Am I the only one disappointed by Black Friday ads this year?

[hotcouponmama]

I spent the evening looking through our BF posts here on the site, and Deb's scans on her blog. I normally love getting up on BF, and chasing a couple store deals, and then the grocery store deals, which I'll do some of, but not much since Mark's not here this year.

But I guess the things I'm looking for on my list just aren't on sale this year. Maybe I'll have better luck from the local store ads, but nothing in the Target, Kmart, or other national chain ads are lighting me up this year.

You'd think in light of the economy, the deals would be more competitive, but I think I'm better off chasing deals online and at Amazon.

Thoughts?

[carisal]

never really done the BF thing before... so I can't really compare to the past, but I personally am not too excited. I will be hitting up home depot for a steam mop and hoping to score a crock pot at jcpenney, but thats about it. I'm looking for some things for the kids right now but I am not seeing anything worth jumping for - I think I will scope out craigslist, instead. :shrug7: pretty sad when the most exciting thing of the year, is a mop

[qponqueen]

I thought I was the only one who is not excited this year. I guess we all got spoiled at CVS last year. Then there were LOTS of freeblies and we all had lots of ecb's to get them with and not spend any REAL money. Now I have only $4 in ecb's because the deals have dried up. Nothing has me salivating for the bigger stores either. Looks like a stay-at-home day for me this year.

[whatsfree4me]

Do you know what I think part of it is... we are looking for and getting great deals all year long, so nothing really seems special. More places are having great sales throughout the year, so I do more shopping early. Like Kohl's has a big sale with an extra percent off at least once a month, so the holiday sales aren't really to much out of the ordinary any more. It used to be that the stores would save all there great sales for the holidays but it isn't like that any more.

[mmm0708]

I was disappointed with Toys R Us, for the most part, all the HOT prices are last year's toys. Great prices if you don't already have those toys, but we do.

I was underwhelmed the first time I looked through the ads, but I was only looking for the items on my kids' Christmas lists this year. There are only 2 or 3 deals on those items, so I shopped the Toys R Us big book/combo with the $10 GC promotion already.

But, once I looked through the ads in greater detail and not so close-minded, I found some good deals on "everyday" items, like picture frames, pajamas, etc.

The deals aren't as good as I was expecting, overall. I thought there'd be way more killer deals because of the economy. Oh, well.... still going out, I love the rush!

[Mama Stu]

I agree that the deals aren't that exciting this year at all. How pathetic is it that the best deals I have seen are at a local grocery store chain. I was going to skip Black Friday shopping but now am considering getting up and going to a grocery store.. Which I probably should be skipping considering I am having 7 grandchildren out tommorow to decorate the tree and bake cookies. Yes, before you ask , I AM CRAZY

[kval07]

I wasn't too impressed, but that could be because I'm not on the market for any big ticket items. I will be hitting up a few stores before and after work, so it'll be a long day. Mostly I'm going out for toys for some adopted kids and stockings. I also need to work on some ideas for the tags I picked up from the Be A Santa to a Senior tree at the mall. They just say "anything" or "a GC to anywhere." :shrug7: I've gotta have all this done no later than 12/7, so I can't be too choosy I guess!

[mainelycoupons]

I haven't seen a thing either. A big problem I saw last year was good deals on BF were cheaper before Xmas actualyy got here...makes me leery of a simply decent deal. Planning on picking up some poinsettias at HD( about $4 off, .99 each limit 10) but thats it unless I see something great.

[cody82414]

I am staying home myself.
I just don't see anything I HAVE to fight the crowds for!

However, I did demand that DH take 4 of the 5 to go get me a new washing machine.

So I will be washing clothes on BF :D

[SyLph211]

I have been spending my money at amazon this year. They have been matching BF ads prices for a lot of stores and I signed up for free trial of prime and am rocking the deals. The stores just didn't kick it for me this year. I wanted the PS3 bundle for Dh but I am thinking about buying it from BB to take advantage of reward points.

You are right though that with the economy in the state it is, you would think there would be more family stuff and better priced toys. I am going to brave the crowds and head to Target and Walmart this early morning but that is all...