Foo - So, who actually ventured out on Black Friday?

I decided to do a little shopping, as sales tax here in Iowa is 2.5% lower than California...

- Black Converse low Chuck Taylors
- Columbia fleece hoodie from Younkers
- Two Hawkeye t-shirts

The crowds really weren't that bad... at Merle Hay Mall, which is one of the older enclosed malls in DSM. I heard it was insane at Jordan Creek out in Dallas County.

I could barely make it out to the back yard to pick up my dog's poop today (back injury) however, I bought pretty hair accessories online. So, I spent $30+. lol

Not me, I had to work. But I managed to snag a Black Friday deal on Wed. 3 brand new Motorola Crush touchscreen phones for a penny a piece, after mail-in rebates that were applied instantly. Though I'm thinking about returning mine for something else (LG Tritan or HTC Touch Pro).

Went to Depot and got some light socket things. Store was not very busy at all.

Went to work. Participated in Buy Nothing Day.

Did not go out, but called the local John Deere dealership and ordered a bucket-loader for the 5325. Hubby was bored, so drove over to the place to give them a check. They'll pick up the tractor sometime in the next 2 weeks for installation. Somehow, I think that was my early x-mas gift!

Went to REI to return some items and buy a new pair of snowboarding pants and a helmet. Darn store was nearly empty so I did not have to wait in a long line to check out. I did I walk through the neighboring Old Navy out of curiosity and saw the lines were very long and most of all the merchandise was on the floor...such clientele.

I went to Walmart, but it was around 6 PM so the crowds were gone. I picked up a Tinkerbelle costume for my grand daughter since I'd been looking for weeks for the right one!

I worked. Worked at a Local First group thing doing chair massage and sold a few gift certificates. Then I went to a client.

Was in NYC for Black Friday and it was eerily quiet, which was very cool by me; I did score three pairs of silk and cotton socks socks (buy two get one free) at V K nagrani
http://img124.yfrog.com/i/wq9i.jpg/

B y the expression I have always resisted.. Sounds more like a national financial collapse. But, then for some it is... And what an offense, I did not find a bike shop.. Did find some needed clothes and books for over half off.

I worked so my wife could shop. She normally doesn't like crowds but that is the one day that she loves to be right in the middle of it. She says its the only day her, her mom and her sisters all get along. They plan out the day and work as a team to get all that they want. I normally have to watch everyones kids so I was glad I had to work this year.

I blew $1500 on my ex's impounded car that I am part owner of to avoid collection.
Went to an all you can eat salad bar.
Picked up dog food and deposited a check.
The only person I expect to purchase items in a store will be for my 6 year old son.
His main present has been purchased. A 20" Trek bike.

So, who actually ventured out on Black Friday?

absolutely not!

So far, I have been able to get all the gifts online, between Costco, Lands End and Amazon.

Got an email from Golfsmith that a club I wanted was selling for 50% off. Went to the store and was told the sale started at 4pm. Put the club on hold, went back later and bought it.

We hit the Walmart at 4:30 for iTouch, Blue Ray player, DVDs, then we got to Staples by 6:30 for computer monitors. We spent @$800., but had saved @$350 by purchasing before 11am.

It was the perfect storm in Auburn. Not only black friday, but also the Auburn vs. Alabama football game. They go ape**** over football here.

Didn't go to any stores but there were so many cars on the street.

I actually went out on Black Friday for the first time. Teh bf and I went to Fry's at 4:30am to get in the doors by 5am. It was...it was... *blank stare* holy crap, I'm not doing that again. Got incredibly good deals though, and I got myself a shiny new DSi. Fun fun fun. The DSi, I mean, not the Black Friday shopping experience. :eek:

Is the DSi the new DS lite? Do tell...

Is the DSi the new DS lite? Do tell...

It's basically the DS lite plus a camera and minus the GBA slot. I do like the DSiWare though, which lets you download games from the internet right from your DS. Currently addicted to the Domo Kun games. :lol:

Is it free to DL the games?

I have a lite (and a GB advance somewhere) hardly use the poor thing anymore, but it's awesome. Battery lasts for-freakin-evar.

holding out until boxing day (canadian thing)

I'm dubious of Boxing day "deals" I think a lot of the "deals" are BS. However, I will be hunting for wicked deals on luggage on that day.

holding out until boxing day (canadian thing)

Not just canuck. I try and avoid the Boxing Day sales.:twitchy::twitchy::twitchy: The insane crush just to save a few dollars, or return broken/unwanted xmas gifts.

online deals before boxing day are way better than boxing day sales...
if I recall correctly.

Nope, no shopping. Dropped the sister and her b/f off at the train station to spend the day in SF, then disemboweled my Fit to install an aux input for the stereo. Hung out with friends, then picked up the sister and b/f. Then the four of us went to DQ... that's as far as we made it on black friday.

I did order a new knob for our range on Thanksgiving night, though.

Is it free to DL the games?

I have a lite (and a GB advance somewhere) hardly use the poor thing anymore, but it's awesome. Battery lasts for-freakin-evar.

Some games are free, others are not, but they're generally cheap, like 2-8 bucks per game compared to buying the flashcard titles for $20 or whatever. What I don't like about it is that it doesn't accept the old flash cards for DS homebrew games (like the R4 or Ezflash) so I had to get a new one that works with the DSi. Ah, tradeoffs.


online deals before boxing day are way better than boxing day sales...
if I recall correctly.

Yeah, true. Actually even when off season some of the online deals are much better than Black Friday/Boxing Day deals.

ventured out, but to ride, not to buy. went for a 50 mile ride passing all the major shopping
areas in the palm springs/palm desert area in the process. drivers were remarkably well behaved.
gorgeous day but some stiff wind and skanky roads on the "other" side of the 10 freeway.
only one semi-close call (on a right-hook) but it was near the end of the ride and i was "cooling down"
(aka tired as hell). had it been earlier in the ride, i may have gotten more of an adrenaline rush.
plus...the local "cool" bike shop in rancho mirage was closed.

Went to REI, picked up the free reusable bag with the gift card promo, went home. Wife did the same. Now have US$10 to spend at REI.

Did major shopping Friday morning - I was out from 03:45 to 11:00AM. Kohl's, Sears, Walmart (although end up walking out), Best Buy, mall to get a free gift card based on Sear's purchases, JoAnn Fabric and Pep Boys. Later went back to Best Buy for a flat screen TV.

Stayed home to watch football and do a jigsaw puzzle with the wife. Then out to the gym in late afternoon. That was the only time I ventured outside!

I ventured out against my better judgement. Big mistake.

Did major shopping Friday morning - I was out from 03:45 to 11:00AM. Kohl's, Sears, Walmart (although end up walking out), Best Buy, mall to get a free gift card based on Sear's purchases, JoAnn Fabric and Pep Boys. Later went back to Best Buy for a flat screen TV.

I was out a while too, like 5am to noon. Kohl's for an electric mattress cover, Target for a steam mop, Radio Shack for a netbook, Lowe's for a sander, Walmart for a video game (price matched Sears ad). Went to Best Buy at 5:15ish just for the heck of it to ask if they had any more of those $179 netbooks--the guy said people were standing in line at 3:30 for them. And it was only to save $20 over Target's sale price (the whole week) and have it say "Compaq" on the lid instead of "Acer." Wow.

Got most of the stuff I was looking at online. Went to Toys "R Us at 11:30 for their midnight opening to snag a things for the kids and nephew. Hung out in the car in the parking lot at Sam's Club (my chair was holding my spot as first in line) after that until they opened at 5am to grab a netbook (I was late on the online deals and they were sold-out). Went home and took a nap, then had an early lunch and movie with some friends.

I was out the couple of days after Black Friday and it was surprising how thin the crowds were in Des Moines.