Originally Posted By wonderingalice Were you out there in the craziness? Was it fun? Still have your sanity? Find all the great deals? I worked today - on purpose. The day-after is no longer a holiday for our company because we have stronger retail presence now. Although I don't work on that side of the business and am the only one here today in my department, Mr. Alice had to work and I'm saving the vacation day for when my parents come to town at Christmas. Anyway... I'm driving in at 5:30 this morning and first notice the long line of potential shoppers waiting for Target to open... Then, as I get closer to work, I see that Mervyn's entire parking lot is full and the store's already open! *LOL* They opened at 5 a.m.! The mall parking lot was quite that nuts yet - most of those stores were probably scheduled for 7 a.m. openings. And the employee lot here...? About 10 cars in a lot that holds 500-600! I don't mind... The Christmas caroles are playing non-stop (except for commercials - the station isn't commercial free until Christmas Eve) and all is calm, all is well... ;-)
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Oh... And I should mention that if I'd had an abundance of vacation time left to take - I'd be home today... definitely not shopping! ;-)
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I'm contemplating heading to Target, but I'm scared. I ran out of lights for the house yesterday and need to go get some more.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd <---Puts on her body armor and grabs the credit cards. Wish me luck everyone. I'm going out there... If I don't return in a hour send in reinforcements or increase my credit limit.
Originally Posted By mele My friend called to tell me she'd pick me up an hour later than planned. I think we are out of our minds to be going out to shop in the middle of the day. Oh well, we're really just window shopping so hopefully we can be a bit more relaxed. It would be easier if I had a flask to bring with me. ;-)
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Well, I'm back and Wow, that really wasn't bad at all. Got everything on my list and was able to walk right up to an empty checkout line.
Originally Posted By hopemax After I posted in the other thread that I don't go out early...I went out early! I started at Kohl's, got there at 4:45 for a 5AM opening, and I still got a voucher for the portable DVD player. I also picked up some stocking stuffers and presents for my Mom, Grandma and DH. I was out of there by 5:15. Quickly ran into Starbucks for some wake me up Next stop, Staples. The stores in our area, in reponse to last year's chaos kept the line outside and let in groups of 25. This pissed a lot of people on, because the people in the front were able to get everything they wanted and the people in the back couldn't do the "divide and conquer" strategy. I didn't want any of the big ticket items, and I was in the third group, so I didn't care but I thought they should have told everyone before the store opened what they were going to do so that people had a choice to go to another store instead. I picked up a 1 GB CF card, the 1 GB flash drive, a pack of DVD-Rs and the photo paper. Next I hit *my* store, Joann's. I stocked up on Disney scrapbook paper 6 for 96 cents, and got the Jolee's value packs. And since they accept competitor coupons, I used my 25% off entire order coupon from Michaels instead of the 20% Joanns was offering. With those out of the way, I braved the masses at Circuit City. It was only 7:30 and I don't normally go there until 9ish. DH wanted the Northern Exposure Season 1/2 DVD set for $12.99, two copies, and we didn't have a shredder yet, so I got the last one that was cheap. It took an hour to check out. There were lines all over the store that I never figured out what they were exactly. My line went to the main register area. 8 stations, and only 3 were open. The people in front of me asked what was up, and the guy was just as upset. They thought they would have more but they got a late message from corporate to cut hours, and they wouldn't need the 4 registers they eliminated *rolls eyes.* After that I ran into Best Buy and Walmart to see if they had any cheap movies left that I would want, but I didn't find anything, so I went home. I was out about 5 hours, spent $300, filled out forms for $75 in rebates, and I have $20 at Kohls I can use next week. I haven't added up the regular prices yet, but almost all of my Christmas shopping is DONE! Now for DH to do his
Originally Posted By dlkozy Only headed out to Joanns at 6 am. Bought ornaments for less than $2.99 a box and a couple of stocking stuffers-then I grabbed a cinnamon roll and headed back to the safety of my home!
Originally Posted By LPFan22 I swear I'm not crazy... as hubby put it while I was getting dressed at 4:30am this morning. I just happened to wake up. I was tired early last night so I went to bed around 9pm and woke up just before 4am. No alarm. No real plan to go shopping so early. So... I got to Best Buy at about 4:45am and people were parking blocks away and walking in. No thanks. I was just going to pick up a couple of small things. They can definitely wait. Next I went to Mervyn's (got there by about 5:10am. No problems there. Parking was still plentiful, I was given a candy cane and a $10 gift card (for use with purchase of $10 or more) upon entering. I purchased a few items that I needed... everything at great prices. I was out of there in about 30 minutes. Next I did go to Target as it was on the way home. I noticed a huge line of people waiting when I was on my way to Mervyn's but by the time I was ready to walk through Target's doors, there was no waiting and customers were spread throughout the store. I successfully finished my Christmas shopping by picking up a little of this and that while working the entire store. Again, the prices were good. Just for the heck of it I drove back to Best Buy. I was able to park just steps from the entrance but the line inside snaked through the entire store so I turned right around and left. I was home by 7:30am. All that's left is to organize and wrap everything... get boxes ready to ship and packages to put under the tree. I love this time of year! And I'm not crazy!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice You guys did great! I love reading your 'adventures' - big and small! Not crazy at all, Denise... You nailed it all really well! Me... I'm boring, but thorough... *LOL* 90% of my shopping is done online. And I'm almost finished for this Christmas.
Originally Posted By debtee ohhh I wish I was there... I can shop with the best of them! LOL You guys have such FAB Christmas and Halloween decorations I just KNOW I would have bought heaps! Have fun guys!
Originally Posted By goodgirl wonderingalice, I'm with you. I really like the convenience of ordering online. Last year the three items my sister Pat wanted were all at Linen & Things at great prices. I ordered online but picked them up at the store the next day. No shipping and handling. I thought that was really cool. I wish more stores would offer this.
Originally Posted By irishfan So is the day after Thanksgiving traditionaly a big shopping day? Is it due to sales?
Originally Posted By debtee ^ Yes! From what I have been told irishfan it's just like our Boxing Day sales where people line up in the small hours of the morning to grab a Bargain!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<So is the day after Thanksgiving traditionaly a big shopping day? Is it due to sales?>> Yes and yes. Just like Walt put "weenies" in his DL park to attract guests to walk into each land, retail stores advertise a few item at very low prices to attract shoppers. Not only that, but the items are in limited quantity, and only available as Early Bird Specials; the biggest retailers open at 5:00 am, and the specials only available until noon or as supplies last. Usually they run out long before. As others have said, some people will line up the day before and wait it out overnight to get the big-ticket items at blowout prices.
Originally Posted By hopemax >From what I have been told irishfan it's just like our Boxing Day sales where people line up in the small hours of the morning to grab a Bargain! Oh, we do this too. It used to be that stores wouldn't put there holiday stuff at 50% off until the 26th. Now a lot of places start doing it the week before Christmas. But when I am home, I am out at Hallmark picking up Disney Christmas ornaments, and stocking up on stuff for next year.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <ohhh I wish I was there... I can shop with the best of them! LOL> LOL! Deb, I'm sure it would be "heaps" of fun shopping with you! <From what I have been told irishfan it's just like our Boxing Day sales where people line up in the small hours of the morning to grab a Bargain!> They may as well call it Boxing Day here---some people box others over the crazy bargains! I thought about goin' to Best Buy at 4 a.m. to check out some things, but I looked at the ads online and didn't see much worth goin' out for for me. So I just put up my tree and its lights instead.
