Okay so it's 4:09 p.m. and if you haven't headed out yet odds are you have decided to batten down the hatches and avoid the glorious adrenaline filled rush of blatant consumerism that can only be Black Friday. It can also only be American, my Canadian and British friends do NOT understand this phenomena, there is something about the comradery of the crowd outside a big box store at three, four in the morning, our bellies still filled with turkey, our eye on the prize.
As what I would call a veteran of the Black Friday shopping wars, (I was there for the great Target double door disaster of 2007, as well as the blizzard of '05) I would like to offer a few tips in case you were thinking about joining me in the year's greatest retail pursuit next year.
They are in no particular order:
1. STRATEGIZE, STRATEGIZE, STRATEGIZE. Know well in advance of heading out just what your after. Websites like
http://bfads.net will leak the Black Friday sales ads of any retailer worth hitting days, typically WEEKS in advance. Go ahead -- sign up now - they'll email you next fall as new ads become available.
2. SHOP IN STORE CLUSTERS. Once you've scoured the ads and know exactly what you want, map out where you'll go -- try and get as many stores near to each other as possible, and pay attention to the store opening times. Time spent driving back and forth across town is time wasted my friend. I shop in two sections -- end of town A, then end of town B.
3. RECOGNISANCE IS NOT JUST FOR THE MILITARY. So go ahead and send out the calvary. It's no secret that MOST Black Friday stores are closed Thanksgiving so head out for once last trip Wednesday night -- after all, you probably forgot the t.p. or the rolls or something anyway. Take this opportunity to wander the aisles at your favorite store, MANY times door buster items are not in their traditional location and you don't want to be wasting time looking for those displays in the morning. By 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Wednesday doorbuster displays are going up so keep your eye out. Also more and more stores are putting maps of the weird locations right out on their website -- Target will pass them out in line outside!
4. If you will be waiting outside for a store to open (which in all likelihood you will be spending at least SOME time outside) dress in layers. This is worth repeating: DRESS IN LAYERS. IT may be 20 degrees outside and windy but inside you will be hot and sweaty. Dress in layers that are easy to shed, but also easy to carry.
5. CARRY YOUR WALLET ON YOUR PERSON. A purse, in a mad crowd is just asking to be stolen, dropped, or caught on something. When you are reaching through a fixated crowd for the last $3 electric chopper on the shelf you don't want your Coach handbag catching on a nearby display of Grandpa slippers and taking you down. Besides, in the end your purse becomes just one more thing to carry. Take my word for it -- leave it at home. For that matter, unless it's necessary for communication leave your cell at home too. (Or at least in the car -- no one you know is up at 3 a.m. unless they are also Black Fridaying it and if they are I promise -- they aren't calling you. Odds are you won't be able to hear on it anyway.
6. THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT BEST BUY. Here's the thing about Best Buy, it's not for the weak at heart. Black Friday confession #1,347: I will not go to Best Buy on Black Friday. It is rarely, if ever worth my time, and here's why: If you must go to Best Buy be prepared to wait. For that matter,be prepared to camp. Yes, there will be people in line with tents, ice shantys (yes I saw ice shantys) and RVs in the parking lot. You will miss your entire thanksgiving dinner and the entire night afterward in line. And that is only the beginning of the wait. Because Best Buy cashier stations are so clogged by the never ending onslaught of warranty and replacement offers at the lane within minutes of store opening the check line will wrap throughout the entire retail location and unlike at other stores, where the line moves at a refreshing pace considering -- at Best Buy you WILL be in line a minimum of 3 1/2 to 4 hours. I do not kid, thus ending any chance you have of hitting any other door buster deal that day. Rarely is a delve into electronic hell worth that kind of hassle, but if you do decide to brave it, know ahead of time that it will be your ONLY stop.
7. SHOP WITH A FRIEND. When at all possible, go with a friend or two. Enough friends to have a place holder in line, but not so many that you get burdened down getting everyone coordinated. It's fun to have company as you inevitable contemplate your insanity for attempting the mission, it's fun to have someone to create a protective shield of elbows as you reach beneath that slow person's legs for the last $6 Barbie. But to many people in the group create chaos so keep it to a few, or be prepared to separate and meet up later. Also, holding a place in the checkout lane for a few friends is a well accepted practice, holding a place for nine is not. ;)
8. AVOID THE CART. It's a hindrance, it will create more space between you and what you want and let's face reality here: You will not be able to move anywhere. There is simply no room in the Black Friday aisles for carts, or strollers, or buggy like shopping carts (think at Kohls) Grab what you need, and head to the check out -- it's a common site to see fellow shoppers playing "video game chair soccer" as they use there feet to shuffle the giant boxed chair toward the checkout. This is a good time to have a friend in play -- if you have a co-shopper once your "must haves" are in hand let someone grab a cart, a buggy, an empty display case and hold all the "stuffs: in line. But be sure to get the cart holder's list so you can grab the items he or she may be forfeiting to play guard to all you stuff -- other shoppers may or may not respect the boundary of your cart so keep hot items at the bottom and an eye on the cart.
9. MAKE USE OF YOUR LINE TIME. Inevitably no matter how well planned the store is, you'll be spending time in line, and those line usually wrap through the entire store. So grab the hot deals you have to have, head to the back of the serpent like line and feel free to keep shopping -- passing a sweater that looks great for Aunt Sue at a fab price, make a tower of your doorbusters lean out and snag it. Passing through the health and beauty section at Target -- do a mental check -- no one needs deodorant or toothpaste right? After all, you're there you may as well!
10. Most importantly remember to HAVE FUN. It's the shop-a-holic's Christmas and they're out in full force. Everybody loves a bargain, and everybody hates a jackass. ;) Yes the lines are long, yes the stores are crowded, and no -- you can't get there an hour after they open and get the hottest door buster in the place. You knew this going in, so don't complain about it now. Black Friday shoppers, despite their reputation for bar style brawls, and torch bearing mobs are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered at the mall. Sure they're crazy and they know it. :) Just don't get between them and the $2 DVDs.
10. You are you, my Charlotte, and you are the very best you that you could be.
