Black Friday Tips??

[CanonRebelz]

Hey everyone. Thanksgiving is next week, woo!!! I'm excited, because I'll be going Black Friday shopping the day afterwards for the FIRST TIME.. probably ever. Haha.
So, has anyone ever gotten or seen any photography equipment such as flashes, lenses, bodies(not that I want a new one..), tripods, cases, or even software for sale on black friday?? Thanks!

[CapturingLife]

EEP! *hides under her desk at the mention of Black Friday* :P

Sadly no, I personally haven't. BUT! I know that a lot of my friends hit Best Buy for some good deals on Photography equipment.
I know a lot of different places are posting their Black Friday sales online already, to show you what they are selling. (They don't "officially" go on sale until the actual day, but it's just a sneak peek, so you have an idea of what you want to risk life and limb for. :P) LOL!

Though, I will admit, I am going to be pre-Black Friday shopping, and post-Black Friday shopping for a camera.
I've been watching Ebay very closely for my camera, and have been snooping around elsewhere to find the perfect deal in my price range. The closer we get to the Holidays, the lower the prices are getting. *grins*

[AnneWynne]

General Black Friday tips:
Preview the ads: Black Friday Ads - Official Black Friday Site for Black Friday 2009 Ads, Black Friday Deals, Black Friday Sales, Thanksgiving Sale, Thanksgiving Deals or your local newspaper.

Check to see if any of the sales are obtainable online, and order when they become available (the shipping is worth the avoidance of crowds and possibility the item won't be in the store).

Prioritize! Decide what you really, really want and go to that store first. Get there early and stand in line for the doors to open.

Scope out the store so you have a good idea where the items you want are located. Know where the computer area is, the cameras/accessories, videos, phones, etc. Some stores will hand out maps at the entrance when they open the doors to point people to where they have the doorbusters.,,they are not always in the area that makes sense.

If there are multiple items, use the team approach and send out members of the team in search of specific items. Use your cell phones to keep in touch.

Know what you want AND what you can use. Know the specifications of what you need or for impulse buys to avoid later returns and missing out on the deals. DO NOT rely on information given by store employees...they may or may not know what they are talking about...this is especially true of the big-box stores like WalMart, etc. I picked up memory cards last year and the clerk said the ones I originally bought would work in any camera that took that size (physical) card...Wrong! I ended up having to go back and make an exchange. Lucily the other cards worked and were also a Black Friday sale.

Get in/get out. Once you have what you want, do not stay in the store browsing. Get to the check out ASAP to avoid long lines. Some stores will have other places you can check out at, like the jewelry counter at WalMart and KMart. Use them if the lines at the regular cash registers are long.

If you want to browse, go back later in the day. The crowds will be gone and there may be some door busters left. I picked up several deals late in the day last year and did not have to deal with the early morning craziness.

Good luck and Happy Hunting!
Anne

[CanonRebelz]

Wow thanks so much for the link and tips!!!!
I'm eying a few things now, especially the dell 20 inch LCD monitor for $99, thinking about buying that and a mac mini or something. I think a desktop might be better than a laptop.

[Darkman]

don't go to walmart, you might get killed there.

[Ray Dockrey]

Best Buy is the same way. It is dangerous. People camp out there in order to get their specials.

[CanonRebelz]

Yeah true, lol. I wouldn't camp, but I would go at like 2 or 3 AM probably, if I could (depends on my ride! haha).
And, my town is kinda small, so we don't have the kind of problems with people getting trampled like in NYC and other big cities. But, regardless, there are tons of people.. and only 4-10 of each product, haha.

[Rolling Stone]

Make sure your will is in order.
Farewell. ; )

[elvenprincessjo]

I love love love shopping on Black Friday... But I may be crazy! Haha. The best experience I have ever had was in Kohl's. There was no madness, no pushing or shoving, and the doorbusters came in large enough quantities for everyone! They even had stuff you wouldn't normally think of a store like Kohl's having... Such as projectors!!

[bradzo66]

Originally Posted by Darkman

don't go to walmart, you might get killed there.

Hahahahahahahahaha , classic.