I am a veteran of Black Friday, I’ve seen all the horrors there are to see. I’ve stood in lines that took hours and have grabbed the last space in a parking lot that filled before the store even opened… and the rebates, those evil little rebates!  I’ve also worked retail in an electronics store on Black Friday.  There will be jostling, pushing, groaning, moaning, and cursing.  Here are a few thing to do and to avoid doing that will make the day more bearable and hopefully make you a more successful shopper:

• DO plan ahead make a list of what you want and know the opening times of each store.  Bring the ad along with you just in case
• DON’T plan on browsing, save that for another day be focused and as specific as possible
• DO keep a snack and water nearby to stay hydrated and keep your blood sugar up
• DON’T drink too much of the water at once, you might end up in a loooong line
• DO  have backup options listed for other stores in case the store with the best deal sells out before you get there
• DON’T expect to get the biggest deal, that is unless you want to beat everyone else to the line and the item
• DO be as cheerful as you can, bring gum and share with others in line and be friendly without being a pushover
• DON’T complain about the length of the line, call everyone else crazy, and act like they are causing a problem by making you wait.  You’re part of the line too and no breaking!
• DO  prioritize items with instant rebates over mail in rebates, even if the instant rebate is a little more expensive
• DON’T buy anything you’ll hate yourself for buying if you never get a mail-in rebate back
• DO look for items in places other than their normal shelf space, look up to a top shelf or for bins nearby where additional items might be stored
• DON’T forget to check along the lines and near exits for deep discount items that may have been abandoned by someone who doesn’t want to wait in a long line
• DO check to see it what you have is worth waiting in line for
• DON’T waste time in a line for a cheap item and give up the chance for a big item at a different store
• DO be extra careful while driving, there will be lots of pedestrians and other cars rushing around
• DON’T speed or drive recklessly to get to a deal, a ticket and increased insurance rates will wipe out any savings.
• DO try to have fun!

Good luck with your Black Friday Shopping!

   Everyone that has worked retail knows that after the discounted Halloween candy has all been sold off, you start pulling out the Christmas stock.  The music on the store radio will start mixing in holiday music and all your customers will complain about these things until Thanksgiving (rightfully).  On Thanksgiving you get together with your family and the conversation always drifts to possible gifts and leads to Black Friday battle plans that would make Napoleon proud.

These are our proud American Traditions, we will complain about and avoid all attempts to make us start shopping early until those drool inducing deals call to us in our overstuffed Thanksgiving stupor.  At that point in time we throw ourselves full force into the marketing machine that is the Holiday Season!

Does Walmart care about our traditions? No.  Does Walmart care about the little guy?  No.  Does Walmart understand anything about the American Family except that we want everything cheap and in one place?  No.

What have they done?  They are trying to move Black Friday to the Friday after Halloween!  Jerks!  You can’t mess with an American Tradition like Black Friday and hope to get away with it!  Boycott these deals!  Do not let this stand! I for one will not stand in line and fight for your anti-American deals!