Sales, sales, sales....

[pooja]

I have found that the fatest paper comes on Thanksgiving Day. The news is watered down, not much going on to waste time reading. The sales fliers are packed and over abundant. This is what I have noticed, being a poor, scrupulous shopper and a frequenter of the Sunday fliers, the prices are really not that great. The electronics, furniture, and tools/ handy man stuff is a good deal. But the electronics are limited to the mad rush of the first ten people. The best deal is the furniture (matresses and beds and sofas--they need to make room for 2007 items), and the handy man stuff is pretty darn good too. The thing with the handy man stuff is that it will be on sale up until the last week before Christmas--Why because women are the main Turkey's for shopping and the last thing they wake up early for on Black Friday is to line up at the Home Depot or hang in the tools section at sears. So these sales last longer. The worst sales are the clothes. The prices listed are normal sales any weekend of the year. Also, they have been artificially inflated to get that 1/2 off. Maybe its just my area, but seriously the clothing sales suck big time. They will be way better after christmas when they need to get rid of the winter clothing line.

Also, jewelry won't increase in price until about 2 weeks out (guys you have a little bit of time)...

Also, don't buy a gift card to one store. If you are going to buy one for the hard to shop for giftee, buy an American Express gift card. Then that person can use it anywhere... who knows they may just need to fill up their car with gas... That's a major gift these days. Anyhooo... happy shopping. If you are going to shop tomorrow, please try to shop locally owned businesses... Take the glee out of corporate idiots.

[Monkeyman]

1. Hurry Hurry buy your crap made in China

[CelticWinter]

2. Im not going out tomorrow

and I think I will just give money for the holiday and save myself the headache of shopping. I did make my granddaughter a blanket with materials made in the US. It's no fun shopping anymore with all these sale gimics, and people going nutzo in the stores.
Isnt tomorrow National Sleep In Day? I think thats what I will do :-)

[Deja Q]

3. Or the nutzos with guns who rob people in the queues...

[Catshrink]

4. One of the stores here is opening at 3am

Who the f*&# goes shopping at 3am???

[twilight_sailing]

5. thank you very much, pooja

For a variety of reasons not worth mentioning,
I am just not very good at that sort of thing,
so I really appreciate your giving me the lowdown.

Thanks!

[pooja]

8. And if you don't know what to give someone, really consider the

Amex gift card. That way you are not contributing directly to a box store. The recipient can use it whenever they like and for whatever they like. And the really Good sales on clothes happens after Christmas, not before. There is not much in the circulars that you couldn't get a better deal on anytime of the year. The dept stores slash prices on perfumes, jewelry, shoes, and coats. Then hope you find a fabulous must have (and it has a 15% off) must be a good bargain... not really.

I am not sure if I am going out today or tomorrow. We are having x-mas early in Orlando with my sister-in-law and her fam next week. But unlike these other American idiots who love padding the Chinese pockets, I will be visiting local, small shops for the unique gifts/ arts/ crafts that you will never find in those box stores. Fortunately, for me I live in an area that still caters to the small business person and local artists. Good luck. Don't drive yourself mad either. Christmas is after all about giving and receiving love first (the presents are the extras).

[jmowreader]

6. I challenge your assertion...

that people won't wake up early on Black Friday to line up at Home Depot.

Pooja, people are ALREADY lined up outside Home Depot, or at least the one I work at. I saw 'em myself.

[pooja]

7. Really, Are they giving away t.v.'s? I know here the sales last

the same amount of time. Usually they run for a couple of weeks. I can't imagine lining up in front of Home Depot. Now the Best Buy they were lined up at 2pm on Thursday afternoon here. I guess electronics are the most popular in this area. The worst part is that most of the time the first in-liners just want the cheap price to go hawk in on-line.