Black Friday in person shopping

[Tradd]

Does anyone do the early in person shopping on Black Friday anymore? We were talking about this at dinner yesterday. The last time I really did this was when I was in college in the late 80s. A friend and I went to Fairlane Mall in Dearborn, MI. Mall opened at 7 and we were there shortly after. Had all our shopping done by 11, dropped purchases off for the free wrapping that was offered, and then lunch. We picked our wrapped gifts up after lunch. I haven’t been to the mall in years and even a crowded Target isn’t my idea of fun. I order online. I got a pack of Apple AirTags for $20 off the regular cost last night and a new wallet I needed for $10 and that’s the extent of my shop. From Amazon, of course.

I’ll take advantage of being off (even though I have to do some work from home today) I’ll run some tanks by the dive shop for their annual inspection.

[catherine]

No way. I haven't done early Black Friday shopping for years and years. Actually, I don't think I ever got up early for Black Friday sales. If there was some "must have" kids toys like Cabbage Patch dolls, my kids just didn't get them if stores ran out. It's just the principle of the thing. I will never fight in a feeding frenzy for any good deal. Period.

I will order online, but even with that, I'm not a rabid Black Friday shopper. There are always deals that come along, and there no one thing I HAVE to have.

[Tybee]

While I do live near outlet shopping, I cannot deal with crowds--it gets worse and worse the older I get--so I try to stay away from stores today.

[Tradd]

Went by Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL this morning. It’s at the intersection of two freeways and exits were all jammed. The mall lots I could see were packed, as well as nearby stores such as IKEA. All I did today was drop some diving tanks off for annual inspection. I also hit the grocery store and got apple cider cinnamon donuts on sale, as well as some shrimp.

[KayLR]

There doesn't seem to be the drive (at least among my acquaintances and family) to participate in that frenzy anymore.

What the heck, the Black Friday advertising and promotions began before Halloween! So ..like Catherine said, there seems to be a sale going on all the time.

Incidentally, my grandson (21, autistic, big train aficianado) wants to go to a train show today at their local mall, but his mom doesn't want to take him for fear of having to deal with all the craziness. It's a shame. (Neither one does well with crowds) But, that's when the model train club thought they could get the best exposure, I guess.

[Rogar]

I rarely shop in person any time at all, other than groceries and an occasional run to Home Depot and nurseries for plants. I think online shopping is the best thing since automatic garage door openers. I do pick up a few Black Friday type sales online. It seems like Black Friday goes all week or more.

[Tradd]

I rarely shop in person any time at all, other than groceries and an occasional run to Home Depot and nurseries for plants. I think online shopping is the best thing since automatic garage door openers. I do pick up a few Black Friday type sales online. It seems like Black Friday goes all week or more.

Roger, I’m with you on online shopping. Love it.

[Simone]

Another online shopper here. Wondering if anyone on this forum does holiday shop at stores.

[rosarugosa]

We spent the day at the pottery studio.

[happystuff]

I did the "get up pre-dawn and stand in line" on Black Friday once. They handed out tickets down the line for certain items that had limited stock and the last ticket on the item I wanted went to the third person ahead of me. I left. LOL.

[littlebittybobby]

Okay---I stayed home upgrading my van from poor condition, to avoid the crowds at the wreckin' yard I'll go tomorrow, maybe. Yup

[frugal-one]

I much prefer to shop in person but it is getting almost impossible to do anymore. I have purchased from the local J.C. Penney with good results. Have ordered from other places and have delivered to the store, if possible. I ‘ve never enjoyed shopping but abhor even more now.

[Tradd]

Why is it almost impossible? Can’t find what you want in store?

[frugal-one]

Exactly. The stores now contain less selection and inventory than before covid.

[Klunick]

I have never done in person Black Friday shopping before because it always looks like a madhouse on TV. I tried Cyper Monday one year but everything was taken out of my cart before I could check out.

[iris lilies]

Here I was just thinking that “sale “prices don’t affect me much because I buy items when I want to buy them, and then, Bam! Yesterday the Facebook algorithm floated in front of me a sale on some thing I had rejected for being too expensive. The clearance sale price was definitely in my price range, so I bought it.

So it is unfortunate that I’m becoming more of a Cassie-consumer. And I will confess to buying a ring that was flashed in front of me on Facebook. I made an effort to buy it locally, but the local jewelry store didn’t have anything close enough.

[jp1]

The last time I went to a store on black friday was when my father was still alive. We were visiting him for thanksgiving and I asked if he needed me to go to the store and get him anything so I ended up going to Target that friday to pick up razor blades and shaving cream. It was the year that Target had their big data breach.

Generally I don't go to any bricks and mortar stores other than grocery stores and, much less often, hardware stores. (Does the UPS store for amazon prime returns also count as going to a store?) Everythingn else I buy just shows up on our front porch. Like magic.

[Tradd]

Jp, I know - I’m the same way with stuff magically showing up at my front door!

[rosarugosa]

We did our annual holiday splurge at the wild bird store on Sunday. They have a deal where you get 20% off whatever you can fit into one of their very large shopping bags, and they gave us 20% off everything because we are very good customers (we bought a bunch of our usual hot pepper no-mess cylinders that do not fit into the bag). This is what DH and I do instead of exchanging gifts.

[frugal-one]

Went to Lowe’s and bought a new medicine cabinet. Looked at lamps and saw a nice one for the bedroom. Got a clerk to find one and there were NONE in stock. I asked “why is it still on display if there are none in stock.”. You wonder why I HATE shopping? Ordered something on line and wrote to ask where is it? No clue but supposedly we will eventually get it…..

[SiouzQ.]

This is the time of year I generally hate going into stores even for the weekly shopping. I've worked enough retail in my life to where I just don't like the holidays anymore. Too much forced hoopla. I'll make sure to do my weekly Target runs in the mornings on a weekday.

[pinkytoe]

I never did the Black Friday thing as it did not appeal though I had in-law relatives who would pile into the car at 7a on Black Friday and head out to shop. I have noticed that Facebook ads have me figured out though down to the style of clothing I wear, the colors, etc. due to the few times I have looked online at clothing and shoes. At first, I was tempted to buy since they know what I like. I don't really need anything so will resist any urges to buy clothing and such. I suppose I should search for weird items just to see what pops up on my FB feed.

[Portuguese John Here]

I saw an interesting video the other day, it was Black Friday on some European location, the TV broadcaster was there, inside some store right before they open the door, the funny part was, when the door was open, only one guy came in, the comments on that video said: And he was probably an American tourist.

To be honest, we don't care much, I think. We know they raise the prices before making a discount. I don't know if that's how it works in America, but in here, it is. There's something people must learn, specially young people, they're programmed with investing, which is good, but they must first learn to save, to do so, they must learn to make a distinction between what they need, and what they want. Then to understand if something actually worth the money they're paying, just because it's on discount, doesn't mean it worth that money.

[gimmethesimplelife]

We did do some shopping here and since we've been following prices, we know the 70 to 80 percent discounts we found were legit, though mostly at WalMart. But legit regardless. But the whole thing we did online except for stopping at the remains of a once thriving inner city mall to buy a discounted fake ficus tree. And that's the first time I have been at an actual mall in a few years - and the last time was for a mystery shop. I have much less expensive alternatives than overpriced and depressing US malls.

I would not be surprised to see more and more malls slowly go under - this online shopping is just too much easier. Rob

[Tradd]

We did do some shopping here and since we've been following prices, we know the 70 to 80 percent discounts we found were legit, though mostly at WalMart. But legit regardless. But the whole thing we did online except for stopping at the remains of a once thriving inner city mall to buy a discounted fake ficus tree. And that's the first time I have been at an actual mall in a few years - and the last time was for a mystery shop. I have much less expensive alternatives than overpriced and depressing US malls.

I would not be surprised to see more and more malls slowly go under - this online shopping is just too much easier. Rob

Most of the Black Friday shopping I know of doesn’t happen at the malls. It’s at stand alone stores. Walmart, Target, Kohls, and the like. I really don’t know anyone who hits the mall anymore.

[happystuff]

I was actually with a friend this past weekend and we went to a mall. It was surprisingly crowded - moreso than I expected. And people were actually purchasing. We basically walked around browsing but neither of us really needed or wanted anything. The time was more being together.

Oh, correction... I got a forth piercing in each ear! Nobody at home has noticed yet. :laff: