I've always wanted to wait in a long line infront of a store the day after Thanksgiving with other eager shoppers, fresh from deep sleeps with bargains on the brain. I've come close several times to actually getting up and venturing out in the early morning hours but instead thought it absolutely nuts (well, it is) and flipped the alarm off to get more sleep and left a bit later ... missing the best deals. No more.
Last night when everyone gathered at our place for Thanksgiving dessert (it was a progressive meal of sorts and quite fun that way), I was telling of my idea of bracing myself, finally, for a Black Friday morning, starting at 2:30AM. Somehow I convinced my dear brother to come along in my festive frolic and when his car pulled up the driveway shortly after 3 this morning, I could feel the sales adrenalin kickin' in! Oh MY goodness - it was raining, who knew?, and VERY windy and yes, cold. He was bundled for the arctic and I was the same but when we got to the store, the store was open!!!! What???? No sprawling line around the building? Well, Walmart did something different this year and they did a good job of it. They opened the store earlier (unbeknownst to me and my careful time planning though - the ad said 5AM!) and formed lines at each big bargain item. Ok, so I was glad I didn't have to stand in the rain and wind and cold but my experience wasn't as tough as I had thought it should be. It was almost too easy. Rumor had it that the lines at Target down the street were wrapped around the building and someone said her husband was in a line to Spain at Best Buy which I wouldn't even venture to in the dark of night.
I stood, and then sat (ok, that made me feel like I was in line for something) on the hard Walmart floor and chatted with other frenzy folk around me. The girl next to me had been there since 1AM and was nodding off every now and then. Customers, staff, security ... were so friendly and I was surprised, why?, how many were so nice and not pushy at all. There were three others who were doing this whole shop-way-too-early thing on Black Friday for the first time so I felt like I was in the first timers line. When it was approaching 5AM, the buzz of excitement filled the air and people got to their feet and began to wind around the paths as directed. The person behind me said it was like being at an amusement park! So I got the $4 hand mixer AND a 19" flat screen TV. Ok, other things but those were the highlights.
My brother took me home at the late hour of 5:30AM and I then headed to Target and Michaels Arts and Crafts and then crashed at home around 8:30. It felt like noon. A big nap helped and restored my energy to plug in the TV ... and give that hand mixer a test.
*There were several who had problems getting on the website today as the server was down for a short while, so I extended the SALE through Monday 11/30, 12AM EST. Patterns, kits and selected needfuls are discounted 16.21 % ... enjoy the rest of your holiday week-end!
11 comments:
Oh Tanya...
I would say you had a wonderful time. I stayed home, and read through messages, picked up a few things from the holiday mess of yesterday, and enjoyed the peace and quiet. No fighting for sale items or a parking place. I loved it.
Sounds like you had fun. I needed a new mixer too darn it. How does yours work? What kind of TV did you get? We are looking at the big ones, and still trying to make a decision about one.
Have a beautiful day sweetie. Thanks for sharing, I felt like I was right there with you.
Country hugs...Sherry
oh my, this is like a replay of what me and my husband did 3 years ago at Walmart!
Too funny.
We had a list and went at 4am. We had to drive 45 minutes to get there. Put our hands on the items we chose and wham, at 5am they say Go and within 1 hour we were through with shopping, and then breakfast at McDonalds, in bed by 7:30pm.
He went to Lowe's this morning at 6 am but I have been glued to the bed all week so, online shopping for me this year.
There is an adrenaline rush that comes with those early morning buys. Walmart was pretty strict. At 4;45am I had put one of the sales items in my buggy and the "sales police" came by and made me put it back until they said "go at 5am".
Maybe you will get some rest today and tomorrow...........
enjoy your mixer. I need one myself. Mine is the elcheapo from Walmart and it doesnt' have a safety feature and I have many times slung batter all over the kitchen.....LOL
Jennifer
It sounds like you turned this into a fun Adventure, that's awesome!
Doesn't everyone go to buy a mixer and come home with a television...:D
Thanks for sharing your day, it made me smile.
I enjoy it as long as I don't have to go to work. I had to work today so my husband left around 3:30. He got the few things we wanted and came home. It's nice to have a start on the holiday shopping.
Funny, I was saying to Tom last night: "so, should we get up really, really early and go to one of the big sales?" because we've been turning over the idea of a new tv also. He looked at me like I was nuts. I've never done it. Instead we drove to Short Pump in Richmond late a.m. (have you ever shopped there? It's fun--they have nifty boutiques & the anchor stores are Macy's (yawn), Nordstrom and Dillards. And they have a Maggiano's too--yummy.) Still, I think it would have been fun to do the early thing!
Call me crazy, but one of the biggest things that I miss about living in the US is Black Friday shopping. When I was a kid, I'd go with my best buddies. As an adult, I'd get up before dawn and trudge out on my own, coming home with a ton of bargains and Dunkin' Donuts treats for the kids & coffee for DH & I. Then wrapped the stuff up that night. Ah, fond memories!! I think it's the idea of getting stuff at such great prices. I'm glad you were able to score some deals, but especially spend that time with your brother. That's the stuff memories are made of!
My stepsisters and their mother used to do this every single year - they'd even rent a hotel room, to be closer to the malls (as Machias isn't close to anything!) but it's not something I've ever had an interest in. Good for you, scoring a TV and mixer! :)
Your first Black Friday experience sounds fun and successsful too. We decided to head to Macy's about 10AM.....they had great sales and believe it or not, not too crowded....I think we missed the early rush....hugs, Linda
LOL - you actually made that sound like fun! If you lived near me, I would have joined you and your brother! My girls said they were going to go for it this year, but only Sabrina did... at 9:00 am! LOL
Paulette
So you went out!!! Isn't it fun?! You got off easy, though... waiting outside in a line of hundreds of people, in 20 degree weather, at 3 am is really more fun LOL
You and Will are INSANE, but I'm sure glad you had an exciting time with it!
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