Black Friday: To Shop or Not to Shop

It's hard to believe we're already to the end of November.  This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving and along with that comes the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.

I would hardly consider myself an experienced Black Friday shopper.  While I have risen before the sun on this day for the past four years, I do not try to kill myself or others beating down the doors, especially not for the hot-ticket items.  I've done clothes, movies and low-grade electronics.  Therefore, I may not be qualified to dish out much advice for shopping on this day, but I'll give you what I know.

My best advice for Black Friday is to plan ahead.  You can find most Black Friday ads on-line these days.  BlackFriday.info is a good place to start.  If you're a tangible person, you can wait until Thanksgiving Day to peruse the print ads that arrive in the paper.  Find what you want, make a battle plan, be prepared.

Here's a tip I just learned last year: Wal-Mart honors their price-matching policy even on Black Friday.  So if what you want is something you can find at Wal-Mart, buying there rather than Target or other stores might give you a bit of an edge as the other Wal-Mart shoppers may be focused on the deals only found in the Wal-Mart ad.  Shopping at Wal-Mart on Black Friday can vary by store.  I've been in a store so well-prepared we were in the store by 4:45 (15 min before "opening") and out by 5:30.  I've been in other stores where we were in at 5:15 and out an hour and a half later.  So, it really depends on if it's worth it for you.

The other thing about Wal-Mart (and possibly other stores) is that their big deals are most likely not in the department you'd think.  Last year, we found our portable DVD player in the frozen foods section.  They try to strategically place the pallets to save from traffic flooding any one area.  So, ask an associate when you get there, they all have maps depicting what is where and can tell you exactly where to go.  Also, because most Wal-Marts are 24 hours, you can typically get in the store before the 5am start (this year some of Wal-Mart's sale prices start at MIDNIGHT!), but you are not allowed to touch the sale merchandise until 5am exactly.  Which leaves you standing right in front of the item you want, staring at it and listening to the other shoppers bash the associates who are trying to keep their greedy hands at bay.

Be prepared for snark (but remember Who you represent and try not to give in to the petty nature of Black Friday shoppers).

And finally, the most obvious, be prepared to WAIT.  Most of your Black Friday "shopping" time will be spent waiting in-line.  Remember the above rule, stay patient and always reflect a Christ-like attitude.  Remember: in the end, it's all just STUFF.  And none of us NEED stuff.  Keep a good attitude and honor Christ in all you do :)