Has anyone used their camping skills to camp out for Black Friday deals or concert tickets (before you could get them online) ? HERE is a link to a news report of someone setting up a tent, bed, TV, generator, etc to wait 11 days for Black Friday. IMHO I don't think any deal is that good. I waited in line for about an hour to get tickets to see THE movie (I don't even remember what movie it was :dunno: ) . Other than that I have never done it.
Have you ever camped out? What were your experiences?
Hands off that external hard drive, bucko!
Extreme shoppers are already lining up for Black Friday deals at the Best Buy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Jonas Allooh, 28, was the first to set up shop outside the big-box electronics retailer, according to Akron Beacon Journal Online. Allooh brought a generator, a microwave, a bed, a TV, and a videogame console. So, yeah, he's prepared.
The paper reports that a short time after Allooh started squatting, another shopper, Tony Avitar, set up his own makeshift camp right next to him.
Fox 8 News reports that Avitar has camped out for deals on Black Friday for the past 11 years.
"It was the second year I did it; nobody had the bright idea of camping out in tents," he told the station. "So, we just did sleeping bags on the sidewalk, and it was freezing rain for 16 hours."
Allooh set up his camp on Monday, which means he will have waited 11 days by the time the deals begin Thanksgiving evening.
Like many retailers this year, Best Buy has been accused of contributing to "Thanksgiving creep," the tendency for stores to open earlier and earlier in an effort to draw in shoppers desperate for the best deals.
Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Target, Staples and others all plan to open their doors on Thanksgiving Day.
What do you think of Black Friday madness? Is it all in good fun or a sad state of affairs? Leave a comment below.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
From a consumer standpoint. I guess if I really "needed" a new TV, computer, appliance, ETC. and one could be had for $100s less on Black Friday AM, it might be OK to campout for it. But I would need to know exactly what Im getting. When I was a kid and worked at a popular retail establishment, they ordered "Special" black friday TVs. (Computers were not really around yet except huge boxes built for businesses). These special TVs had special model numbers and had special features (or usually "lack" of these special features). They also had a special warranty (or generally the lack of any warranty).
-----another trick was to order several of a certain item (typical toaster/shoes/dress/ETC) and place only "ONE" on the floor for a ridiculous low price. Than about 11 AM (after black friday deals ended) place the others on the floor at regular price.
From a workers standpoint. Im glad we didnt have to work ON the actual Holiday. (We was closed). I think all employees of "unimportant" industries, should be off work on a holiday. In other words, first responders, and hospital personnel must work, but a retail store/movie theatre/restaurant/ETC should be shut down.
I have never been to Black Friday sales either although I did send DH and one of the grown kid out on Friday afternoon one time to see if there were any portable CD players left that one of them had snagged for $15. (There was and they got it.)
However, today we went to Home Depot and bought a "Black Friday" sale priced refrigerator and stove that was too good to pass up. I still would not have gone at 4 AM to stand in line for the deal, but 3 different Home Depot people in 2 different states assured me the price would go no lower because it was such a promotion. The person in Florida last week said I could "be the firt online at midnight" to order off their website on Black Friday but the price would still be the same. (And they better have been telling me the truth!) 8)
well I dont know about the price today, being the same as black friday AM. I do know that if you order an item online (must be at the stores website-not something like Amazon), they have to give you the black friday price. Check good though, some stores force you to pick up the item at the store by the time the regular black friday price would end. Other stores differ from, picking up at store anytime during that day to, anytime at all to, delivering to your home. (Unless the store stock has already depleted, and the item must be special ordered). Then rules can change from item to, item.
I have never actually camped out either for sales but I grew up in Bergen County NJ and from Thanksgiving to Christmas those malls were crazy. I used to deliver auto parts to Sears in the Willowbrook mall and normally it was a 10 minute round trip. Christmas time it was at least 30-45 minutes each way. I also remember going to Paramus Park and the Garden State Plaze with a truck and just hoping a curb and parking on any open piece of grass. Nowadays I live in PA and the Malls are nothing like NJ so I can handle it....although I do avoid it if I can.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
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