planetdan

Thursday, November 18, 2004 :::

The Shopping Olympics

I wouldn't go anywhere near a Best Buy or a Target on the day after Thanksgiving. I just don't have the chops. Just thinking about the mad frenzy stampede of crazy-eyed shoppers who will do anything short of murder to get a good deal gives me a nervous tummy. But I have to admit, the stores really bring out the big guns on that day. I'm still not going anywhere near those places, but check out these rumored sale specials:

• Best Buy Day After Thanksgiving Specials
• Target Day After Thanksgiving Specials

Good luck to anyone willing to risk death for a discount. And if you're thinking of trying it, let me know. I'll give you a list.

::: posted by dan at 1:46 PM :: [ link ] :: (15) comments

Comments are Closed On this Post

15 previous comments:

Yeah, those after holiday shopping days are insane.
My brother-in-law always goes to those sales after T-giving and X-mas-at 6 am. I had to go one time and I was in charge of the cart and I was totally stampeded by old women trying to get those dangly house lights. I never want to do that again...
but I might consider it for a $8 Spiderman Triple Action Web Blaster. That just sounds like it kicks ass.

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lynne, at 1:33 PM

Ah...Black Friday...a holiday in its own right! I know people who bid for vacation specifically on the Friday after Thanksgiving, strictly with the intention to shop. They would be happy to work Turkey Day to have Black Friday off. Insanity. I am with you Dan, I'll stay away and stay safe!

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pierre, at 2:09 PM

But for the grace of God go I.....into the bowels of shopping hell! But really dan -- $49.99 for either a First Act Electric Guitar OR 4-Pc Jr. Drum Set from Toys-R-Us??? I believe if I'm not mistaken from your blog that your sister(s) have progeny upon which you could bestow such loud and irritating noise makers. Well, maybe it was just my brother that found it humorous to buy my son screaming electric flashing cars that screeched high-pitched fakey versions of sirens to scary dancing/singing Elmos for my non-stop listening delight. That's ok though - payback's a bitch and he has 2 daughters now...ever step on a Barbie high-heel in the middle of the night en route to the john? He has.

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annie, at 2:38 PM

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annie, at 2:38 PM

Dannyboy knows better than to get my kids noisemakers. Besides, it's usually us getting him toys. Still play with the marble tubers?

I don't really see the "great deals" here. I'm pretty sure that a lot of these items have been on sale for these prices (or pretty damn close) for the last couple weeks. Like the Gameboy Advanced SP with Spiderman game. Same price right now as it will be Black Friday. People who fall for Black Friday are SUCKERS! I was a SUCKER once, but no more. At least when it comes to Black Friday.

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Colleen, at 3:29 PM

You know, some people like to make hay when the sun is shining. Like those who have turned getting trampled at Black Friday sales into a sort of "business", like this woman and her sister.

Get trampled. Sue Walmart. Success!

http://www.local6.com/money/2683654/detail.html

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tcarole, at 6:54 PM

Speaking as a person who's worked in retail for over 5 years (though at Mervyn's, a store not quite as big as the others mentioned) I can attest to the craziness that is Black Friday. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that will get up at 3am so they can get to a store and get some cheap ass limited edition ornament/figurine(because some do care about that more than the actual sales...just ask the lady who got her Frosty the Snowman figurine stolen when she set it down to try on a pair of shoes). They drag their poor kids out of bed so that they can get as many free gifts as possible, then make them go shopping ALL day long and then wonder why the kids are crying by noon. Ugh, people, why?
~Maureen

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Anonymous, at 11:09 PM

My sisters do that and I'm not sure why. They totally seem the type who would hate it. What a nightmare. Thank god I don't have many people to buy for.

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Kiddo78, at 11:48 PM

I used to work at Best Buy and let me tell you that is the worst day to work on, I worked in Computer Sales. Talk about lines, b**chy customers. People were outside camping hours before the store even opened.

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ceclipse26, at 7:52 AM

Some of those DVD prices are insane. Granted, why in the world would I want Season 1 of Will & Grace, Buffy, or 24 since I don't think they are all that great. For some reason getting a 5 disc set for $12.99 seems to hard to pass up.

I think it would be fun to wake up early and torment people by blocking aisles with carts, driving super slow in the parkingn lot or getting the free gifts or good deals and then scattering them around the sales floor for others to find.
Alas, I have to work the day after at the Crew. I can't wait to relive the experience. For some reason, being almost 30 and still working PT retail just seems kind of pathetic.

Po' B*

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Anonymous, at 11:00 AM

I work in retail, but thankfully not in the direct line of customer contact (I do the displays that people trash and break). But it always amazes me when people who just spent 40 minutes trying to find a damn parking space start to bitch about long waits and long lines on super busy shopping days. The overcrowded lot? Pretty big tip-off that your shopping experience will be long and painful. Be prepared to wait, or don't come out at all.

Personally, a 30% discount sale on Black Friday is not worth the damage to my sanity... thank goodness for online retailers.

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jen, at 12:09 PM

I also found this on sale at Target and some Amazon reviews of it as well... Any takers?

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Dr. Cookie, at 7:00 PM

OMG--->
Thank you for the Black Friday link! Unfortunately, in my location WalMart is mecca..but they will have the damned $75 videonow.com toy for twenty bucks!

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tangerine, at 9:51 PM

I have tried and tried to enter your Target After Thanksgiving sale ads and was unable to load. I even tried a brand new 2004 eMac--keeps saying system failure. Is this site not user friendly?

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Anonymous, at 10:01 AM

Hmmm, their site must be hosed. I can't get there anymore either. Hopefully it's just temporary. Maybe they are just over their bandwidth. Try it again in the next 24 hours, I'm sure they will fix it by then.

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dan, at 10:11 AM

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