WalMart ~ Black Friday 2009 ~ how early

[sdasilva27]

thanks for the tip, i hope i get one.

If you're hoping to get one of the $200 laptops, really check out the specs. Most of the cheap laptops that I've seen this year don't include licenses for a lot of the software, including the operating system. Those licenses are usually a lot of what you're paying for.

That all is, of course, unless you just want the new hardware and have software at home that you plan on putting on after formatting the laptop.

[whatsfree4me]

I'm a go after everybody is gone already type of gal!! I will leave the house about 11 a.m. or so. I go to Target and can still get the cheap movies and if they are gone, I just get a raincheck.

As far as the big ticket items, I have noticed the last couple of years with a big sale going on every weekend, you can get the same item if not a better one for the same price if you wait until the week after. I find that the big ticket items going for cheap are not usually a great quality and not that great of a deal if you shop around.

I also hit the puter at midnight Thanksgiving and scope out Kohl's and other places that are online from the comfort of my own home. Last year I got some killer deals at Walmart.-com on Cyber Monday too.

[justagirlnamedStormy]

My fiance works for WM (unfortunately).

Normally when he works the night before, people are lining up starting at 9pm. These are people that want the laptops and tvs though.

He did mention that they'll be doing things differently this year because of everything last year. They're not allowed to call it black friday and they are handing out tickets for the items (similar to best buy). Only people with a ticket will be allowed to get the item. He doesn't know what time they'll start handing them out but you could leave after getting the ticket and go back later for it. I think they're only going to give people one ticket this year too and not allow more people than number of items to be in that item's line so I don't know if they're actually having separate lines too. They're claiming to try and do it much more organized this year so there are no more injuries.

Tickets aren't going to be handed out until the sale starts at 5am, and they are going to limit the number of people in line to the number of items available. Each hot item will be in a different area of the store. Walmart is putting maps up on its website of where the "hot ticket" items aRe located in each store.

Walmart.com: Feature: Local Ad

[Home4Yahweh]

What about Best Buy? Does anyone know what those stores are like on Black Friday. I want to get a gps there but really don't want to stand in line for hours.

[fujirio]

What about Best Buy? Does anyone know what those stores are like on Black Friday. I want to get a gps there but really don't want to stand in line for hours.

i tried best buy last year and didnt get what i wanted. Im hoping i have a better chance at walmart

[allgirls]

What about Best Buy? Does anyone know what those stores are like on Black Friday. I want to get a gps there but really don't want to stand in line for hours.

some friends of mine used to go every year (before they had kids) and they would go around 9pm. They always got whatever they wanted in regard to the big ticket items. The checkout lines are just as long.

[SaleSister]

What about Best Buy? Does anyone know what those stores are like on Black Friday. I want to get a gps there but really don't want to stand in line for hours.

There is a photo online of the BEST BUY in Indianapolis right now 7 people are sitting outside. Idk when they open.

[jen276here]

I was camping out at Best Buy on Thursday night. I figured I go around 9pm to get my spot, but saw online that people were lining up at 2:30pm!!! That was around 5:30pm that I saw that - so I grabbed my prepared gear and ran out the door figuring if there was more than 20 people in line, I'd say forget about it. I was number 6 in line. The folks before me got there about 10-20 minutes before me. Not too many more showed up before 10pm, maybe another 20-30. By 2am, there were over a hundred. Buy 5am according to the store reports, there were over 500 people. I got everything I wanted plus some.

Just to say though - I had a blast! The people waiting with me were so much fun! We gave each other bathroom and food breaks (there was a 24hr restaurant across the parking lot), I had extra blankets in my car and shared with the others, we were telling jokes and stories - the night went super super quick! When the doors finally opened, there was a bit of chaos, but it was controlled - no trampling but just more of people having troubles getting around each other, especially if you had a cart! The line to get your ticketted items was insanely long! It took almost an hour and a half just to get to the front and after not sleeping for 24 hours, it dragged on! lol The media did come and take photo's. One of the fellows in line with me slipped and fell on the way in (no one's fault, just a slip) and they caught him in a photo - he was laughing about it!

I would so do it again next year!

[i_have_a_coupon_for_that!]

My Step-sister went to Walmart when she got off work about midnight, and she was already like the 11th person in line for the $199 laptop. I got there around 3 am, and by that time the line had more people than $199 laptops available. I went and got in line for the $298 laptop and was #6. The time flew by because of the entertaining and funny lady in front of me. Our line for the laptop was way back in the sporting goods section so it was quiet back there and not a lot of customers.

The only drawback, is that you basically have to pick which big ticket item you want most, unless you can give money to someone and have them wait in another line. You obviously can't be in more than one line. By the time the cashier rang up the people in front of me, it was going on 5:20 am and most of the cheap deals were gone and the main part of the store was a madhouse. I did get the sheets and Rubbermaid containers I wanted though as I made my way back to the front of the store, but missed out on all the cheap stuff like pjs for little relatives. It was worth it though.