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I've never actually done anything on black friday before. I hear there are a ton of good deals around, but I also hear that the crowd and demand for everything is so high that huge lines build up before the store opens and everyone just rushes in.
For those who don't know, black friday is a day where they offer big deals/discounts on the day after thanksgiving. This year, I'm going to try and get 2 computers on black friday (one desktop with a monitor, and one laptop). I was wondering what the best methods and techniques are for getting a good deal are? Those who are seasoned in the art of snatching hot deals on black friday, please give me some advice.
Are the best deals only in store? Is it easier to get it online? Right now, my plan is to head over to Fry's electronics on black friday at approximately 11am. The reason is because I don't want to stand in line all night to get in. What can I expect if I get to Fry's at 11am on black friday? Will there be a massive line and crowd still there or will I just be able to walk in and pick up some good deals? Is it better to order the computers online from Newegg that day? Whatever advice you guys might have from previous experience, please share! Thanks!
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you're not going to get anything good by walking in. You pretty much have to camp out. Also just wait for Cyber Monday for online deals
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Cyber Monday, the Monday after Black Friday, is the online equivalent of Black Friday. But in my opinion, Black Friday has better deals than Cyber Monday. However, if you want to get the really good deals, you have to camp out way ahead of time, depending on where you live and how popular the store is, from the night before to a couple hours before opening which is around 4 am. But they have a lot of small deals on sale for Black Friday, too, and if you go before noon, you can probably get those. I usually go at opening time on Black Friday to get some of the deals that are not the most advertised ones but are pretty decent. And I'll go to other stores throughout the morning and usually be done around 11-noon.
If you're interested in getting some stuff, you should definitely check out the ads beforehand and see what you want. You need to know what you want when you go shopping on Black Friday. The really good deals and most advertised will probably be impossible for you to get but smaller things and less discounted things are differently obtainable.
For computers, there are usually 1 or 2 extremely discounted models that you will have to camp out for and a couple of moderately discounted models that you might be able to get without camping out. Good luck.
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Camping out is actually quite fun if you're prepared for it. Take a couple lawnchairs, some blankets, some food and drink, a propane tank and a portable heater, and you're set. Come early, sit down, talk to your neighbor about random stuff, stalk the people ahead to see if they're buying the same thing you are, eat, drink, do it all over again because you want high apm. And oh, you're gonna meet some real-life trolls. I did this for 2 years now and i saw a couple every year. They're funny as shit.
FYI this gets exponentially less funny if there is heavy rain or snow.
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16992 Posts
I waited in below freezing temperatures for two months for basketball tickets so camping out for one day deals is going to be hilariously easy.
And being a useless piece of shit with a fucked up sleep schedule, I'm going to end up staying up the entire night and go to sleep after shopping, instead of waking up early to set up (like most of the population does).
<_<
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On November 22 2010 15:45 Empyrean wrote:
I waited in below freezing temperatures for two months for basketball tickets so camping out for one day deals is going to be hilariously easy.
And being a useless piece of shit with a fucked up sleep schedule, I'm going to end up staying up the entire night and go to sleep after shopping, instead of waking up early to set up (like most of the population does).
<_<
Two months?! What the hell. Explain please.
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I've heard about cyber monday as well. Anyone know some good ways to find out what the best deals are? Is there a site that posts what the best computer deals are for online deals on cyber monday or something?
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On November 22 2010 16:24 GrayArea wrote:
I've heard about cyber monday as well. Anyone know some good ways to find out what the best deals are? Is there a site that posts what the best computer deals are for online deals on cyber monday or something?
1) Sign up for the newegg mailer or just go check it on next next monday [link].
2) Go to slickdeals.net and go under black friday forums, there's plenty of data there, more for black friday though (obviously) [link]. Under Hot deals section you can also find a lot of stuff, If you want computer stuff you can filter by Tech or System at the bottom [link]
3) deals.woot.com will probably be pretty bumping around monday, check it out if don't mind digging through random deals, you might find something you like.
4) I used to use techbargains.com but after finding slickdeals and deals.woot.com I find its deals are more lacking. You can check it if you want though as all of the "deals" are catered towards computer parts/systems.
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On November 22 2010 15:52 Mickey wrote:Show nested quote +On November 22 2010 15:45 Empyrean wrote:
I waited in below freezing temperatures for two months for basketball tickets so camping out for one day deals is going to be hilariously easy.
And being a useless piece of shit with a fucked up sleep schedule, I'm going to end up staying up the entire night and go to sleep after shopping, instead of waking up early to set up (like most of the population does).
<_< Two months?! What the hell. Explain please.
I think it's for tickets to Duke's basketball games. if so, do you not go to class during that time though? Seems unrealistic to stay at one place for 2 months during the school year.
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United States22883 Posts
A lot of the sales are fairly overrated, and if it's something specific you want, you can probably find it popping up other times throughout the year.
Waiting in lines at Best Buy is an awful experience (WHY DOES MUSIC EVEN NEED TO BE PLAYING) and they're largely used to get you to buy things you weren't planning on getting at first.
That said, I might go pick up a Wii for my parents for the holidays. It depends on your community, and how rabid you think the shoppers will be. I don't anticipate it being too bad around here, but if it were another city/area I would definitely stay the hell away.
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On November 22 2010 16:34 ZeaL. wrote:Show nested quote +On November 22 2010 16:24 GrayArea wrote:
I've heard about cyber monday as well. Anyone know some good ways to find out what the best deals are? Is there a site that posts what the best computer deals are for online deals on cyber monday or something? 1) Sign up for the newegg mailer or just go check it on next next monday [link]. 2) Go to slickdeals.net and go under black friday forums, there's plenty of data there, more for black friday though (obviously) [link]. Under Hot deals section you can also find a lot of stuff, If you want computer stuff you can filter by Tech or System at the bottom [link]3) deals.woot.com will probably be pretty bumping around monday, check it out if don't mind digging through random deals, you might find something you like. 4) I used to use techbargains.com but after finding slickdeals and deals.woot.com I find its deals are more lacking. You can check it if you want though as all of the "deals" are catered towards computer parts/systems.
Amazing, thanks for posting the links to all the sites! I'm checking them out now and will continue to check up on them.
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I used to live in norcal and go to frys for black friday.
If you show up at 11, anything that was a good deal will be gone, you will inveitably find stuff to buy that isn't the BEST deals, and you will wait in like for 3-6 hours.
You seriously might as well not go. Just being honest with you.
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On November 22 2010 14:54 O-ops wrote:
Camping out is actually quite fun if you're prepared for it. Take a couple lawnchairs, some blankets, some food and drink, a propane tank and a portable heater, and you're set. Come early, sit down, talk to your neighbor about random stuff, stalk the people ahead to see if they're buying the same thing you are, eat, drink, do it all over again because you want high apm. And oh, you're gonna meet some real-life trolls. I did this for 2 years now and i saw a couple every year. They're funny as shit.
FYI this gets exponentially less funny if there is heavy rain or snow.
I want to hear more about these IRL trolls.
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Might pick up a WoW Battlechest at GameStop for $10... despite promising myself that I'd never play WoW again. >_>
Haven't really paid attention to any other deals; I need a new DS, and though I'd prefer the XL, there are quite a few decent deals for the DSi.
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He probably didn't camp out for 2 months... he probably waited in line for tickets for a game at his uni. Some universities start selling tickets like months before the actual game. Some of my friends have done this for a big rivalry game and waited 7 hours just to get their ticket.
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I always end up buying shit I don't even need simply because it's on sale.
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I read somewhere that cyber Monday had better deals than black Friday. Also the week during Christmas prices seem to go down. o.O
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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, this guy on slickdeals usually compiles a huge xls spreadsheet of all the deals from the major stores which makes it easier to pick out which places you want to hit up if you actually want to go shop in the brick and mortar stores. Check it out here.
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You're not going to find anything worthwhile (like a great computer or laptop) by walking into an electronics store at 11am. By that time most of the good sales are out of stock (or have a line that will take hours to get through). You can still get great deals on the lesser essentials (like cds, dvds, and maybe an external hard drive), but you're not going to get the top picks.
The same goes for department stores, too.
If the store opens at 5am try getting there around 3. You won't be first in line, but you won't be last and at least have a fighting chance.
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My black friday plans usually involve driving around the night before laughing at ppl in tents outside of Best Buy.
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On November 23 2010 00:53 LuckyFool wrote:
My black friday plans usually involve driving around the night before laughing at ppl in tents outside of Best Buy.
Why are you creepin' around bestbuy at 3 in the morning?
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16992 Posts
On November 22 2010 18:39 mardi wrote:
He probably didn't camp out for 2 months... he probably waited in line for tickets for a game at his uni. Some universities start selling tickets like months before the actual game. Some of my friends have done this for a big rivalry game and waited 7 hours just to get their ticket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzyzewskiville
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EPT
