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Accidental shopper

Nov 24th 2007RachelG
RachelGOn Writing!

250px-r2_2_0102231.jpgI forgot that yesterday was black Friday. I had to go to Macy’s for a baby gift, and I hadn’t realize it was the worst shopping day of the year until I got to the mall. As I waited in a long line in the parking lot to turn around and speed back home, a space opened up right in front of me really close to the front doors of the mall. What are the chances of that ever happening? How about none to never, and I figured it must have been an act of God. So, I pulled into the space. I mean, who am I to ignore an act of God?

123gosteinbach_1976_157388951.gifI was shocked that the mall wasn’t as bad inside as it was outside. Yeah it was crowded, but not terrible. And I found several pieces of Spode for 50% off. I bought a Christmas flamingo for my mom at Dillard’s, and Bombay had all their nutcrackers on sell at 30% off. I collect nutcrackers and bought five. I saved thirty dollars at Victoria’s Secret, and my daughter found a Dooney and Bourke bag on sale for 250 bucks–no I didn’t buy it for her.

Will I brave the mall next year? Probably not. I still don’t like crowds or standing in line, but now I can say I experienced it once in my life. Sort of like skydiving.

How many of you braved black Friday? Did you find great bargains? What was the best bargain you ever found or made?

25 Comments »

25 Responses to “Accidental shopper”

  1. Susan K on 24 Nov 2007 at 12:46 am #

    I didn’t go shopping but I had to work Black Friday at Target. It was crazy!!! Especially toys & electronics. Luckily I got to work in Health & Beauty Aids so I didn’t have to deal with most of the madness. Just people wanting to know what aisle the soap was in.

  2. Meg on 24 Nov 2007 at 7:53 am #

    Of course I went shopping! And the day went pretty smoothly. I didn’t leave until after 8:30am so I didn’t encounter any of the crazed people who are out “on a mission.” And as far as bargains go, I don’t think I found any. Although I wasn’t looking for any either. When I got home I found all of my Christmas CDs and found that I needed to buy some new stuff. Are there any CDs that you all listen to that I should get?

  3. Lisa H on 24 Nov 2007 at 8:17 am #

    My 14 year old daughter and I left our home at 4:30am.
    We arrived at ToysRUs at 4:55am, and the line was already 1/4 mile long(I am not exaggerating). We left and went to the mall.

    Our next stop was JCPenny’s where we waited in line for 30min in the shoe dept. to get $100.00 boots for $30.00. They didn’t have my size, but did have hers, so that was a good deal.

    Next we headed to Bon Ton, but the lines were wrapped around the store, so we left.

    Then we went to Burlington Coat Factory. Found several good deals for the baby and for a baby shower I am going to next week.

    At Macy’s we found nothing but struck gold at Kohls. They planned well for the day and had plenty of workers around to help out.

    My 12 year old son was miffed that I didn’t bring him too, so later after I put the baby down for a nap, he and I headed out to Dick’s, Old Navy, Sam’s and Toys R Us. We actually found some deals and did not have to wait long at all.
    All in all it was a great day!

  4. Lisa H on 24 Nov 2007 at 8:18 am #

    My husband and I are now heading back to ToysRUs to purchase the bike, my son fell in love with! Yes we definitely have a few screws loose!

  5. Judy F on 24 Nov 2007 at 9:10 am #

    I didn’t go out this year at all. I did put up my tree etc. I have to work tonight at the mall that is soon enough for me.

  6. claudia dain on 24 Nov 2007 at 9:41 am #

    Rachel, I had your day. I have never been shopping on Black Friday and had no desire ever to do so, but the kids wanted new sneakers for Christmas so we went to a shoe outlet and I got them each a pair—no one in the shoe outlet, btw. We had the parking lot to ourselves. Then, since the mall was only 1/2 mile away and it was still before 11, we decided to go look for jeans for them (also for Christmas).

    The traffic!!! I can’t describe it since I’m still somewhat shell-shocked by it.

    Anyway, found a parking spot close in, and walked into the mall. It wasn’t bad! We headed straight for American Eagle, their jean store of choice, and not only was it well-staffed, you got 15% off on whatever you bought before noon. Yippee!

    Great deals, very worth the effort. Three pairs of jeans, two tops, just over $100, plus they were giving out scratch contests and we scratched off a free movie rental! Merry Christmas!

  7. Kim on 24 Nov 2007 at 9:57 am #

    We used to do the Black Friday thing when my son was little and always wanted THE toy of the season. Now I avoid it like the plague. We did stop in Wal-mart to pick up dog food. Luckily the store wasn’t too bad. We grabbed a few of the $3 DVDs and got in and out in a manner of minutes.

    For me, the deals just aren’t what they used to be. The ads are a bit disappointing.

  8. Nicole Jordan on 24 Nov 2007 at 10:09 am #

    Not I! Shopping makes me break out in hives under in any circumstances, and to do it on Black Friday…. just the thought makes me shudder. Unless it’s a tack store. That I’ll brave.

    Went to the barn instead yesterday afternoon, and it was blessedly quiet since all the out-of-school kids had already done their chores and had their lessons.

    But congrats on your great bargains, Rachel and Lisa and Claudia!

  9. ladydawgfan on 24 Nov 2007 at 10:43 am #

    I’m one of those nuts who braved the Black Friday sales yesterday. My sister and I got up at 1:15AM, got to Best Buy shortly before 2AM, and were #’s 94 and 95 in line. By the time the store opened, the line had about 1000 people in it. But it was well worth it. I got the MP3 player I was there for, the DVD sets, and the PhotoShop deal, and I am now typing this staring into the glow of my new 19″ flat screen computer monitor (was $219.99, sale $99.99.

    I also found my mother’s Christmas gift yesterday - a digital photo frame. She is completely computer illiterate, has no interest in ever learning about computers, and then complains (legitimately) that she never sees the photos that people send by e-mail. I can now load those photos on a memory card, transfer them to her frame, and she can watch them to her hearts delight. This frame even plays mp3’s, so we can set up a slide show for her that plays to music.

    All in all, a good day shopping!!

  10. Nicole Jordan on 24 Nov 2007 at 12:00 pm #

    >>>I also found my mother’s Christmas gift yesterday - a digital photo frame. She is completely computer illiterate, has no interest in ever learning about computers, and then complains (legitimately) that she never sees the photos that people send by e-mail. I can now load those photos on a memory card, transfer them to her frame, and she can watch them to her hearts delight. This frame even plays mp3’s, so we can set up a slide show for her that plays to music.

    Those digital photo frames are wonderful, Ladydf! I got my dh one for his bday last July, and he has a couple hundred of his best photos loaded. He has it sitting on a shelf above his desk so he can enjoy them regularly, and we bring up the frame when guests come to dinner so they can oooo and aaah over the photos. He’s getting to be really good at taking pics! In fact I loved some of them so much, I put them on my new website’s Photo Gallery.

    Glad you found so many great bargains!

    NicoleJ

  11. RachelG on 24 Nov 2007 at 12:14 pm #

    I just read in the paper that people got trampled at the mall and paramedics had to be call at around 1 am. And 1000 people waited in below freezing weather to get into target at 6am. I can’t imagine freezing for a bargain.

    rachel

  12. Cookiedough on 24 Nov 2007 at 12:28 pm #

    I’ve never experienced Black Friday, but I’ve seen news reports of many Canadian’s close to the border heading for the sales.

    The best bargain I’ve ever found was last year, not planning on any Christmas shopping- found beautiful fleece throws for 4$ each. I bought every last one on the shelves and it was a cozy cookiedough Christmas for all my friends and family! I even managed to find a pink camoflage one for my military mad neice!

  13. Sherri Erwin on 24 Nov 2007 at 1:33 pm #

    Not to burst your bargain bubble… but interesting story. Bombay went bankrupt. A liquidator bought their stock and is selling it through the Christmas season. A week before the bankruptcy announcement, those nutcrackers were going for fifty percent off (some were $10, most were between $15 and $20– really cute ones, too, aren’t they?). The liquidator jacked the prices back up to the regular retail price and now says it’s a ‘big sale.’ My friend and I go to Bombay on a weekly basis and we know that most of the ‘deals’ in there are not deals yet at all, and in fact are more expensive than before the liquidator stepped in. But maybe as the sale goes on. We’re waiting to see if they drop down to fifty to seventy-five percent off, and then we’ll go crazy.

  14. RachelG on 24 Nov 2007 at 2:19 pm #

    Yeah I know about Bombay and I am in deep mourning. I love Bombay and buy nutcrackers there every year.

    rachel

  15. Ladytink_534 on 24 Nov 2007 at 2:54 pm #

    I was up at 4am and ready to go! I picked up some DVDs, a really nice sweater, the new Disney Scene-It Second Edition, a couple of books, and a couple of DVD sets. I’ve never really gotten a great bargain before but my husband did last year. He picked up every season of 24 for only $80. Usually that would only buy you maybe two and a half lol.

  16. Sherri Erwin on 24 Nov 2007 at 3:05 pm #

    Yes, Rachel, I’m going to miss Bombay, too! Glad you picked up some nutcrackers while they have them. Who knows how long they’ll last now. I worked retail for a few years and wouldn’t brave the mall on Black Friday for anything… well, maybe if they were giving cars away with purchase, but even then it’s iffy.

  17. Suzanne Enoch on 24 Nov 2007 at 8:10 pm #

    The only thing I can say about Black Friday is that “Enchanted” is a very cute, funny movie. *g*

  18. doglady on 24 Nov 2007 at 10:23 pm #

    Sounds like Suzanne had the kind of Black Friday I would have loved had I not worked! Yes, I had to be in the bakery all day on Black Friday. Not a bad place to be when you consider my bakery is in Wal-Mart and they had 3 police cruisers sitting in front of the store when I arrive. Fortunately I managed to stay in the kitchen and hide from the lunatics. A new Bass Pro Shop opened in our area and my sources reported that there were people camped out in tents in their parking lot from 10:00PM Thursday night. I am sorry, but there is not a fishing lure on earth worth my spending the night in a tent in 35 degree weather! The last time I camped out was at Loch Ness and I was in college at the time. (Translation - Young and Foolish!) I nearly froze to death and sadly, I neither saw nor heard Nessy. I would rather do that now than venture into a mall on Black Friday!

  19. lisa on 24 Nov 2007 at 10:28 pm #

    All I can say about Black Friday was the crowd was manageable at the winery we visited! No bargains, but by the end of the tasting we didn’t care!

  20. twolilhahas on 24 Nov 2007 at 10:47 pm #

    I’m glad to hear you all lived through Black Friday! I didn’t leave the house all day long yesterday. Wal-Mart is the only “store” we have in our county and so it’s the only place for everyone to shop. Not me. Not on Black Friday. I’m totally excited some of you actually got great deals…and lived to tell about it. Good job on the parking places, too. That is a gift from God.

  21. TinaLouiseF on 25 Nov 2007 at 2:00 am #

    No shopping for me.
    On Wednesday I bought a pair of tenny shoes at Payless for $18.
    Unfortunately mom didn’t go shopping this year on Friday.
    She did buy a new couch on Wednesday, her last good day.
    We thought we lost mom on Friday night, some of her breaths were 40 seconds apart on oxygen.

  22. Sherri on 25 Nov 2007 at 8:47 pm #

    Of course I shopped on Black Friday. Three girlfriends and I left town at 1:30 a.m. (stopping for some REALLY strong coffee on the way) and hit Meijers first. Awesome deals on electronics, toys, you name it. This particular Meijers was so well-organized, it placed signs for the lines for “Doorbuster” sales. This way I didn’t have to hunt all over for the secret stash or brave through pushy people. I got the 37″ TV that I was looking for, as well as a cartload of toys for the kids…all 50% off or more. My best deal of the day? Kids’ London Fog winter coats/snowpants at Macy’s were $14.99 plus an additional $10.00 off $25.00 or more. You gotta love that!

  23. darkshire007 on 25 Nov 2007 at 10:33 pm #

    Sorry, Goddesses. I don’t shop Black Friday. I did take my truck to the dealership for winterization but that is on the edge of town (but that’s not shopping). I didn’t have to fight the loonies to get there! I live in awe of anyone who is WILLING to fight the masses, walk from the north 40 and stand in line for 40 minutes to get their shopping done.

  24. Debra on 26 Nov 2007 at 7:28 pm #

    I do this every year and can’t wait to do it again (sometime I think I’m just a masacist). My friend who now live in Washington and I used to do Black Friday together with our four kids-now that was crazy, what were we thinking. Now that she has moved I leave the kids sleeping at home with dad and head out at 4:30 and I am back by 7:00 with donuts and coffee. The craziest store I went to was Walmart, which I usually try to avoid but due to a near fatal accident between a pair of RR jeans and a hole in the bottle of bleach I didn’t have much choice when that’s were they sell Rite Dye. I do not recommend Walmart for Black Friday. The best deal I found for me was 2g SD cards for $14.99 at Radio Shack, the down side was they only let 5 people in the store at a time. This is California though so at least we didn’t have to freeze while we waited-it was probably about almost 60 degrees at 5am.

  25. Sherri on 27 Nov 2007 at 6:43 pm #

    Debra, I’m envious. The line outside of Circuit City lasted for about a half hour, but it was in 30 degree weather!