Friday, November 28, 2008

Happy Black Friday!

So, this morning was my first time ever experiencing "Black Friday." I mainly went for the experience, because I've never gone, so I wanted to go this year. I was originally going to meet up with my sis-in-law at Walmart at 5 a.m., but she and her husband got caught in traffic till like 12:30 a.m., and then they didn't get home till really late...so I totally understand how she wanted more sleep. So, at 2 a.m. when I awoke to help Steven, I decided I really didn't want anything from Walmart anyway, so I decided to shoot for an hour later for Target, since they opened at 6, and there actually was something there on a great sale that I wanted to get for Steven.
So..my morning went something like this:
5:40 a.m. - wake up, change my clothes, go out to the car
5:48 a.m.- Park in the parking lot and experience a line something like the one you see in the above picture. I keep walking trying to find an end to the line, which was like 2 blocks long.
5:52 a.m.- Go into Old Navy, since they were smart and opened earlier than 6. I warmed up and checked out some merchandise, but didn't buy anything.
5:58 a.m.- get back in line, and with others by me, talk in wonderment about the people who were crazy enough to have been in line since 2 a.m.
6:00 a.m. - the line starts moving - remarkable fast
6:02 a.m.- Get into Target, where people do not stop speed walking/running. I opt to not follow the crowd and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the clothing department. Hardly a soul around.
(note, during this time, I was again amazed at people who would find the product they were looking for, and practically just throw it in their basket and not even look to see what they are buying.)
6:10 a.m. - find the item I'm looking for, and continue to stroll around non-peopled areas of the store (bedding, clothing, etc).
6:18 a.m. - Get into an express 10 items of less check out line
-wait in line-
6:38 a.m.- decide to jump into a "shorter" line with two ladies behind me that I'd been chatting with for a while.
6:42a.m. - Computer in the line we're in freezes up, so we're stuck in the only non-moving express lane for another while.
6:48 a.m.- manager lady comes to apologize and gives us a $3 off coupon for our purchases.
6:49 - Computer gets fixed and I finally get to buy my item, which already was on a great sale, plus the $3 off.. I ended up paying less than 50% of the original price. Can't beat that!
6:51 a.m. - Exit target leaving the masses behind me. I was smart and parked at the back of the parking lot, so it was an easy escape to the road and on to home.
Now I can say I've done it....it was fun. I may try it again...if I have someone to go be crazy with me!

9 comments:

DeFreese said...

you are brave

Karen said...

I love black friday! I was up at 3:35am and at Kohl's just before 4:00am. Then we went to Walmart, Target, Home to unload the car and then back to Kohl's. Then more shopping. Did I mention that I love Black Friday!

Kimbooly said...

If you do black friday, you have to do it right by taking someone with you, and both have cell phones. If the item you want that's on sale is a "hot" item, one of you can go stand in line while the other person grabs the most "hot" items first (because they'll be gone sooner), and then the less "hot" items that you want, like browsing the super cheap DVDs.

I don't always do black friday, just occasionally, mostly for really cheap electronics. But when I do it, I feel like all the people around me are totally crazy. Some of them are completely impulse-buying, getting way more than they want or need because of the idea that it's on sale.

And then there were the lines for lawaway when I lived in Houston. People would have grocery carts stuffed FULL, in a line at Superwalmart. A line that wrapped partway around the store! So, all these 100 or so people in line didn't even have the money to pay for all those items that I wouldn't pay for even though I had the money to? Crazy, crazy!

Necia and Joe Shumway said...

haha you are crazier than me. I wouldn't go out there :) Hey we went private and I never got your email address so send it to me at necia_beth@live.com and I will add you

The Busey Family said...

You are more intense than I. My husband and I went at like 10 am. It was still insane.

Katelyn said...

So, I totally forgot you guys don't live in Logan anymore and I was so confused about Target. Then I remembered you are gone and you probably do live by a Target... It's been a long weekend. :) Anyway, that's awesome that you go what you wanted so easily! Go you!

Kristen Weller said...

Steve stopped in at Wal-Mart for black friday here in Ephraim. He was so funny- when he got home he was like "Kristen- people were running in the store. RUNNING!" He has never experienced black friday madness- and now he has.

Rachel said...

I may go next year... I was going to be brave this year but like you didn't really have anything to get... glad you went and had fun!

Christie said...

I'll do it with you some day! I think it would be fun, if you actually have a list of stuff and know exactly what you're you going to buy. I'd totally do it with you though!