(Vanity) Semi-Official Black Friday Thread, Let's talk SHOPPING!

Self ^ | Narses

[narses]

Please share the best deals you find as well as your observations about consumer behavior, your own and others. This is an early indicator of how the year will end and I am fascinated by the phenomena.

[GOPJ]

This is a “Sale Leak” site. They’ve got some of the insider stuff on what will be on sale the day after Thanksgiving. You can map out a
strategy...

http://bfads.net/Contest

http://bfads.net/

[narses]

I hear that from some family, others appear poised to spend like money is worthless. I wonder who is smarter?

[narses]

Thanks.

[mimaw]

Our malls were packed this weekend too. The people were shopping not just gawking. I later stopped at Sam's Club which was also packed. I noticed at Sam's Club many shoppers had their baskets packed with really basic staples in large amounts. Not too much of the more expensive convenience and party foods one usually sees. Maybe they don't have too much confidence The One will save the day.

[Lady GOP]

Ive done all of it online...almost done. We do not have time to head to malls and donot want to spend weekends battling crowds. Its been better shopping this way. We did about the same amount as last year.

[Renegade]

http://gandermountain.shoplocal.com/gandermountain/default.aspx?action=browsepagespread&storeid=2401001&rapid=605148&pagenumber=1&prvid=GanderMT-081110&promotioncode=GanderMT-081110

[GraniteStateConservative]

I’ve been toying with the idea of doing Las Vegas for Christmas. Mid life crisis maybe - but it’s looking good in my mind and I don’t see a down side.

No, I agree with you. If I were in your situation, going to a place where there are a lot of people around to stave off general loneliness and where the whole city is built around welcoming visitors like yourself (and when they are extra eager to be friendly due to the recession). You'll have a blast.

[airborne]

I’ve always talked about going, but never got around to it.

I’d like to see Criss Angel perform and try my luck at Texas Hold’em.

And I’m feeling like I need a change of scenery for a bit...

Talk me down bannie! ;^)

[RetiredArmy]

WE have no plans for shopping. The world is coming to an end. WE are broke. WE have no money. WE have no reason to celebrate Christmas since Bush and the evil rich have decimated our economy. We are heart broken that we cannot afford to buy a tree, any new decorations, any presents for our family. We are just going to make a ham sandwich and sit on the couch and watch old Christmas movies, that is if our DirectTV is not cut off for non-payment, or they don't turn off the power from our house. WE are hoping to cut a few trees for fire wood, but I don't think the 55 gallon drum will fit in my living room. Plus the smoke would probably get too us. So, I guess we will have to leave it on the porch and just go out there to warm up. It is just so horrible that Christmas is going to be so bad this year. I think we should cancel it. Then after Obama saves the world, we can just hold a big celebration.

[Jet Jaguar]

More 7.62x39 and .357 ammo.

[Randy Larsen]

Thank You!

[kingu]

Just ordered a new laptop off of eBay, with 25% cash back from Microsoft.

Make a Microsoft Live account, and log in. Set up a Microsoft Cashback account, both are free. Logged in (and with addblocker software turned OFF), search via live.com for many common terms (xbox, ipod, iphone, etc) and then click on the 25% cashback offer.

Make a purchase on eBay using Buy It Now and Paypal as payment, and you'll get 25% back from Microsoft (up to sixty days after purchase.) Limit of $200 cash back on any one transaction, limit of 12 transactions total per login, only one transaction (within one hour) per link clicked to eBay.

[2ndDivisionVet]

My wife tells me that Sears Optical will have coupons good for a free eye exam (up to $50) on “Black Friday” at each store, as well as “dream” eyeglasses for $199/pair and many other specials...

[tacticalogic]

"Weapons-grade plutonium, a manual on interrogation techniques, and a hoppity horse."

-Stewie Griffin

[airborne]

I have a mental block with being on a ship.

I don’t want to be locked in like that. I’d rather rent a car and wing it. Plus, I’m in a wheelchair, so cruising and hitting the ports wouldn’t likely be all that accessible.

As long as I plan ahead, a rental car with hand controls is possible, and so is a hotel.

Sounds like I’m convincing myself, huh?! 8^)

[kittymyrib]

“...others appear poised to spend like money is worthless. I wonder who is smarter?”

In the summer of ‘07, we took our three grandsons on a marvelous tour of Texas, covering 2,700 miles. Gas was $2.35/gal. and we wondered if we should not have put it off until summer of ‘08. This summer, we took them to Arkansas in July, when oil hit its zenith of $157/bbl and gas was approaching $4.50/gal. We traveled only half as many miles and paid roughly the same for gas as the year before.
Who can predict what prices will do? We do have some wonderful memories with our grandsons though, and that is far more precious than money. I think that applies to Christmas celebrations as well.

[mimaw]

I heard some fear mongering on TV the last few days questioning weather the stores you may buy gift cards from will still be in business when you want to redeem them. I don't know maybe I'll just give checks. But than again maybe the banks will go belly up. Cash maybe the best option even if we can't be sure what the dollars will be worth by the day after Christmas. I have some beautiful quilts finished and more close to finished I should probably just gift those so when no one can afford to heat their homes anymore they can starve off frostbite. Now I'm getting really depressed.

[Keen-Minded]

Be careful buying gift cards this year. Some chains and stores will be closing shop after Christmas and the gift cards may be useless.

[autumnraine]

Reached the point of drawing names for children (except the ones in our house) for extended family and adults are not giving this year.

Me and my husband have decided that we will take all we can to get the kids Santa, but our stockings will be all we give each other.

As far as Black Friday is concerned, it will be a day I sleep in. I don’t have enough to make a difference in savings to warrant fighting those people not only with fists over deals, but in germs because last time I went it was DISGUSTING.

[autumnraine]

Bout time Santa got a little R&R. I’m with you, GO TO VEGAS!