Friday, November 28, 2008

BLACK FRIDAY

Never in my adult life have I set the alarm and hit the stores at the unreasonable hours of 5am or 6am on this, Black Friday. But after looking thru the mountain of ads in Thursday's paper I ventured out this morning. However, I did not set the alarm, I woke up naturally about 7:15am, got up & got dressed, fed Gabi, had my bowl of cereal and left the house about 8:10am. I had three stores in mind....Half Price Books, Target & Best Buy. I got what I wanted at all three stores and was back home by 9:45am. So now I know, that getting up at that ungodly hour is not necessary.

They say the economy is bad, but the parking lot at the Mall and the three stores I went to were all full. People we circling the Mall parking lot like sharks and I had little trouble finding good spots at the three stores I visited.

And my approximate wait time to get checked out was 12- 15 minutes. So it was not a bad experience like I expected. I think the trick was NOT getting there at the early opening hour and having to wait in line for the doors to open. Sure I didn't get the freebies handed out to the first 100 people, but I don't care~I got what I wanted at excellent sale prices and that's all that matters.

I know some of our friends in Bloggerville, like Linda down in southern California work in retail and were up at o'dark thirty this morning, to go to work & put up with the obnoxious early bird shoppers.....I hope they survive the day.

How about you? Did you get out there & get some good deals? Or did you stay home & snuggle in your nice warm bed?

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. I went to my brother & sister-in-law's home along with my son and the new woman in his life. We had a great day and plenty of good food. We ate early so I was back home shortly before 6pm in time to feed the hungry kitty that lives here with me. Bob went to Enumclaw for dinner at the home of his #2 daughter & family. He also had a good day as daughters #1 & #4 were also there with their families.

I don't normally ever take a nap but I think I'm going to gather up Gabi and go take a little nap. Until next time.....Linda

19 comments:

Julie said...

I have never gone out on black Friday. I hate shopping with a passion and on good years have most of my shopping done by now. This however is not a good year so I haven't started. I admire you venturing out. I hear one man got trampled to death. Unbelievable.

Julie said...

I have never gone out on black Friday. I hate shopping with a passion and on good years have most of my shopping done by now. This however is not a good year so I haven't started. I admire you venturing out. I hear one man got trampled to death. Unbelievable.

BlueRidge Boomer said...

I was up early getting the specials on-line....hate crowd,too! Just me, the computer, 2 dogs, 1 cat, a cup of coffee and a credit card......then had to go to work.....ugh!!!

Jan said...

As long as you got what you set out for at a good price I consider that a jolly good days shopping and yes a nap is in order ,Im wondering what it was you bought ? perhaps you cant tell because some of it is for presents lol ..love Jan xx

Sugar said...

you know i didn't get out. wouldn't if i could've. lol
never on black fri!!!
huggies...

Lori J said...

Oh my goodness Linda is that what today was called??
I know that I have observed a lot of stores with good sales on but no give aways.
I remember when we were in retail and way back then you only had a sale at the end of a season whereas now it is so different.
I have requested my family pool our $$ we would spend on gifts for the adults and either buy a goat, mosquito nets or adopt a family.

Love and hugs.

Alberta LORI

Lisa said...

I haven't ever done the black friday shopping experience except on line, if that counts. I can't actually remember the last time I went out Christmas shopping. I've been shopping on line so long now.

It sounds like it wasn't too bad for you and I'm happy to hear you got what you wanted.

Lori J said...

Oh Linda, I just read where a worker in a Wal-Mart was killed when they were trampled by shoppers.
That is SO pathetic..

Ljj

betty said...

LOL Linda; great minds think alike; I wrote about Black Friday today on my Frugal Friday and asked people if they had ventured out. stop by my blog and leave a comment (even your link to this entry) and you'll be in a drawing for a gift card from Dairy Queen (visit me by Monday night).

glad your shopping experience was a good one! I had to work which was fine since I wasn't going to go out anyway to shop. I used to enjoy when the kids were young to go and watch all the people scrambling around

so glad you had a nice Thanksgiving too!

betty

Chrissie a.k.a. HoneyB said...

No Black Friday shopping here, but my youngest daughter had to open Bath and Body Works at 5am and had to work the register until 5pm and only got one break. She said it was a mad house. They projected to sell $70,000 dollars worth of stuff in one day.
Take care, Chrissie

Marie Rayner said...

We don't have Black Friday over here but lots of retail outlets are slashing their prices like crazy, just to get people in and buying. Glad you had a lovely thanksgiving!

garnett109 said...

I rather wait till the after christmas sales

Linda said...

I think that is the trick too. John and I didn't get to the stores till after 8 either since we went to eat first. We didn't have a long wait anywhere we went. Glad you had a good Thanksgiving. Linda

Jimmy's Journal said...

I think that's about the time I got home Friday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jimmy

D said...

I stay away from the stores on black Friday... especially this year. Glad you got what you wanted and that your holiday was good
hugs

Robin said...

Going to the stores at 4 am is for those who relish in the thrill of the hunt, the freebies, the crowds gathered outside the store, talking and laughing with the people in line with you...it's like a club. You share stories of black Friday's past the smokin deals you got, the fights you avoided etc...

I have done it with friends and just had the best time ever. It is for crazy people for sure! LOL

Skipped it this year...didn't go to the stores til way into the afternoon and even then people were circling for parking spots and parking in the grass up on curbs and so on.

Glad you got your items and it didn't take long to get in and out. I once waited in a check out line at Toys R Us for over 30 minutes!

Kelly said...

I just can't bring myself to go out amongst the masses of people. I am glad you didnt have a tough time venturing out though. Its definitely becoming book and nap weather nowadays isnt it. :)

Joyce said...

Not my cup of tea...however, I did get up at 4 to get my g/kids so my daughter to do the do. She said she would never do it again. Glad you found some bargains.
Hugs, Joyce

Linda :) said...

poor economy or not, we made over $100,000 more this black friday than last... almost $900,000 for our store for the day... and our online orders were second only to amazon...
in shoes we did $48,000 for the day, with men's shoes being $26,000of it...