(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.

[mplsconservative]

I hear you. I’m 48, so being at the height of fashion isn’t my goal but I do love clothes; classic, simple, flattering clothes.

I hope J Jill survives online. Coldwater Creek has some nice stuff as well, though I’m sure you know of them. :)

[submarinerswife]

Yankee Candle Coupon for (2) free large jar or cylinder candles with the purcase of 2 large jars.

Use promo code CAT811S online, in store or catalog. Limit 2 free jars.

Expires Nov 30

[GOPJ]

This was from an email I got the other day - I don’t vouch for all these recommendations - I think Home Depot is fine... but it’s worth looking at.

Subject: Gift Cards - Warning - Please read!!!

I wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards
around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be
honored after the holidays.

Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the
cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless
January 1. There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the
contrary, it is referred to as ‘Bankrupcy Planning). Below is a partial
list of stores that you need to be cautious about.

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing;
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine’s to close 150 stores
nationwide;
Eddie Bauer to close 27 stores and more after January;
Cache will close all stores;
Talbots closing down specialty stores;
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots);
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots);
GAP closing 85 stores;
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January;
Wickes Furniture closing down;
Levitz closing down remaining stores;
Bombay closing remaining stores;
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January;
Whitehall closing all stores;
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores;
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January;
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick);
Macys to close 9 stores after January;
Linens and Things closing all stores;
Movie Galley Closing all stores;
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores; Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores;
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January;
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores;
Wilson Leather closing down all stores;
Sharper Image closing down all stores;
K B Toys closing 356 stores;
Loews to close down some stores;
Dillard’s to close some stores.

For those of you who have some uncashed gift cards already, I would use them ASAP.

[America_Right]

I am a Fujitsu field engineer, and I spend a lot of time in stores like Ross and TJ Maxx. I couldn’t believe how busy they were in the middle of November between 11:00 and 3:00. I made comments to managers about how busy it seems, even with this “horrible” economy. The places were PACKED with customers, and they were buying cartloads of stuff.

[GOPJ]

See post #83

[mplsconservative]

This shoppping deals forum always looked interesting to me:

http://fishingfordeals.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

I think I’ll go explore it more now that I’m in the shopping mode. LOL

[submarinerswife]

Here’s another site called cybermonday.com

http://www.cybermonday.com/?source=1x10x30_10913&gclid=CPyvmYnpjJcCFQudnAodX1I9_Q

They have some more insider sales for some big name websites like BestBuy, Home Depot, Landsend, Dell and many more.

[Wil H]

What shopping plans does your family have this year?.....

I plan not to do any Christmas shopping in Stores that DON'T celebrate Christmas.

[Hyzenthlay]

I’ve been shopping on Black Friday twice - once with my dad, we got an ultra-cheap printer at Best Buy and some other necessary computer hardware for a good deal. Last year, I went to the local mall with my roommate, and it was interesting... I didn’t find much of anything worth buying, except getting a bunch of DVD’s for something like $2 each at Best Buy.

This year, I’m going to be working, and NOT looking forward to dealing with the crowds =( Afterwards, I’ll stop by the only store around that carries jeans in my size (which is uncommon enough that they wouldn’t even sell out on Black Friday), check out any bargain DVD bins I run across, maybe look at the bookstore, and then go home.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the information. Check out my comment #83 - a gift card warning...

[ApplegateRanch]

Shopping? It’s been long done, and the stuff is wrapped, just waiting to be mailed.

We buy stuff all throughout the year when we find it & recognize it as something unique & appropriate for a particular individual.

It’s then put in the birthday, Christmas, or anniversary bins, then wrapped and sent when the time comes.

It prevents binge spending, and also guards against fad buying or sending someone their 8th duplicate whatever.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I’m waiting another week, and then I think I’m going to buy my wife a car company.

:-)

[CindyDawg]

One Christmas we were flat broke. We went looking for maybe a marked down tree. They were still more than we had. I don’t know where it come from but the lot manager brought out our tree. One dollar. It was maybe 3 feet high and looked like he cut the top off a big one. We proudly took it home and put it on a window seat. It didn’t need much lights and was beautiful. I’m sorry things are so bad for you but you have a wonderful reason to celebrate Christmas...the birth of our Savior:’) Times are tough for us here too but I ‘m also blessed. If you will freepmail your address I’ll
try to send you 20 dollars to help with whatever you need.

[narses]

Be careful, the price isn’t that much but the upkeep is horrendous!

[CindyDawg]

I don’t shop the day after. I try to do my shopping at Walmart after midnight. My husband and I usually don’t buy for each other either. We have different tastes and decide what we can afford and then just buy what we want ourselves.

[GOPJ]

They adored their Grandchildren! Pitifully, they were gone before mine were born.

I'm sorry about your loss. I'm sure they would have loved your children so much. Grandkids are the reward we get for being parents... I'll bet you'll be a wonderful grandparent.

[ApplegateRanch]

I have an extra (rusted through in a spot or two) 6” elbow & stovepipe. If I didn’t have so many holes in my shoes, I’d walk it over to your place for the barrel. If you can pick it up, you’re welcome to it.

We were lucky, and managed to liberate a couple of jack-o-lanterns from the neighbors, so we’ll have pumpkin pies. No crust, but at least the filling cooked in a pie pan.

Also trapped a couple of robins, which will give us a breast apiece for our Christmas dinner.

Like you, I can harly wait until January 21st and our economic salvation!

[mrsmel]

I’m 45, and lost the little zest I ever had for being in the “height of fashion” eons ago, LOL. At this point, the name of the game is looking neat and polished, I don’t ask for much more :)

I get the Coldwater Creek catalogs, but I haven’t ordered from them yet, they kind of get lost in the shuffle of the zillions of catalogs I get. I’m paring down my spending now anyway (the “Atlas Shrugged” thing). I have a huge family-9 siblings, and all their children-so I think this year they’re all going to get something from the Swiss Colony, and I’ll be done. My husband is the one who’s difficult to buy for, because he doesn’t want anything!

[KeatsforFirstDog]

If you’re thinking a gift card for anyone, I’d go with Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Target, Disney, or such...

Yes, I saw Disney is closing stores, but they still have the online store and any store that they have in malls, they are still contractually obligated lease-wise, so even if they close soon, they still may have some awesome deals on the closing store ;). Disney is still a pretty safe company...likewise with Target, McD, Wal-Mart (last 2 showed profits the last quarter).

Our local grocery store (Randalls) is running a special on gas if you buy so much in gift cards until 12-31. I would guess others around the country are doing the same thing...I think if we’re prudent with our gift card purchases, we can actually come out pretty well; just be sure to check wal-mart or your local grocery store to see if they have a total sum deal (ours is $100+ of gift cards, but we plan to get a lot of our gifts from stable-major brands and take advantage of the gas special)

~KFFD

[mrsmel]

LOL