2009.11.23
Store maps and midnight openings for Black Friday
Those of you gearing up for Black Friday's early morning deals and large crowds already can take a look at Walmart's sales for the day after Thanksgiving. You even can map out your route inside each store.
Enter the zip code of the Walmart location that you plan to visit at Walmart.com, and you'll find a list of the 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. deals, plus a map of that store that highlights where the deal items will be placed.
For example, at Walmart beside Valley View Mall in Roanoke, the super sales include a Samsung camcorder for $149, a Kodak digital camera for $69 and an eMachines laptop computer for $198. Here's a link to the store's layout for Black Friday.
In other Black Friday retail news, I learned that Toys R Us will open all of its stores at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving. That includes the toy retailer's Roanoke location near Valley View Mall.
So far, this is the earliest Black Friday opening planned in the Roanoke Valley.
Do you plan to join the Black Friday shopping madness?
NO!!!
Will open my retail business at the regular time on Friday & be thankful for each and every customer I have the privilege of serving.
Then I'll watch Roanoke empty out for the traditional Tech Saturday after Thanksgiving ball game.
To each & all who read this: May you have a blessed Thanksgiving...
Comment by Steve — November 23, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Why bother going to the Black Friday sales, they will not have what they advertise. It's not just Black Friday either, many stores have low or no stock on sale items any day, especially if it is a really good price. If the ad says "no rain checks" you know they do not have the item at all. When an ad runs in Sunday paper and you go to the store on Sunday afternoon and they say "Sorry, sold out." you know they never had any to begin with and never intended to sale any at the sale price.
Comment by RJ — November 23, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
I know where you are coming from RJ. Best Buy seams to be the worst at that. I've even went there right when the doors open on Sunday and they did not have what I wanted that was on sale.
I tried the black Friday thing once and vowed never to mess with it again. Not worth the madness. Ah the madness.
Comment by Other Mike — November 23, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Even on sale, store prices are rarely as good as online prices--compare the same book at Barnes & Nobles' store and their own website sometime! Window shop, make a list of what you like, and buy it later online to save real money. Better yet, bring your web-enabled phone and use the online price to negotiate better deals.
Comment by Robert — November 23, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
Steve I would like to know the name of your business. I won't be in town on "black Friday" but I would much rather shop at a store owned by an actual individual local person than at the asylum that is walmart.
Comment by tass — November 24, 2009 @ 10:56 am
The answer is to shop online -- tons of sites, both online only and clicks-and-mortar -- are having sales and some are including free shipping.
Driving anywhere on Black Friday is inviting a migraine (or worse).
Comment by Michael — November 24, 2009 @ 11:07 am
We will once again not participate in any Black Friday buying. I don't like the crowds at the stores on a normal day, so that usually goes about 5 times past my limit. I like shopping late at night when it's just a handful of shoppers and the night stockers working. I'll probably get just as good a deal anyway, and not have to put up with the frenzied crowds. Plus, since we already had out big Thanksgiving dinner over the weekend, I'll just get a long, relaxing 4-day weekend now...rather than a frantic, frenzied weekend filled with cooking, cleaning, hosting, cleaning some more, shopping, and traffic.
Comment by Other John — November 24, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
I have never shopped on Black Friday and I do not feel the need to start anytime soon. If I need to get anything else between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I usually find what I need and usually better pricing as Christmas gets closer so why bother with the headache of getting up early and having to deal with grumpy people (kind of ruins the Christmas spirit dealing with them).
Comment by Jason — November 24, 2009 @ 4:45 pm