What’s your shopping plan for “Black Friday?”
Photo by uggboy
As Thanksgiving approaches, stores are beginning to gear up for their big holiday sales and “Black Friday”—one of the biggest (if not the biggest) shopping days of the year. With the economy slowly starting to recover from the recession, retailers are hoping for a prosperous shopping season, and shoppers are looking for a great deal.
If you’re not interested in battling the throngs of shoppers that flock to the stores on Black Friday, perhaps waiting for “Cyber Monday” is more your speed. Similar to Black Friday, Cyber Monday refers to the first Monday following Thanksgiving, when many shoppers return to their offices and click online to continue their holiday shopping. Many e-tailers offer free shipping, online discounts, and other deals on this day to lure shoppers to their websites.
With just 22 days until the start of Hanukkah and 36 days ’til Christmas, the holiday shopping season is nearly here. (Looking for a Black Friday Survival Guide? Stop by Shine for a few tips on how to weather the sales!)
Do you typically go shopping on Black Friday? If so, do you make it out for the early sales or do you visit the stores later in the day? Or, do you avoid the stores altogether and wait for Cyber Monday? Tell us your holiday shopping habits by leaving a comment!
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To shop online.
Im gonna try to get everybody there christmas gift!!!!Wish me luck!!=)
I never go anymore because lines in the stores are impossible and to me isn’t worth the time and effort to get that good deal out there. I avoid this day at all costs, thanks!
Well, I usually either make homemade gifts for Christmas, or I go shopping on Christmas Eve. So I do niether, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday.
Ugh… Black Friday. Those two words bring back horrifying memories of my step Mom dragging us girls to the mall for some power shopping starting at four A.M. Everybody else liked it but me who tried to hide with my Dad and his buddies in the garage, a ploy that always failed.
Some people go for the deals, some go for the adrenaline rush. There’s nothing scarier than watching a soccer Mom and her female relatives down double shot lattes one right after another while coniving on how to skip in line without getting busted. Sorry but I don’t like crazy people body slamming one another for the last tree skirt or the hours long waits in front of the store. To me it’s complete insanity and not worth black eye from the fist fight you tried to break up to get something on sale.
Personally I prefer to do most of my shopping in January for the next year when I can (you can find some awesome deeply discounted holiday “leftovers” then) or I try to buy between July and October from physical retailers. Other than that I shop on the net… I can do it from home, in my undies if I want, and never have to worry about the insanity which is called Black Friday.
I kicked ass last BF and plan to do the same on this one.
Only 10 hours to kill
My shopping was done weeks ago. No cattle call for me..:O)…
I’m broke but I will get specific people things for X-Mas. I won’t be participating in either of these (especially Black Friday).
I know what it’s like on that day because I worked at Wal-Mart years ago during it. Kinda busy but not as busy as X-Mas.
I work go in 11:30pm turkey day doors open 12 don’t get off till 11
I plan to stay home. I used to work in retail and saw what customers are like. It is just not worth it. Good luck to all of you that plan to shop on Black Friday.
i usually go at 4 in the morning but there isnt really anything to buy because the store that i go to (abercrombie, hollister, aerie, american eagle, forever21.. etc.) they dont have a lot of sales. but this year, i’m planning to go to target and walmart with my mom and get some good stuff!
At this moment keep my eyes out for the best deals as they appear and purchase only what i can afford to with out credit cards.
i just have to buy 1 thing because we are doing a Secret Santa thing…
I will NOT be buying anyone anything for christmas and asked all my relatives and friends not to by me anything.
At a time when everyone is broke and complaining about CEO bonuses and corporate corruption, I feel i would be a hypocrit in participating in the hype that will only lead to them getting a bigger bonus, while we all don’t recieve any raises because, “The economy is sooo bad”.
This year I am shopping at Kmart, Sears, and Toys-R-Us!
What is the point? I stay home! There’s still weeks to go. Why try to get all your presents in one day at the same time as everyone else? Seems DUMB to me. I’ve never gone and probably never will.
Hehehe…nothing says “mother-daughter shopping” than shoving people out of the way at Target and Kohl’s to get the marked-down stuff. I’ll be doing both Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year!
I know there are a lot of great deals and all that on Black Friday, but I don’t go. I get too impatient waiting in long lines and from what I hear, how people act ‘different’ than normal. I typically do my shopping before Thanksgiving or sometime after. I don’t mind waiting and paying a little more because chances are the product will be in stock and there won’t be a huge line.
My plan is the same as it has always been – I go nowhere NEAR any stores on this day.
I do most of my shopping at small, family owned stores anyhow. I also refuse to give ANY money to a store that starts decorating/advertising Yule before Thanksgiving. It makes it very easy to shop!
I go every year and have been going since I was old enough to hold my palm out in my stroller at mervyns (back when it existed) I love going down here in the south cause everyone is really nice and not pushy like up north. Someone bumps you they say sorry and you say its ok. Everyone gets in line and doesn’t trample other people. I’m going for resale items that i can make a few bucks on closer to christmas with everyone doing their last minute shopping.
I buy nothing.
My plans are to stay home and keep out of everyone’s way until after the crazy holiday is past, and all the insanity in the stores and parking lots have calmed down.
To shop at Macys!!
to shoppe til ii droppe lol! and to goto wal-mart and live there…til 11am..or until the lines die down.
The day is also called Buy Nothing Day and that is what I celebrate.
I plan to do as much of my shopping online as I can because I HATE the store experience around the holidays. They’re putting up Christmas decorations and playing carols already, a week before Thanksgiving, owing to pressure from the local merchants, and I started to see Christmas-themed goods appearing before Halloween.
I don’t like the heavy emphasis on materialism that has come to surround this holiday, but it is hard to know what to do about it. I’ll go back to shopping locally once the decorations come down; that’s my little act of protest.
You know, I always hear people complaining about how rude and obnoxious people are on Black Friday, but in the two years I’ve gone, I haven’t yet had a bad experience. Sure the stores are crowded and the lines are long, but the stores will be packed regardless from now until Christmas. I might as well take advantage of a good deal. My husband and I save all of our change throughout the year and place it in a gallon jug – the weekend before Thanksgiving we take bets on how much we think is in there and then we cash it in for use on Black Friday. I love Black Friday shopping, but I don’t like buying things without actually seeing them first – and I don’t shop on “Cyber Monday”. Besides, you get the better deals in the stores. My husband and I have gone out the past two years in a row, and this year my sister and brother in law will go Black Friday shopping with us for the first time. This year I’ll probably go to Walmart. I’d like to get some sheet sets, a Kitchenaid mixer, gifts for family and some other little things. Happy shopping!
3:00– wake up
4:00– leave house
5:00– hit up Kohls
7:00– Hit up Walmart
9:00– Hit up JcPenny
10:00– hit up outlet mall
11:00– brunch
12:00– hit up main mall
1:00– done
I always totally avoid that day. Always have and always will.
My friend and I go every year. We don’t necessarily have to get anything that day. We both enjoy being out in the hustle and bustle. There is no pressure to get any certain item. We go for the fun of it.
I plan on going to the stores and sell my product to the people in line.
Well, I plan on trampling over as many people as possible. I’m the guy with the belly hanging out under the shirt and the trucker hat who brings taco bell to his wife who is in line for the DVD players….I am the old lady who hits you with her motorized carts on the way to the cookware… I am the sweaty, unemployed fat kid with the chair waiting next to the video games counter… I am the one of the six members of the family that all come as a group and each sit next to a doorbuster TV that I found out becuase “meye sisdur tammysue over in the hot foods deli told me that danny in hardware was unloadin’ trucks and seen a special that most foaks ain’t hurd about yet so w’ere git there errlay en sell ‘em out ein the parkin lot right after we git ‘em”….I am the fat woman that runs once a year, to anything that is having the plastic covering ripped off like a zombie hoard eating the last remaining humans – without even knowing what it is….I am the woman that looks nice enough, until I quickly swipe that special item out of your cart that you waited in line for…I am the guy that first knocked over the sale rep that was then trampled and sent off in an ambulance, all because I wanted to get to that dvd bin, pick up a flash drive, and a Black Friday Obsolete Computer special with an outdated MoBo with unique and fazed out processor pin set and old ram hidden by a fancy oversized price tag with a too-good-to-be-true price tag on it.
On second thought, I think I’ll stay home this year.
I can’t stand dealing with crowds of noisy people, so now I get my shopping done by the day BEFORE Thanksgiving! I only have ONE more gift to buy, and I’m getting it this weekend!
Sometimes, getting it done ahead of time pays off; NO fighting over stuff to buy, NO getting up early, and I get to enjoy the holiday season!
I do not shop from November 15 thru January 8 for anything except groceries. I’ve had this rule since 1989, and my stress level is very low this time of year.
I normally get to the store about an hour or two before it opens. Pass out free donuts and coffee(laced w/laxatives) and wait in back of the line. When the store opens I just walk up to the deals I want, while everyone else runs and fights for the restroom
I’m going to shop on Black Monday online. It’s a nightmare in the stores.
Probably do my usual game plan with my Nan, and hit the store the moment it opens. Thankfully the main one we plan on going to will be doing mapping of where the special items will be located. Which will be a big help on getting a new Blu-ray player. =-)
Sleep
Yeah… I love BF! I get up and out. Here, San Jose, the stupid mall doesn’t open til 7 am!? But I’ll be there. I drag my friend along with me. In return I have to buy her Starbucks. Our mall has it all, so its a one stop deal. I love it! LOVE IT!!!!
We are have a block long yard sale.I hope we sell everything,but if we don’t,we will take the left overs to Good Will.:):)
never any shopping for me. too drunk from all the food and goodtiming the day before
i dont know my plans yet but i do wish to go to old navy. so will see when that day gets here
I plan on staying away from the stores! There is nothing I need so badly that I will brave the chaos of Black Friday to venture into the stores that day. My gifts will all be hand-made this year, anyway.
My plan is to stay home
I will be in my house, feet up, watching QVC and shopping online
There is no way in hell I am ever dealing with Black Friday again. I got shoved onto the floor by some nut who obviously needed that toy more than me! I can’t stand rude people and almost everyone is rude on Black Friday – even when they’re driving!! I say no thanks to that ever again!
i absolutely avoid the day as much as possible. I bake holiday treats and send them for gifts or usually hit up my local mall right before christmas. i will not shop on black friday no matter what ploy the store may have. but i wish anyone who is going good luck
I sorry, you said “the economy slowly starting to recover from the recession” – what country do you live in?
You meant to say, America is in a 4-year presidency recession, economic recovery will start in 2012. Right?
Do you read your feedback?
Now is the time to focus on important values – family and friends rather than materialism. How many gifts have you received that broke or were discarded less than a year after getting them?
I believe that gifts should be thoughtful – not junk. I often go shopping Black Friday and plan to this year, but in a very controlled way, only buying quality items that are genuine deals and are actually useful. The problems and stress happen when people get frustrated and start buying items they don’t need.
Actually, I really support the idea of “Buy Nothing Day” instead, but as someone who works for a nonprofit at a less than fair wage, the sales on that day help me buy a few things I had been saving for. If you make a decent wage or have to bring young kids with you, Black Friday shopping probably is not worth your time anyway.
Also, why are so many people into Walmart?! A horrible company for local economies. With the economy in trouble, why not support businesses that care about their workers – so many stores will offer deals that the 43 cents savings is not worth it (plus the ridiculous crowd!).
I find that the small and thoughtful gifts are more memorable than the expensive ones anyway. Try getting something small and personalizing it with a nice note with a memory, or what made you think of that person when you got it. For example, I love salsa and my coworker gave me a cute salsa recipe book with a little salsa dish. I was amazed that she remembered (after maybe mentioning I like salsa once) and I always think of her when I serve salsa at parties. Get something people will actually use!
Let’s not get all tied up in the holiday season and forget that there are others that are less frotunate. There are children out there whowill wake up Christmas morning to receive nothing but a harsh reality that they got nothing for Christmas except for a painful memory. Let’s remember those who are less fortunate and keep in mind It’s the season for giving.
Personally i’m going to try to avoid the crowds this year and do most of my shopping online.
I found a good article with tips on how to shop online this year on Black Friday & Cyber Monday…here is the link:
http://www.covertsurfer.com/safeshopping.html
Got to work.
Erin is right; Walmart is an EVIL company. Believe me, I should know; I used to work for them as a cashier (but NOT during the holiday season, thank goodness!).
Chris is right,too; we also need to focus on charity. I just donated a bunch of stuff to charity this week, and most of it was toys. I figured that kids would need them, and I needed to have a closet again, so it works out for the both of us. Remember, charity isn’t just for the holidays; it’s all year round.
I never go out of the house on Black Friday, not even for a trip to the convenience store. Between the traffic and tense people, it’s just better if I stay at home. This year I’m planning to put some stuff up on eBay as I understand Black Friday has impacted internet sales over the past couple of years but apart from that nod to the fray, I’m going to be sitting on the sidelines.
I hardly go out for Black Friday, If I do it is only to see the crowds and other shoppers! I like to see what the trends are for the local stores!
I rather buy everything online during like cyber monday instead of going to a brick and motor store. Not much hassel, no traffic, no long lines, just a click and bamm!
This is the first year that I think I will be sitting outside cold, tired, and anxious. All i want is a laptop. Everything else is irrelevant to me lol. If i can’t get a laptop on black friday then cyber monday is the next option (and absolute last). It sucks that I won’t pig out on seconds and lounge around the house after thanksgiving dinner though.
I have already bought my Christmas cards and stamps. And thats it. I am going to call my close friends and family to wish them all a happy holidays. But I am up to here with the over the top commercialized holidays. On November 26th we are having a normal dinner and we will give thanks just like any other day.Stop running on the hampster wheel peolple your getting no where but further into debt, and fast!
im gonna go to the mall
wont be going i got fired from walmart will not go black friday =h e doublehockeysticks blackball walmart on black friday would sent shockwaves like your really gonna miss out its one day be strong do it
My plan is to watch as the body count grows from all the greedy idiots who will be out there trampling and killing each other to save a few extra bucks. The real holiday spirit sure rears it’s ugly head on Black Friday. So much for peace and goodwill towards men(and women).
My plan is to wake up incredibly early (probab. 4) and hit a few department stores at 5 for the ‘early bird specials’. Then, to the nearest mall by 7. My mom and i go every year and spend HUGE amounts of money, but normally get double or even triple the merchandise we usually do. I admit, it IS a pain; but man, is it worth it!
Good finding, everyone!
I’ll go to Gamestop and buy some games since that have some discounts apparently
Stay home and keep my money! Nothing is worth the lines and self-serving rude people. Seriously, Christmas is about giving gifts of love to those you love, not about who can get the best deal. I prefer to keep my gift-giving to a minimum and heartfelt gifts anyway.
I went to Macy’s last year on BF, just to see what was on sale…there was a trail of shoes from the store leading into the mall. Girls were fighting left and right for a pair of shoes and employees were going nuts.
…I go for the sheer entertainment of what is true human nature, how beastly we can become.
Im gonna go, video tape it, set up secret camara’s and show it all on youtube… Im giddy thinking of last year and the flying turkey’s at the local shoprite.. I almost peed myself while on my knees watching 60 year olds attacking each other with their crutches and stuff.
I don’t have any specific items in mind to get, so I won’t be one of those early morning people. However, I may get out later in the day to see the general craziness. Times like Black Friday and Christmas Eve are excellent opportunities to sit back and people watch.
I rarely shop on this weekend, I sleep in and start the Christmas decorations. What little money I have to give family and friends will probably be given in a gift envelope. Too many need help with rent, food and meds.
I’ll stay home. Somebody else can risk their life…being trampled to death at WallyWorld isn’t how I want to go.
I do go shopping each Black Friday. It gives me a chance to shop for my friends and get good deals in the process.
I find the terms “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” to be offensive, one racially & the other sexually.
“Black Friday” implies the only day blacks can count on being able to afford anything is the one day a year when they know prices are going to be slashed dramatically, while “Cyber Monday” implies a specific day of the week set aside for people to engage in cyber sex.
I think we need to take a closer look at what we are conveying with some of our modern lexicon, and take a stance when such things are improper.
I just decided to replace my old computer, so i’ll be computer shopping, and if I happen to run into some other deals to good to pass up, then i’ll buy them also.
I get up at 3 in the morning, get so me some Starbucks and head out to fight all the crazy soccer moms!
Hahha
The last few years I have a different shopping
plan.I pick up gift cards for my grand children
I make a tray of goodies for each home and a
occasional friend.Then the week after Christmas
I have no trouble finding lovely gifts 1/2 priced
everywhere I go.
i don’t think waiting @ 5 in the morning outside a building in the cold is worth it. if anything, i’d be shopping online.
didnt a person died by this called Black friday ? omg people are stupid and companies are more retarded. i hope not to see in the news some one dying for a toy or a tv. plain stupid
get your self straight and lets fight this poor economy
I’m staying home with a cup of Hazelnut Creme coffee and a good book. There’s nothing out there that I want badly enough to go through all that!
I’m staying home, and not spending a penny. I hate going out the day after Thanksgiving. The stores are way too crowded. And I really can’t afford to go shopping anyway. Will be spending the day watching movies and spending time with family.
Basically, I get a lot out of the mobs of distressed people haha I’m up for seeing someone fighting over a parking space, alright? Plus, I just go for the day, I don’t shop (that’s for the other 30 days left to shop for X-mas. I’ll just go to eat mabe cinnabon OOhh or a frickin sushi roll LOL my fav.. but i’d say MACYS THISIT for teenzzzzzzzzzz
I plan to stay home. I do not get many Christmas gifts, and those I do, I can get on line.
Here’s the game plan:
9am: wake up and get ready for the day
10am: leave the house and find a place to park
11am: Start working at Kohl’s for the next 9.5 hours
8:30pm: punch out, go home still not understanding why people need to shop at 4am in masses like herds of cattle when BF doesn’t always have the best sales stores have to offer.
Have fun all!
To go to work, then go home and drink the rest of the night.
I don’t do Christmas, so I’m going to stay home and watch movies and avoid the traffic.
Yeah I’m saving up all my money sooo on black FRIDAY I CAN GO CRAZY WITH HE MONEY EVERYTIME I SEE A COMERCIAL ABOUT BLACK FRIDAY I FREAK OUT AND START SCREAMING AND FULL OF EXITMENT!!! Waking up @2:00 am CANT WAIT!!!!! !!!
I looked thru all the ads in Sunday’s paper for Black Friday and some the electronic ads I received this morning in eMail and I have to say there’s really not a whole lot that grabs my pocketbook which is locked pretty tight. I’ve spoken with a number of others and they are either planning cash/gift cards or homemade items because money is so tight.
First year shopping this Black Friday with my mom and probably her friend and her baby. But, after reading some reviews im wondering if its worth it?
I’m not sure I’d count out those still thinking of homemade gifts. I looked thru all the ads in Sunday’s paper for Black Friday and some the electronic ads I received this morning in eMail and I have to say there’s really not a whole lot that grabs my pocketbook which is locked pretty tight. I’ve spoken with a number of others who are in the middle class strata of American and they are either planning cash/gift cards or homemade items because money is so tight and such a need for others.
Stay home.
i want to go shopping! we’ll see what happens!
i’m staying at home and doing my shopping on line .
funnily enough i’ve noticed a lot of stores are giving bigger discounts on the following monday .
here’s my favourite online shopping site.
http://www.centsible.net/
Skip it! I wait till Cyber Monday, way less hassle and better deals.
Avoid it. Don’t have any money to spend anyways.
When I lived with my parents we shopped all and every week-end. We probably went to one of the big shopping centers in Denver, but I just thought that the businesses and schools were closed and nobody had anything to do, being so happy to overflowing with happines because of Thanksgiving, that I tried to be extra nice to folks. They were nice too. Trust me my family survived fabulously. My mother still goes. I just think oh no the Library is closed, my hang-out. I’d go shopping but I have everything memorized. I’ll probably just stay home. Happy Thanksgiving Yamster, I hope you get to watch to Macy’s parade.
I Christmas shop all year long, hitting sales at small, independent local stores. I find great stuff. I would NEVER get up before dawn the day after Thanksgiving to fight the crowds and chaos. I stay at home and do cards or wrap gifts.
lol i love how everyone hates black friday! more deals for us…anyway i love the husle and busle of black friday. Me and my mom will be waking up at 2:30 leaving at 3:00 and shopping till like 5 or 6. then we come home and go back to bed, then hit up the main mall, lunch…then back shopping! its so much fun
This is my first year shopping on black friday. I am so excited!! I am waiting for my bff to get here to pick me up now! Toys r us at midnight! Just for the fun of it. I can’t wait to see the crazy moms! If I don’t get anything I don’t care. I’m going for the entertainment!!Happy shopping people!!
Fishing, pier fishing
i was born in 13th friday!
I have a love-hate relationship with digital memory because of the way prices are always,and I mean always dropping. I absolutely hate buying SD Cards for my R4 / R4i at (what seems to be) a cheap price only to see it become a whole lot cheaper a few weeks later.(Submitted using NetPostv2 for R4i Nintendo DS.)