particular item. no tickets were handed out, or at least not for the really hot items. what they did hand out to everybody was very similar looking to the ticket here, but it was more of a flyer. as in, hey, you can add these items to it for really cheap. but since names were taken, it was not going to get you anything. doors opened, you shopped for your other things, then went to checkout. at checkout, you told them you had your name on the list for whatever items. somebody came over, verified your name, and brought it to checkout. no being out, no upsell, nothing. this was nice, really cut back on the scalping of them. I think it might have slowed down checkout some though.

 

2007: not sure, would have to ask my friends. I got detoured by a girl, and that story is not for the tender virgin ears we might have here. suffice it to say, I missed some deals, but had a much better time than in line.

 

this was at BB stores in Riverside and Corona, CA.

 

-Cambo

theblackdragon

theblackdragon

Posted
Posted
Last year I got in line at 6:15 PM on Thanksgiving day and waiting in line on the coldest night of the 07 year (27 degrees and windy) and still did not get the $299 computer.:eek: I was #36 as I remember and they sold out at about 21. This year, if I find something I want, I am bringing a tent and getting there at noon on Thanksgiving day!:tongue1:
bigjimslade

bigjimslade

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Last year I got in line at 6:15 PM on Thanksgiving day and waiting in line on the coldest night of the 07 year (27 degrees and windy) and still did not get the $299 computer.:eek: I was #36 as I remember and they sold out at about 21. This year, if I find something I want, I am bringing a tent and getting there at noon on Thanksgiving day!:tongue1:

Good luck and welcome to the community!

 

If you have any questions about BB on BF please post!

  • 3 weeks later...
cc1824

cc1824

Posted
Posted
One yea the good stuff was in a room and we had tickets to get it after being in line for hours and then someone stole something out of someone else's cart while waiting in line, well needless to say thta is the lowest of the low! They finally caught the person, locked down the store and what a BF it was, no one in or out for other bf sales elsewhere, I hate BB and avoid it even if deals were free not worth the hassle.
Nate Dogg

Nate Dogg

Posted
Posted

What do you guys do for food? I'm probably camping out from Wednesday night, and propane is preferred.

 

My wife will be bringing me food through out my time in line. I will mostly have chips and soda to tide the kids over between meals. I would definately recomend bringing some sort of heater, though. I have had one since 2004, it attaches to the top of my propane tank and makes you lots of friends... plus you can carry it with you when the line starts moving.

 

 

One yea the good stuff was in a room and we had tickets to get it after being in line for hours and then someone stole something out of someone else's cart while waiting in line, well needless to say thta is the lowest of the low! They finally caught the person, locked down the store and what a BF it was, no one in or out for other bf sales elsewhere, I hate BB and avoid it even if deals were free not worth the hassle.

I had my own bad experience last year. Will not go back to Anderson, SC BB for anything, even on non-BF days. The past 2 years they have managed it very poorly... last year they told the crowd they did not care about any line and they would give the tickets to whomever got to the employees first... when the police threatened to clear the lot (I thought for sure there was going to be a riot) they decided to re-create the line. Hopefully the one we go to this year will manage it better.

  • 4 weeks later...
TazErase

TazErase

Posted
Posted

Hey Mayor Jim, at my BB I've seen (for a couple of yrs now) the first few people online start an electronic list for the first 50 or so people online. Actually works very nicely.

 

Last year, after BF, I was number 1 in line when the WII deliver were being sold. I personally kept the line in order. Seemed to make a big difference in the moral, as people came online I unofficially assigned numbers (didn't even let my sister cut the line since she showed up 2 hours after me). Also got BB manager to keep me updated so I could keep the line updated. (Think they remembered me from BF ????) :cheesy:

 

I was voted Mayor of the day on our line and offered a job for crowd control by BB!!!

 

............gotta love the adreneline rush !

We make a list here too. Makes it so much easier and Best Buy respects the list and appreciates that we do it and make it much more orderly than it had been years past before we started lists. We are actually let into the mall where they hand out the tickets as you enter the hallway to the mall. The person who made the list reads off the names and Best Buy makes sure we enter as our name is called. The only thing that sucks is even though my nephew stayed on line all night with me, they would not give him the tickets for the items my sister asked him to get because he wasn't an adult (12 at the time). I was able to get him some of the tickets I wasn't going for myself but even though he saved up himself for the laptop they would not give him one :(

TazErase

TazErase

Posted
Posted

Last year, it was Duncan Donuts Coffee and ..... that is about it.:yup:

Same here, lol. And some bagels.

 

Thanksgiving dinner while waiting on line for Best Buy : Coffee, coffee, donuts, more coffee, bagels, more coffee, oh, and did I forget coffee? lol

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