Do You Do Black Friday?

   By drodriguez  Nov 28, 2009
73

For those of you that were brave enough to wade through the crowds of Black Friday shoppers this year, you may have noticed that not everyone stuck it out all day long.  The Wall Street Journal reported Friday evening that Black Friday started out strong, but slowly thinned out by afternoon.  This is because shoppers were not willing to stick around unless they were seeing some major discounts. 

A lot of the savings we were seeing this year came in the form of doorbusters and a good deal of sales on electronics.  Unless you were lined up outside the door just as stores opened in the early morning, you may not have seen too many savings.  The Wall Street Journal reports that Andrew Harris, a Dallas police officer, planned his Black Friday out perfectly when he showed up for a sale at Target at 3am, 2 hours before the store even opened, and bought a 32" LCD HDTV for $246 (a savings of $180). 

Wal-Mart also saw lots of traffic, with some customers showing up the evening before to camp out in front of the store.  Stores like Wal -Mart recognize the need to get shoppers in by enticing them with deep discounts since many consumers have expressed a need to spend less this year than last. 

Aix Partners LLP
released a study earlier this year with some data about the upcoming holiday season.  They found that 88 percent of consumers planned to spend less this year than last year and 82 percent said that what they do spend money on will be purchased from value stores like Wal -Mart.  Though the numbers sound bleak for retailers, the National Retail Federation is only predicting a 1 percent drop in U.S. holiday sales, which is up from last years 3.4 percent decline. 

Did you venture out to the stores this Black Friday?

Do you plan on spending less on gifts this holiday season than you did last year?
 

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bdesarro by bdesarro | E LIVERPOOL, OH
Feb 16, 2010

too intense for me. my dad went and got a nice plasma TV for my bedroom. It was his first time. He said he would do it again. I don't think i could deal with it!

arbymomma by arbymomma | milwaukee, WI
Jan 27, 2010

I did black friday 4 years ago and never again since. What ever happened to saying excuse me, or even sorry when you hit somebody with a cart or snatch a toy out of someones hand because they thought it was the last one????? i DONT know where our manners are on this day but most of us aren't using them. I just watch for sales now and get when I can i am not stressing myself out for one day of shopping when people are so mean. Sorry to those that aren't.

GINGER8051 by GINGER8051 | MARQUETTE, MI
Jan 03, 2010

I did participate in Black Friday primarily because I am unemployed and money is very tight this year. I also felt that the sales were really not that great and the items in stores were not that enticing.

Alyssarae92293 by Alyssarae92293 | BOYNTON BEACH, FL
Dec 29, 2009

OF COURSE!!! WHO DOESNT DO BLACK FRIDAY!!! BUT PEOPLE CAN GET VERY NASTY WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK FRIDAY...THATS WHY YOU NEED TO BE UP BRIGHT AND EARLY

bubbysitter by bubbysitter | canal winchester, OH
Dec 27, 2009

I have done black friday for four years now and love it!! I always avoid electronic stores and toy stores because I have no patience for the crowd and especially the lines. I love people and am entirely amused by the behavior of many adults (can you say..."VULTURES!"...over simple stuff!). This year, it was a family affair with my daughter-in-law(who took her cousin with her),my cousin (who decided to go it alone), and myself (teamed with my best friends daughter and my sons girlfriend). Everyone had a list, and a cell phone. We had the most successful year ever! P.S. When the "VULTURES" attack the items I want, I don't really need them. Life is too short to end up in jail.

abslout by abslout | Hicksville, NY
Dec 22, 2009

I did black friday for two years in a row. The first year - went at 5 am and did not do well at all. This year, I made a plan, scoured ads and attacked with purpose. EXTREME success. If you just know what you want, what is a good price and what isn't and map out a plan of action - it could be a positive experience!

reddhedd17 by reddhedd17 | MANSFIELD, OH
Dec 19, 2009

I usually do the whole Black Friday thing, but since becoming unemployed in September, I have no money or desire to do so. I will admit, though, I did sort of miss it.

Monzav by Monzav | Iowa City, IA
Dec 15, 2009

I never attend Black Friday sales, I'm too scared of the crowds! I find my own "Black Friday deals" throughout the year (earlier this summer, I scored $400 worth of jewelry and acessories for only $130!) so I plan for Christmas ahead of time. Because of this, I spend less and less around the holidays, unless I find absolutely amazing deals (which I found one last night in makeup), but even then, it's less than what would be expected from any consumer.

lughead13 by lughead13 | SCHWENKSVILLE, PA
Dec 14, 2009

Since there are so many to buy for every year, I start my shopping right when the after-holiday sales hit...and continue through September (gotta figure in birthdays and special occasions). My Black Friday shopping is all online, getting ready for winter and spring birthdays.

DigitalDiva by DigitalDiva | JACKSONVILLE, FL
Dec 13, 2009

I took my son shopping on Black Friday; it was his first time going, and my first time going in a long time...we both enjoyed it, and I even went to work afterwards.

joy9281 by joy9281 | TOLEDO, OH
Dec 11, 2009

I HAD SO MUCH FUN AND ACCOMPLISHED A LOT SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY. HOWEVER, I FOUND MOST STORES HAD GREAT ONLINE SALES THAT DAY AS WELL.

openyourmynd by openyourmynd | EL PASO, TX
Dec 10, 2009

I love black Friday, I was out at the outlets at midnight and then to best buy. I was not home until 730 am, but it was well worth it!

princesslia by princesslia | Chowchilla, CA
Dec 08, 2009

I don't like the crowds and everyone seems to act like the store is going to shut down tomorrow so they must push and shove to get the "best priced items - during those special hours." The hustle and bustle to save a few dollars is just not worth it to me.

swellmel by swellmel | Wesson, MS
Dec 08, 2009

it's been a tradition for my mom and me for years to go shopping on black Friday, some years we may buy a lot and other years not as much but we always go with the mind set to have fun.

summitqwestcomp by summitqwestcomp | Cincinnati, OH
Dec 08, 2009

I went shopping on black Friday later in the day and it wasn't as crazy as when I went 2 years ago in the morning. I think it's fun, but very tiring after a few hours with dealing with all of the crowds.