Walmart joins the Black Friday world of released ads

Surprise!  Wally World chats with CNN the other day about some of their “big ticket items” and lo and behold!  Now the Black Friday sites can release the very ad they’ve been sitting on for weeks! 

Very disappointing ad, by the way.  At least in my book.  I’m not after a TV or a computer, mainly toys but there is nothing very spectacular this year.

Speaking of people in need of a TV, it doesn’t shock me why so many people are in debt up to their eyeballs.  How many TVs does one person need?  I read a post on a Black Friday site from someone indicating they were going to buy one of the TVs on sale at Walmart and that would allow them to have a TV in every room of their house–even their bathroom!  Huh?  I wonder how many rooms that person has!

As for the midnight opening, well, I guess not ALL the Wallys are doing it because there is one near me that states they are not opening until 5:00 a.m.  So if you are one of those fools who desires a TomTom, TV or PS3650 XLJ (or whatever kind of electronics), knock yourself out for five hours standing in line with your ticket in hand.  Then when they go on sale at 5:00 you buy your TV (which may take an hour to get, depending on how fast those workers can dish out all the sets–and there will only be 50 in my store, per the manager), then you can bring that TV out to your car, come back in the store and shop some more!

Sounds like fun!

Will Black Friday be a bust?

With the ever increasing tension over Walmart’s new policy for Black Friday shoppers, I’m wondering if this Black Friday will end up being a bust for most.

I understand why they had to do it (and I think they should have developed some kind of safety standards for Black Friday long before someone got killed); but I can sense the public’s frustration in having to obtain a ticket for any of the “big ticket” items they want to buy (i.e., TVs, Xbox, cameras, etc.).  People are wondering how they’re going to do it if they have to get in one line for a TV and another for a camera and they don’t have ten friends to help them out.  It’s possible Wally World may establish the same regimen Best Buy has where they had out tickets for any item you want which guarantees that you get one.  Who knows.

I think it’s kind of cool they will be open on Thanksgiving (in some states) and from what I understand, will even be opening at midnight on Black Friday.  Of course you won’t be able to get the sale items until 5:00 a.m. but what’s wrong with walking around the store for five hours, right?

As for my Black Friday game plan, well, unless they have some super duper deal on toys, I probably won’t be there any earlier than 3:00 a.m.  I’m hoping to get the dirt cheap jeans they’ve had for the past two years (if  history repeats itself–with WW it usually does) and some cheapo towels (again, history repeating itself).  But I’m not interested in HDTVs or no name brand notebooks for $99.00.  I could care less about a Wii game system or any other electronic. 

So I guess I won’t be one of those fools standing in line.  I’ll be in, get my stuff and out the door by 5:45.  Just like last year.  Bring it on!

Another Black Friday come and gone…

and I survived! 

The day began at 3:00 a.m. for me.  That’s the time I woke up to drive to Walmart.  Got to Wally World with my shopping companion by 4:30 a.m.  The line wasn’t too bad.  Shorter than last year.

By quarter to five, the line was longer and kind of wrapped around itself.  People who had just got there cut others out of line.  I told my SC (shopping companion) that I would ditch my cart for easier maneuvering into the store.  She would have the cart and I would catch up with her.

As soon as I got in, I went to the toy section and got the four main things on my list.  Then I found my SC in the men’s dept. where she was just helping herself to the last two pairs of 34/34 men’s jeans.

We were done by 6:00 and on our way to the mall.  Hit Sears there first and encountered a very nice fellow shopper who gave me a coupon for $10.00 off my purchases, as she could not use it herself, since she didn’t have enough stuff.  I thought that was very nice of her.

Next stop was Christmas Tree Shops where we were able to get 20% off our purchases.  Worst part of that experience were the checkout lines!

Found a great deal at FYE on DVD TV shows…buy one at $34.99 get the other FREE!  WHoohoo!  Great gifts for hubby…

Hit a few other miscellaneous stores then left to have lunch at Crackerbarrel.  Finished off the day at Toys R Us where I was still able to find the deals I was in search of, even at 3:00 p.m.

Now if I could only find the energy to wrap this stuff…

And tomorrow we shop!

Got my lists all made, decisions made on what to get, what not to get.

I was hoping to hop on-line tonight (Wed/Thurs am) and get some on-line deals at TRU, however, it doesn’t seem like they actually have any of those deals right now on-line. 

I may just have to tough it out and go to the actual store on Friday.

Heads up to all Black Friday shoppers!

I know all us BF nuts are anxiously anticipating next Friday’s big hullabaloo.  I also know we’re anxiously awaiting the OFFICIAL release of the Wally World and TRU ads.

 

I know these ads have been leaked (or so I’ve read on various message boards), however I have come across one message board where alleged BF ads for both of these stores have been posted.  However, upon closer examination and comparison with a 2007 BF ad, I have discovered these lists are bogus. 

 

I can understand a store selling a few items two years in a row.  But at the same price as last year, especially with the way the economy is?  I compared 25 items and found them on the 2007 list posted on Gottadeal.com as well as on this bogus list at the same price as 2007.

 

I know we’re all excited about the pending sales; however we must remember to be aware of some people who claim they have a “leaked” ad (leaked from where, I don’t know) when the ad they have is actually something they bought on Ebay for a buck (true story—someone on one of these boards actually admitted they got the ad from Ebay and lo and behold, it was LAST YEAR’S ad!)

 

Just be patient, everyone.  We should have all the juicy merchandise information by this Sunday!  That’s plenty of time to peruse the ads and determine where you will be when and for what!

 

 

 

The shoppers are getting antsy…

That little Walmart leak last week has really gotten many in an uproar. 

I know the ad is out there.  I’ve cached the listing on a few Black Friday sites.  Some people were saying that the ads were errors and that they were actually LAST year’s ads.  However, in comparing notes from the CNN leak, these ads DID list the GE microwave for $25.00 and the Hannah Montana doll for $10.00, as well as the Samsung plasma HDTV for $798.00.  But there were also a lot of things on this alleged 2008 ad that did appear on 2007’s ad.  So I’m not completely sold that the ad listings I’ve seen are accurate; It’s either that or Walmart keeps reselling the same old shit year after year and adds in a few newbie things to try to get every psyched up.  Could be.

Anyway, I guess we’ll all just have to wait until Sunday for the big unveiling of this year’s Walmart ad.  After all this waiting and and anticipation from everyone, including the little “teaser” (which to me was not much of a teaser–kids clothes priced between $4.00 and $8.00?  I can get clothes for that price NOW at Walmart–where’s the deal there?)–the wait better damn well be worth it.

Speaking of Black Friday, I do have to mention that I made out like a bandit last night at Sears’ Friends and Family night.  I bought my little one TWO pairs of sleeper pj’s (w/the feet) which normally would go for $20.00, marked half-off (that’s TWO in a package for TEN bucks!) PLUS 10% off of that!  In addition, I got hubby two dress shirts on sale for $21.99 with 10% off on those too!  I was thrilled! 

Sears has a DVD/VCR combo advertised for BF for $49.99.  Unless Wally World has one cheaper than that, Sears is where I’ll be buying it.

Some of the BF deals at Walmart from last year that I hope they have this year (or similar ones anyway):

men’s jeans (can’t recall what kind–but my husband doesn’t care!) – $7 and change last year (can’t recall the exact price)

A deal on towels would be nice also.

and I’m pricing hippity hops and medical kids for my kid also.  At least I know TRU has them if I can’t find them at Wally World.

So Wally World leaked to CNN…

After they bitched and moaned and sent threatening we’ll-sic-our-lawyers-on-you-if-you-post-our-Black-Friday-ad-on-your-site letters, Walmart went ahead and revealed BF deals they are going to be having on several items to the news network CNN.  This is after they said nothing would be leaked until November 24. Go figure.

Some of the deals:  doorbuster deals offered between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. including a 50-inch Samsung plasma HDTV ($798), Magnavox Blu-ray player ($128), Xbox 360 ($199) sold with free Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock game and wireless guitar, HP Pavilion desktop computer ($398) and a UniFlame gas grill ($175).  These are deals?  I’ll never understand why any human being needs a TV larger than 20″.  The picture is still the same.  But if you have $798.00 lying around and want to blow it on a 50-inch TV, be my guest.

The one that worries me is the GE microwave for $25.00.  My first question is:  how big is it?  Second question, how long will it last?

The article went on to state that due to the poor economy, last week Walmart stated they would offer more discounts on thousands of products over the next seven weeks.  Well, I shop at Wally World every week and I have yet to see any lower prices on anything.

Right now the two main places on my BF list are Sears and Wally World–depending on what Wally has to offer, of course.  I’m looking for a new DVD/VHS player and right now Sears is the only one offering one for $49.99.  Unless Wally comes out with one also (hopefully lower priced), I’m going to have to go with Sears.

The Black Friday madness is starting! I LOVE it!

I’ll give a little plug to two of my favorite deal sites right here:  dealtaker.com and gottadeal.com 

I discovered them about three years ago during the Tickle Me Elmo craze and I visit them both on a regular basis mostly for freebie deals (and believe me, I’ve gotten some GREAT stuff from both of these places!)

I can relate to how most of the people who visit these sites feel about stores holding out on the release of their BF ads too early.  After all, it IS exciting to see what each store is going to have to offer and to make your plans for all the BF shopping. 

On the other hand, I CAN see how the stores feel about their sales being leaked to the public too early.  There is a competition factor that I think comes into play with a lot of them.  In that sense, I feel that a November 24 release of the BF ads is plenty of time to go over the ads and still know where to go for what.

Okay, so there is a lack of suspense and excitement…but as long as we still get to shop on BF, who cares, right?