Brave shoppers offer advice for one of the busiest shopping days of the year Brave shoppers offer advice for one of the busiest shopping days of the year
It's called "Black Friday,” the day of shopping after Thanksgiving.
Now, to some, it's just good shopping. Others wouldn't be seen within 10 miles of it. And some see it as part fun, part adrenaline rush.
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So let's take a little from each and start with the last one.
Even the sun's alarm clock is still a couple or so hours from going off as Gordonna Suchy heads out the door in her sweats and a few layers of other clothes for "my power shopping day.”
"I've been known to hit five stores before noon,” she wrote in an e-mail. "I absolutely love going out on Black Friday.
"Of course, there have been a few problems, such as people pushing and shoving a lot, but mostly, people are respectful and just hurrying to get their own bargains. I just turned 61 and realize that I won't be able to do this much longer, so I want to enjoy it while I'm pretty healthy.”
Some years, Suchy's morning-after-Thanksgiving alarm has gone off at 4 a.m. Sometimes it's a little later, but she always wants to be out the door by 5:30 a.m. "in order to get a good spot in line.”
Some "Black Friday” bargain hunters go armed with a list and a circular. Suchy just takes the circular with the items marked that she's targeting. Some go alone, some travel with friends and some share the morning of shopping with family.
Suchy, who works full-time but is off that day, was joined last year by her husband, who is retired.
And there's a possibility he may go again this year "if he sees anything good in the ads.”
What does that mean? Bargains.
She said last year they found a really good deal on a flat-screen television. Usually she'll save from 30 to 50 percent off regular prices on several items — especially toys for her nieces and nephews.
But remember, that is only a third of the equation I previously mentioned. Recently, when I asked readers through NewsOK.com if they shopped on Black Friday, I laughed aloud and appreciated the response from Doug Wilson.
"No, and my strategy is to wake up late, make a nice turkey sandwich, open a soda pop, and enjoy a stress-free day,” he wrote.
However, there was also a response from one of the regular Black Friday shoppers. She has other commitments this year but provided some tips from her experience.
Jan Grady said she usually purchases a couple of newspapers and pulls out all of the sales ads, keeping those she's interested in.
"I start browsing through the ads, figure out what's actually a good buy and what's not, and then determine my order of importance as to ‘what I must have,'” she wrote. "Generally, electronics are the items that I am looking for.”
Grady said she wakes up about an hour before the sale starts and heads to the store. She takes the circulars with her just in case there is a price discrepancy so she can show the retailer and get the price that's advertised.
Why bother? Because she said she'll usually save an average of 40 to 50 percent on the items she plans to purchase throughout the holiday season. If she can't do that, she doesn't bother going.
"I will usually spend a maximum of 2-3 hours getting what I want and then grab a Starbucks, some McDonald's breakfast and head home and plop in a DVD until I fall asleep and take a nice nap,” she wrote.
Grady said she hasn't really experienced the craziness that is stereotypical of "Black Friday.”
She's shopped the day after Thanksgiving for about 15 years, but says she has yet to experience "excruciating lines, fist fights or anything else out of the ordinary other than larger crowds.”
"But the crowds on this day are no larger than during the last few weeks prior to Christmas,” she said.
"I have shopped at Wal-Mart, Target, KB Toys, Toys "R” Us and many more and never experienced the horror stories that you hear about on the news.”
However with that stated, she offered another tip and I feel this is a good way to close.
"But the most important thing to remember is the season and what Christmas means,” she wrote, "and how it would scare your children if they saw you slugging another mom or dad or grandma over that Furby or Cabbage Patch kid and if that's sending a positive message.”
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Braving the front lines on ‘Black Friday' wasn't so bad
My assignment as a Business reporter several years ago: cover "Black Friday” at a toy store in the mall.
I was so naive. Shopping? Big deal, I thought. There will be a few people who will show, I'll get a quote or two from these docile bargain hunters and I'll still beat the sun back to the office.
Not only was I naive, I was so slow. I am, as I've admitted before, gravity-challenged to start with.
But this was the day after Thanksgiving, which means on Thanksgiving mom had the turkey, the ham, three kinds of dressing and umpteen pies — and I sure wouldn't want to bruise mom's feelings by not partaking of each.
Plus, I was a "Black Friday” rookie and the veterans can sense a rookie. That can be good or bad.
On the good side, they feel sorry for you that you are a rookie, especially if you're naive and slow.
On the bad side, you're nothing more than a speed bump if you get between them and, say for example, Elmo at a reduced price.
Reaching the toy store about 6:30 a.m., I was surprised at the lines.
The store manager later told me he was surprised when he arrived at 5:45 a.m. for an 8 a.m. opening and seven or eight people were already waiting.
For the next hour and a half the tension grew.
And then it was time.
A repetitious clank could be heard as the storefront metal gate began its ascension.
I'd covered bull riding for more than a decade and never felt this kind of rush.
They charged into the toy store and for the most part, they came out.
Never had I seen anything like it.
After writing feverishly of this grand experience, I laughed to the effect of "who would do this?”
Here's a bit of advice — try not to do that, laugh at others.
Why? The following year the answer was "Me.”
My wife saw the item she wanted us to give our daughter for Christmas — she saw it in a circular on Thanksgiving Day. The next morning, I'm whiskered but well-layered as I left the house at 4 a.m.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you where I was headed — Toys 'R Us. Feel free to cringe.
Much to my surprise, I'm about a dozen people deep as I take my place in line. But the coolest thing happened. The veterans could sense I was inexperienced and they took me in. I was in awe. I came with the circular in hand, bearing a photo of my target item. That was nothing compared to them. They had circulars, but they also had lists and other notes. I think these people had scouted their opponent well. I hadn't, but again they felt pity.
"What are you looking for?” the well-prepared bargain hunter asked.
"A karaoke machine,” I replied, showing the person my circular picture.
Going to the tiptoes, and raising an arm to point, the person said "It's right over there.”
Outstanding.
Not only had this saved me time, but allowed me to form a game plan. My item was stacked near the center of the entry aisle. If I paused I'd hold up the masses, and there were masses. Instead I would go hard, scoop the box into my cart and then run for cover. After catching my breath I would head toward the checkout aisle. It worked.
I saved money, met new friends and suffered not even the slightest of contusions.
I vowed to return on future "Black Fridays” and have.
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