Black Friday

[Noleman]

Well guys, another "Black Friday" is upon us. I was wondering for those of you who are married, what does your wife think of this and does she get out there in the early am to shop?

Noleman

[ScottinCrimea]

My wife has been hearing all of the stories about Black Friday and it seems someone has her convinced that on that day you can buy a top of the line TV for $50.  So she dutifully informed all of her family and friends of this and we now have orders that we buy somewhere in the neighborhood of two dozen of these $50 specials and ship them to Ukraine with the appropriate adaptors.  Of course she wanted me to camp in line the night before to be sure we had first choice.

Now a couple of days ago the ads came out and despite my attempts to set her straight, she read to me over a phone an ad that showed a $1459 TV with the low price of only $79.  Now I was sure I had looked at this same circular and never noticed such a thing, but of course this was due to my "not paying attention".  She was practically out the door setting up my tent outside Target.  Luckily I convinced her to at least wait until I got home and could see this ad for myself.  So okay, I saw the ad.  It was indeed a $1459 TV and at the bottom it did say, "...for the low price of $79".  The minor detail she had overlooked was the two words before this, which were "extended warranty".

I was blessed in that she was ill and lacked the physical strength to push me out the door at midnight into the 20 degree temps.  This morning as we sat watching the crazy crowds on the news, she at last admitted that maybe a cheap TV wasn't worth the ER fees that would accrue in acquiring it.

[catzenmouse]

Not a chance in hell that we would be out there amongst the idiots today.

Elena worked retail for awhile and still can't believe how insane the people are here. The stupidest thing for her is that half of the crap they buy today they will to return tomorrow. Therapeutic shopping seems to be a way of life for a large percentage of these unfulfilled AW.

Ken

[KenC]

Every year Lena claims she is going to get into the mad morning rush at the stores, just to experience it.  She announced to me last night that she was going to be there at 6 AM this morning.  Well, it is now 8:30 AM and she is still sleeping like a rock!  Maybe next year.
KenC

[Shadow]

In the Dutch variety the truth is that any of the 'special offers' have been acquired for this purpose, or are the result of a prior price increase that has gone unnoted whilte the item was not on sale.
There is a usual retail calculation. sales price = 200% purchase price. advisory price = 150% sales price.
In case and item is selling badly, discount price = 75% of sales price, which leaves a 50% margin, and shows a 50% discount on advisory price.

[William3rd]

Uhhhh- I was one of those idiots this morning. Got to the store at 530AM. Had to fight for a parking space. Got inside. Had to fight my way through the cashier lines.

Picked up the last of the early bird items-kitchenware and the like since it was time to upgrade and replace flatware, dishes, roasters,fryers, etc. Retail list was about 1100, register sale was 450, and then another 20% off for applying for a Kohls card took it to 360 and then 10 dollars in Kohls cash for every 50 spent to spend on another visit. That was 70 dollars so I guess I did good. 290 on 1100 list. . . .

However, I was ready to check out at 615 and didnt clear the store until 8AM. Fortunately, my register line went through women's fashions so I wasnt tempted.

I may not do it again since my idea of shopping is to go in and buy something, then walk out.

[jb]

I like shopping on-line and let UPS deliver the stuff in a week.  It drives the wife crazy to see packages arrive and not be able to open them straight away.  You couldn't get me within a mile of the mall even if they were giving the stuff away.

[Phil dAmore]

Gift buying and giving can be turned into an object lesson in practicality.

For the actual gift-giving day I provide the recipient with a gift certificate and let them know that if they simply wait a week they will be have much greater purchasing power.

I have a longstanding habit of buying nothing until after New Years.  By then all the returns and exchanges have been made and the stores are getting ready for inventory.  They would much rather sell an item than count it and the stores are nearly empty of customers.

[BillyB]

I was out there this morning but not early enough to get the best deals that sold out quickly so I settled for a 22 inch LCD monitor for $167 and lots of DVD's that sold for $3. I had to walk around sleeping bags, popcorn, lattes, and tons of newpaper advertisements to get to the doors of some stores.

[2tallbill]

I have found some Great shopping deals!!!

[2tallbill]

Shopping? I would rather do my own dental work.