Sunday, November 28, 2010

Confessions of a first time Black Friday shopper.

My Mom and I have gone shopping on Black Friday for the last 5 years or so, but we usually never leave the house until at least 8 am.  Hey, I never said we were hardcore.  So, there we were on Thanksgiving night (around 11 pm) when my Mom says “Let’s go right now.”  Wha wha what?  I had been awake since 8 that morning, and my Mom had been up since 6, and no one had taken a nap during the day.  This sounded like a bad idea.  And then my Mom said “Decide right now.  Either we leave now, or I’m going to bed.”  What the?  I didn’t want to be the weakest link, so of course I said yes. 

My Mom made a pot of coffee, I gathered up my coupons, my Dad told us not to go because he thought we had been drinking, and Shawn laughed at us.  But, we were off:

DSC_0560

Did we have a plan?  No, but we had coffee and coupons, what more do you need?  So, here is what I learned (in no particular order):

  • Just because Toys R Us opens at 10pm, doesn’t mean you will be able to get in at 12:30 am when you get there.  Everybody and their brother will also be at Toys R Us since it’s one of the only things open!
  • People who wait outside of Target and Best Buy for days before Black Friday totally look homeless.
  • Meijer will never look so good at 1 am when there is nowhere else to go. 
  • Just because Meijer starts putting their Black Friday signs out at 2 am doesn’t mean they will give you that price.  Apparently their sale started at 5 am, however there was nothing on their Black Friday signs in the store stating “5 am.”  Meijer, I’m totally calling SHENANIGANS on that one!
  • Bring warm clothes, because even though you may not plan on standing in a line outside the store, you may do it anyway for the love of being one of the first people in Kohl’s on Black Friday.
  • Drinking coffee + standing outside in very cold air = the need to pee a lot.
  • All 250 people who race into Kohl’s at 3 am will be ready to check out at the Exact. Same. Time.
  • Kohl’s is very good at product placement.  When I got in line I had no gifts for Shawn, but when I finally got to the cash register two hours later I had 4!  Fry Daddy’s and Quesadilla makers never looked so good!
  • Sometimes it doesn’t matter that the mall is open at 5 am.  When the delirium sets in, it’s best to stop buying.
  • Don’t bother ordering a big breakfast when you finally make it to Bob Evans.  You will be too tired to eat it, and you won’t even have the energy to complain about wasting $17 on burned toast, fatty bacon, and cold potatoes.
  • Don’t go to Kmart after breakfast just because it’s across the street and because sitting at breakfast has given you a small amount of energy.  Kmart is almost always a bad idea, and Kmart in the ghetto is a very bad idea!
  • After being up for over 24 hours straight, seeing someone fall in the Kmart parking lot will seem like the funniest thing in the whole wide world.
  • If and when you make it home, do not look in the mirror.  I promise you, you have never looked uglier.  Or maybe that was just me?

So, there you have it.  I came, I saw, I busted doors.  And two days later, I’m still recovering.

33 comments:

Sazzle said...

Yikes! I've never done it. Mom, Sarah, Elizabeth, Kevin and Ashley did it this year. I don't think Sarah will ever partake again :)

However...Elizabeth got hit on and mom got squashed next to WT that smelled really bad.

Chrissi said...

i would love to see someone fall in the kmart parking lot...what does that say about me?! this was the first year in the last ten that i have not gone with my (yes, it's true) dad. we LOVE to go at 4am on black friday, but were in the mountains this year. ugh, missed a lot of deals (although my bank account - and new husband - thank me).

LWLH said...

Lol...We headed out too....there was some crazies but I got what I wanted so I didn't care.

Anonymous said...

OMG, I'm crying you have my laughing so hard! You should have taken pics throughout the experience! ha!

I haven't been shopping on Black Friday in 8 years! (hubby has been a student for the past 7, doesn't leave much for extra spending money, darned him! lol)

Sounds like you had a great time! If nothing else, you will have the memories! :)

Nikosmommy said...

Yes yes yes!!!
Shopping after 11:00pm? I think so!!! Coffee+dealz+awesomesauce.

I AM impressed. You killed Black Friday.

Liz Mays said...

I shun Black Friday, but I welcome the day after Christmas sales completely! I'll see you then!

Matty said...

You are a better person than me. I don't dare brave Black Friday.

MommyLovesStilettos said...

We went to Best Buy last year and camped out from 7 pm (we were the 5th person in line) on Thanksgiving until they opened at 5 am on Black Friday. It was MISERABLE. We were cold, bitchy, exhausted and just BLAH! And we looked ugly. LOL

We got AMAZING deals (we bought a 52" plasma, 2 laptops, gps, etc) BUT I'll never do it again!!!

Jess said...

LMAO.

Kmart is never a good idea, I agree. I always feel so sleazy after I leave a Kmart.

Hillary said...

After standing outside in the cold, drinking lots of coffee, and then seeing the person fall. Be honest, did you pee your pants a little?!? It seems probable.

I did the black friday shopping once, and will never ever do it again. I am impressed with Holly though!

Were the deals at least worth it? What did you end up getting?

Corrie and Phil said...

Nice work. We didn't head out until after lunch on Friday, and that was pretty hardcore for us.

Melissa said...

It doesn't sound like this is going to become an annual occurrence.

I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. The whole experience does not appeal to me - at all.

Llama said...

You are sooo very brave! I still have never...not sure if I could! MAAAYBE next year...

Meghan said...

Holy cow, woman! Black Friday sounds exhausting and confusing. I don't know if I would ever be able to hold my pee:) I have the smallest bladder in the world. Anygross, hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Lindsey said...

I went Black Friday hard core shopping for the first time this year too! I love that wherever you are in the U.S. the experience is basically the same. And I totally saw somebody fall too.

Anonymous said...

And to think I missed all that fun! My Black Friday shopping took place online from the comfort of my couch.

JoAnna said...

I knew it! I just knew you'd be the kind to go Black Friday shopping. And now that I know your mother encouraged it, I can totally see the two of you painting the town on sale. I remember one time when I was home in college, before Black Friday was real, I pretended I was going to get up for those 6am (crazy at the time) sales and get Christmas presents but then I would never get up in time. I can't even imagine shopping at 3 or 4am.

And in the state where I live, the price in front of you is the price you pay, no matter what time they claim you can pay that price. I would have caused a ruckus for sure on that one.

Tyly said...

I would have loved to see that person fall in the parking lot!!

Kmart is super ghetto, and because of that, James and I will be stopping by to look for sweaters for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

Love me some Kohl's.

Amanda M. said...

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. I cannot believe you went out ALL NIGHT LONG! You are one tough chick.
My husband and I have gone the past five years and we go at like 4:30 a.m., but we are usually home by like 8:30 a.m. ;)
I totally admire you. You are a Black Friday rock star.

Jane said...

You are way braver than I. I drank red wine and watched Elf all night.

Taylor-Made Wife said...

You're my hero. I just can't bring myself to brave black Friday. I'm hoping once I have kids, I'll be willing to get out there and get some good deals on their Christmas stuff but who knows. PS - I kinda feel like you would be that woman I would not even start to f*** with as I could absolutely see you beating the crap out of some crazy lady.

Amber said...

Thanks for the good laugh! I think it was even funnier because I was doing the same thing! We started at 8:00 Thurs. evening and didn't get home until 2:00 the next afternoon! Somewhere around 7:00 on Friday everything became EXTRA hilarious:) The delirium set in and we were having a GREAT time!!! Glad to know I'm not the only Crazy out there;)

Deepali said...

I'm super impressed with your black Friday gusto. I don't think I could ever have done it. Bravo.

Yankee Girl said...

I never go shopping on black friday. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm just not that hardcore.

I would have laughed at someone falling in a Kmart parking lot too. Even if I have had enough sleep.

Anonymous said...

Oh what fun! I want to do that!!!

One year my mom had to go to the ER on Dec 25 at 2 AM so Tyler and I just stayed awake and then shopped and we had a blast! I have always wanted to experience the craziness of Black Friday. Just to watch it would be fun!

As for Kmart. I swear people go in there but never come out. I think it is some sort of portal to another universe. Ours is kind of creepy, but they still have cool toys noone else does, so I go anyway.

Crystal said...

Holy crap! Too funny...and what a blast. I'm sure you had a hoot w/mama! It sounds like a ton of fun..and your list is awesome!!!


http://survivingandthrivinginmom-dom.blogspot.com

MrsDixon said...

You are too funny! I love that the boys thought you were drunk crazed women who wanted to go shopping! Hopefully you found some great deals!

Cristy said...

You are SO brave! I only went to Old Navy, but we had great success...a coat 60% off AND nobody in line. It was kinda spooky how well it all worked. I just don't know if there is anything in this world that will convince me to get up at 5. Well, maybe one thing. ; )

Just Add Walter said...

I love this! My mom and I used to go every year together. She would wear this horribly tacky sweatshirt that said "get out of my way I'm christmas shopping"... it always made me laugh!

Jessica said...

I braved Black Friday for the second time in my life. But, I didn't go out near as early. My sister and I got to the mall at one and shopped until around 5. Honestly, I will brave it every year from here on out if possible. I found some of the best deals and, like you said, saw some interesting things - from the way I looked to falling people in parking lots!

The Random Blogette said...

The hubs and I were going to go to WalMart at 3 am to get tvs for the kdis but then I saw them online for $20 more and I bought them. I figured $20 or no sleep. Sleep won out!

My mom and I went a few years back at 4 am but with the hubs working on Black Friday now we can't go out. I mean we could because the kids would be sleeping and wouldn't even know that we were gone but I think that is called neglect and I would get my kids taken away.

Cyber Monday is my new favorite! I can online shop from the comfort of my office at work!

Jenny @ Practically Perfect... said...

So, are you still recovering from your shopping excursion? I hope not! Miss you in the blog-o-sphere :-)

Anonymous said...

LMAO!

I've been ONCE...and some lady assaulted me with her shopping cart...no lie...My Mom tried to throw down with her over it....Yeah, never doing Black Friday again after that.

Bwahahah Ghetto Kmart...classic.