Black Friday GOLDMINE!!

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by CatT, Nov 18, 2012.

  1. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    far and away the best site i've found for BF is:

    http://slickdeals.net/blackfriday/#storelist

    95% of the linked pages have full and complete scans of the individual pages, plus a (redundant) all-in-one pdf. even on dialup, i managed to queue up 53 of those to auto-DL overnight!

    SEARS and KMART are among the few with problems. jpgs are fine but the pdfs are incomplete. use THIS link for sears instead: http://s3.bradsdeals.com/images/blackfriday/2012-sears-black-friday-ad-285.pdf

    i still need to find the equivalent for kmart.

    -----
    incidentally, i'm not seeing any amazing deals this year. $500 laptops going for $300...is that all that special? i recall $700 laptops going for $179 one year!

    and where are all the $20 TVs of yore?!

    oh well, guess it'll just be free snickers at CVS this year. OUTTA MY WAY, GRANNIE!!!!
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2012
  2. dyamond

    dyamond Imelda Marcos of Majorgeeks

    I don't care about black friday deals, I like keeping all my limbs in tact thank you. :p :-D


    Last year I ordered two things online from Walmart on black friday morning. Something that should have taken me maybe 10 minutes max to pick out, add to my cart & pay for under normal circumstances, took me (I don't remember exactly but I think) about 2 hours. Then around 7ish (PM) my friend wanted to go to walmart so I decided to go because I thought it would have died down by then..NOPE! I never wanted to rip peoples head's off more than I did that night. Never again will I subject myself to that sort of torture! :-D:-D
     
  3. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    walmart is actually expecting a STRIKE on friday.

    that ought to liven things up!
     
  4. dyamond

    dyamond Imelda Marcos of Majorgeeks

    I have a feeling walmart won't really put up with those kinds of shenanigans.

    edit: Who ever thought of this "strike" is an idiot. Everyone knows you work retail you are required to work holidays & weekends. If you don't like it, don't get a retail job.
     
  5. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    this is a separate thing from the "we don't wanna work thanksgiving" movement. WM employees have been rumbling about a strike for some time now, and they're just picking thanksgiving to hit the store at its weakest.

    that said, WM is still non-union, right? so there is no "call" for a walkout, per se. just a grassroots movement via twitter or the like trying to sync up the date.

    i'm surprised they haven't got a catchy name yet. "Occupy Parking Lot!" or somesuch.
     
  6. BoredOutOfMyMind

    BoredOutOfMyMind Picabo, ICU

    The deals at a lot of stores (including CVS) are BETTER now in the .
    4 days prior to Thanksgiving/BF)
    Also if you compare the Sears ads this week to 2 weeks ago and then to BF.... they RAISED prices.

    This site is good also. http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
     
  7. BoredOutOfMyMind

    BoredOutOfMyMind Picabo, ICU

    I would welcome hours this week at retail, as I will have no pay for 4 days this week. ;)
     
  8. dyamond

    dyamond Imelda Marcos of Majorgeeks

    I don't think you mean weakest, black friday will be their strongest day and I don't doubt at all they will find people to work if people decided to "call out" that day, not to mention, I don't think that those people that do "strike" will have jobs much longer.

    Yea but some people aren't like you, they'd rather whine and complain that they have to work "extra" hours.

    It always amuses me that people pick jobs, with specific rules and what not and then don't like the rules and want to change them by "striking". Here's a hint, you don't like your job? quit! I worked retail and after two years, I decided I had enough. I didn't stick around and say HEY I hate my minimum wage job where I have to work nights, weekends and holidays. Let me strike about it! NO, I got my tail out of there as fast as I could. :-D
     
  9. Fred_G

    Fred_G Heat packin' geek

    I think they should strike, and demand more money. :-D

    See Sig. :-D:-D
     
  10. Serious Sam

    Serious Sam Corporal

    <<<< strong believer in cyber Monday
     
  11. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    no, i don't think WM can mobilize in time to get new workers on a day like BF. if there are indeed large-scale walkouts, it will result in utter chaos. bear in mind that the act of simply ENTERING the STORE has proven fatal in a couple of cases now! now take away half the defences.

    that said, what i wouldn't give to have an excuse to GET AWAY from the IN-LAWS for 7 or 8 hours! hey, walmart, i've got your back!! you don't even have to pay me -- just gimme shelter!

    it's the *OTHER* 364 days i don't wanna work. can i go on strike for THOSE instead?
     
  12. Triaxx2

    Triaxx2 MajorGeek

    Correct, Wal-mart is non-union. Even the slightest suggestion of union, they dump the manager and run it straight from Bentonville. If that doesn't work, they shut the store.
     
  13. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    The one ad I want to see early is always missing from these lists: Fry's

    Even though I suffered through two 20-hour Black Fridays there as a sales associate :)drool), their retail stores are one of the best places to hit early on Black Friday due to the amount of stock they have on sale items.

    Unlike Best Buy or Office Depot who may have three or four of a Black Friday item in stock, Fry's usually has dozens (if not hundreds). Although it wouldn't hurt to get in line a few hours early, you don't usually have to camp out for days in front of the building to score the best deals.

    Oh, and if you're shopping at the Houston store on Southwest Freeway, please save me a place in line. :-D;)
     
  14. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    Given they always have long checkout lines and no sales help, who's going to notice? :-D
     
  15. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek


    Something you may not realize is that Wal-Mart has destroyed Main Street in towns all over this nation. Heck, they may be the only employer left to go to in one of those towns, as most every other company has a full chest of employees in these economic times.

    The Draconian practices by Wal-Mart are many, including paying low wages, offering crappy/overpriced benefits which force people onto Medicaid or other assistance so they don't pay for healthcare, and they are even guilty of buying "dead peasants insurance".

    The last one is the real kick in the pants. They would take out life insurance policies in the millions on employees without their knowledge, and name themselves as the sole beneficiary. Word only came out because of paperwork mistake that notified a deceased employee's husband of the policy. His wife succumbed to breast cancer, as I recall.

    Wal-Mart has become the exact polar opposite of when Sam Walton used to treat his employees with respect, benefits, stock options, AND a decent wage.

    We need to get back to the good old days of the original corporate charter system which existed before the Civil War, and "borers" or lobbyists came to be. Originally corporations had NO place by law in civic life. Some of the original rules laid down by the founders of the United States were:

    ■Corporate charters (licenses to exist) were granted for a limited time and could be revoked promptly for violating laws.
    ■Corporations could engage only in activities necessary to fulfill their chartered purpose.
    ■Corporations could not own stock in other corporations nor own any property that was not essential to fulfilling their chartered purpose.
    ■Corporations were often terminated if they exceeded their authority or caused public harm.
    ■Owners and managers were responsible for criminal acts committed on the job.
    ■Corporations could not make any political or charitable contributions nor spend money to influence law-making.


    My, how times have changed...
     
  16. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    destroyed main st?! how about "improved" main st -- i remember when we paid 4x as much for everything, had 1/10 the selection, and had a really really hard time doing exchanges or returns.

    i say: GO BAIN!

    as for FRY'S, it's on their "coming soon" list, but i dunno. regional chains like that might not be high up on the site's priorities.

    personally, i've never seen one. tho i have "Fry'ed" my share of electronics....
     
  17. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek

    Well Cat, our local downtown turned into a "ghost town" after Wal-Mart came to town. Local businesses shuttered their doors, and we were left with the local eateries. We even lost our Sears store, and now it's an hour from my house to walk into one.

    Say whatever you want, but it wrecked our County Seat's downtown, thus it has taken over a decade, and a major capital infusion from the state to resurrect it, and it's begun to look like a Main St. again.

    And, while we may have paid a bit extra for some goods, we supported local business, and buying stuff on the cheap didn't come at the expense of others.

    Stop to think about just what it takes for those "low prices" to exist, or maybe you just don't care how they keep their prices artificially low, and finance a personal accrued wealth for the Walton family which exceeds the total value of the bottom 30% of the nation. That means the 6 members of the family is collectively worth more than what 100 million of the people in this country are worth. But, they can only afford to pay out minimum wage to the majority of their employees.

    You do the math...
     
  18. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    i don't need to do the math, the american public already has. they would rather patronize those 6 nasty waltons than w/e it is the lower 30% of the population is flogging.

    look, i'm from new england, i understand "nostalgia". the old town square...the train depot... buggy whips...butter churns...the family outhouse on a snowy night....

    i get it. but at some point you have to embrace change. no government should be "restoring" some phony downtown when the masses would rather be at the mall.

    i do feel sorry that your walmart edged out sears, tho! hardly a surprise tho - the sears near me is empty every time i go in there.
     
  19. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek

    It's not about nostalgia.

    I believe in the things this country was founded upon, and unlimited charter was not one of them. Corporations only exist the way they presently do because the fourteenth amendment to the constitution was hijacked and used to call a corporate a person.

    The "people" may have made a choice, but it was an ignorant choice to be had which was not intended to exist under the founding, and guiding principles of this country. There are those who love to speak about their "patriotism", but defy the Founders egalitarian ideals to line their own pockets at the expense of the many in the long run.

    Just the way I feel, because I know the history that made America, not the history that America made up.
     
  20. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    If you want to boycott Walmart, go for it. Just remember who is really to blame for mom and pop stores folding and big box stores opening on Thanksgiving: The American Consumer.

    In the 1930s, A&P and Piggly Wiggly killed the corner grocery store. In the 1960s, suburban shopping malls killed downtown shopping areas. People wanted lower prices and convenience - the same things Walmart offers.

    As for stores opening on Thanksgiving or at Midnight Friday, people should have seen this coming years ago. K-mart was the first national chain to open Thanksgiving Day about 15 years ago; their sales went off the charts compared to their everyday dismal sales numbers. Walmart Supercenters have been open 24 hours a day on Thanksgiving since I can remember. All Walmart is really doing is putting their Thanksgiving Day on steroids with specials starting at 8 PM.

    If people didn't come out in droves to shop on Thanksgiving or at Midnight Friday, stores wouldn't open then. Given retail is based on "Give The People What They Want", I have a feeling Black Thursday is here to stay.
     
  21. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek

    Bigger, faster, better. And so it goes.

    This was always one of my favorites:

    Only in America would there be a guy that cocaine wasn't good enough for.

    ~ Denis Leary
     
  22. dyamond

    dyamond Imelda Marcos of Majorgeeks

    Exactly. I try to explain about supply and demand to people who are ranting and raving about how awful they think it is that stores are open and that sales people should be at home with their families and it's all the evil stores fault.

    Well, no, by people showing up in the hundreds they are demanding it, the stores are simply supplying that demand. No demand, no supply. It's really easy concept to grasp but I guess it's easier to rage over the internet at a huge faceless corporation instead of your fellow man.
     
  23. Phantom

    Phantom Brigadier Britches

    We had, and are still trying to shake off the restricted hours legislation over here as well. Until recently, it was actually illegal for most business to operate on Sundays. Then there had to be exceptions, of course. Service stations, Delis, markets etc. Then the Service stations, delis, etc. got smart and started acting like supermarkets, anyway.
    The whole thing was because unions were bitching about having to work holidays and long hours. But what was the point of opening stores when most Monday to Friday 9 to 5'ers are at work themselves?rolleyes So everyone used to pile into the stores in the last half to one hour, or Saturday mornings.
    Then they did "Late night shopping" on Thursday nights, (and still do). Same thing, except Thursday nights were a mad house as well. Nowadays, they kind of half-heartedly let most business open on holidays and Sundays. You'd of thunk that with unemployment and all, they would welcome extra work opportunities and financial input, eh?
     
  24. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek

    The problem is most people aren't "Boy Scouts" anymore. I remember when self reliance was a fact of life, and a matter of personal pride. And dyamond, it takes two to tango. Corporates have a choice to stand up, and say their associates will be with family on a holiday, but they choose profit, and enable the demand being filled. There is ALWAYS a choice, and an enabler, is an enabler.

    We have a society coddled by 24/7 convenience, and far too many (I'm not saying everyone) don't prepare for things. They just expect they can go out at any hour, and their wants/needs will be met. I remember when Holidays were sacred, not an excuse to trample people for the best deal on x, y, or z. So much for the "Christ" in Christmas. And, I say that as an Agnostic who respects what Jesus stood for, and what he wouldn't stand for.

    Personally as someone who keeps the pantry stocked properly with dry goods, and plans a menu, it's just sad to see how pathetic commercialism, materialism, greed, and T.I.G. (Total Instant Gratification) has made this country.

    Radix
    Omnium
    Malorum
    Avaritia

    ""OH NO, my own dog has gone commercial!"

    ~ Charlie Brown

    However I could segue, it comes down to one thing: disappointment. Across the board.
     
  25. dyamond

    dyamond Imelda Marcos of Majorgeeks

    I beg to differ. If nobody showed up for black friday deals, then stores would more than likely stop doing it. It all goes back to supply and demand, the simple basic of economics. If you have all supply and no demand, that's how stores go out of business or all demand and no supply, customers will find else where to go. 99 1/2% of the "blame" for this black friday madness falls directly on the consumer. Store can advertise all they want but if the consumer doesn't want it, then the consumer doesn't want it.

    Personally I try to stay as far away as possible, I really don't enjoy the feeling of homicidal rage so early in the morning. :-D
     
  26. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    Black Friday is America's version of Spain's Running Of The Bulls - total chaos, except no non-human animals get hurt. :-D
     
  27. oma

    oma MajorGeek

    Lately there has been a lot of news about American businesses (retailers) who want to set up shop here in Canada. From what I've read, the American market is about saturated. Additionally, in general we Canucks don't seem to go crazy in bargain hunting for a few $$ or cents in savings or coupon clipping. That also must influence these businesses wanting to come here. We already pay higher prices than in the USA for the very same products. :cry Yet I see some movement in having a BF here, although I doubt that the savings will really be worthwhile.

    I know, I know, there are some staunch Canadians who go on shopping sprees to the USA, not me though. :)

    Happy BF shopping to all of you who wish to participate!

    @gman863: Hope none of the BF shoppers will get gored. ;)
     
  28. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    i must say, the crush of people at walmart on black friday is nothing for someone from boston. we grew up with THIS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_of_the_Brides

    anyway, even the ones defending the stores' rights to open on holidays seem to be implying it's somehow lamentable nonetheless. let me be the first to state -- UNEQUIVOCALLY -- i have no such reservations. tv stations broadcast on holidays, radio stations broadcast on holidays, my ISP is up and running on holidays -- why are RESTAURANTS and STORES the boogeymen here?

    if anything, i could see more logic in trying to shut down all the communications stuff and send us back to the "real world". i get a warm, fuzzy, currier and ives kind of feeling standing at that walmart line at 3 in the morning.

    mingling with humanity! isn't that what the holidays are all about?!

    now HANDS OFF THAT FLAT-SCREEN, GRANNIE!!!! i've got a STUN GUN says i saw it FIRST!! :boxing
     
  29. the mekanic

    the mekanic Major Mekanical Geek


    My beef is with "Black Thursday", and retailers even being open at all on Thanksgiving. I worked retail for a while during the recent recession because it was about the only job to be had at the time. I was scheduled for Thanksgiving, and was told I would be terminated if I did not show up for shift. I missed Turkey day with the family, and bugged out as soon as another opportunity cropped up. If you have never worked retail, DON'T unless it is a last resort. How about Black Saturday? Maybe Sunday? Of course, the Friday after Thanksgiving ain't a holiday.
     
  30. Triaxx2

    Triaxx2 MajorGeek

    That's Small Business Saturday.

    Of course, what's actually going to happen is that all these 'striking' Walmart employees are going to be spending their Friday and Saturday looking for new employment.
     
  31. jimi

    jimi Private E-2

    err they want a time set aside when no Canadians can shop at the Bellingham Costco, so i guess the B.C. Canucks aren't the norm for Canada, ehrolleyes

    [​IMG]

    is it wrong for me to be done with my shopping:-D
     
  32. CatT

    CatT I can't follow the rules

    i'm confused, i thought everything was CHEAPER in canookistan?

    my friends in seattle go to BC to buy milk; why are they coming to bellingham?
     
  33. jimi

    jimi Private E-2

    1/2 price from up north, then again u.s. dairy farmers are subsidized and then there's those taxes, and with us legalizing smoke the price of B.C. bud just went south, or so i was told:innocent
     
  34. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    I have a friend who used to live in Detroit. Up there, people cross over into Canada in droves to have prescriptions filled - unless it's a $4 generic, the cost of meds is usually 50% - 80% less than US pharmacies.
     

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