Black Friday in Bloomington

legion · 11-25-2011, 06:34 PM

Yeah, I got up at 3:30 this morning to hit Sears at 4:00 as they had a Black Friday Sale. I was going for C3 batteries as half of mine are toast and they were going for 50% of full price. I picked up two Ni-Cad batteries and one Li-Ion. Took me all of 5 minutes to locate them and get in line, then another 15 minutes waiting in line to check out.

People were polite. Lots of excuse me's were heard. There was no cutting in lines. There was no screaming, no panic, no trampling. I was back in bed by 4:30. Things go much smoother when people treat each other well.

Yeah, I think the whole Black Friday thing is pretty ridiculous, but once in a while I find something to bring me out.

Back in 2007 I remember waiting in line at Game Stop for a Nintendo Wii. They clearly had posted on the door that they had 27 for sale. I was second in line. I waited in the cold darkness for 3 hours. I remember multiple people in line calling spouses/SO's/friends to come by coffee/donuts/breakfast sandwiches for everyone in line. About 2 hours before open, all 27 Wii's had been spoken for, and we let other people know that were thinking of getting in line. Once again, it was a very civil event.

jorian · 11-25-2011, 06:44 PM

This is a uniquely American event. Canadians get worked up over Boxing day (Dec. 26) when retailers try to meet their numbers and dump inventories. There really isn't anything I want so badly that I'd stand in line for in the dark/cold. If I want it I typically just go get it and pay retail.

Hugh R · 11-25-2011, 06:59 PM

I can't imagine what I would get up at 3 AM and wait in line to buy.

stomachmonkey · 11-25-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I can't imagine what I would get up at 3 AM and wait in line to buy.

The only thing worth buying at 3am are hookers and blow. And no one waits on line for a hooker. eww.

A930Rocket · 11-25-2011, 07:45 PM

I've never shopped in the middle of the night and I'm pretty sure I won't anytime soon.

notfarnow · 11-25-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I've never shopped in the middle of the night and I'm pretty sure I won't anytime soon.

Only thing I'll shop for at 3am is pizza, on the rare occasion that I am fully boozed up and out on the town that late

dafischer · 11-25-2011, 08:34 PM

I don't care what kind of discounts they may offer, but I have never and will never stand in line to buy something at 4:00 AM.

Even in my crazy days, if I didn't have it in-house already by that time I wasn't going out for it, including hookers and blow. But if you had enough blow, you didn't have to worry about hooker prices...you had non-pro talent for the price of some lines.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Those C3 battery packs drive me nuts. After some very helpful responses here I started rebuilding the battery packs in my touch panels in my house (crestron, near impossible to buy) After doing four of those I started on my C3 19.2V's, they take the same cells, "SUB C's 5000" the original Craftsman are 3800's, so use whatever you like for your workload.

Now the part that drives me nuts. In bulk I can get Tenergy sub-c's with welded tabs for about $1.80 a battery, a 19.2V of course takes 13 of these. So $23 in parts + shipping to rebuild the pack, oh and 1/2 hour of your time. Then Sears sells a new drill, with battery pack and charger for $39 on sale! I may as well just buy the drill, toss it and keep the battery that normally sells for $45!

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

This marketing hype will soon be declared a national holiday for the sheep, just like valantine day was. Just my 2 cents worth.

As for Bloomington, IL and not much for excitement - its because its a decent civilized town. Will be there in a few weeks. Damn shame the shut down projects are being transfered out of the south side Chicago to Bloomington. Time for residents to lock and load.

legion · 11-25-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Damn shame the shut down projects are being transfered out of the south side Chicago to Bloomington. Time for residents to lock and load.

Yep, just another thing we have to thank the Chicago Machine for along with high taxes and a nanny state. When you read the police blotter, roughly 75% of the criminals are identified as Chicago residents. Funny thing is, a lot of them end up dead down here with no charges filed..

dtw · 11-25-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

I can't imagine what I would get up at 3 AM and wait in line to buy.

I got up before dawn and stood in a blizzard for three hours to get Pink Floyd tickets.

Would do it again in a heartbeat.

KFC911 · 11-26-2011, 02:17 AM

In college I did a 24 hr wait for concert tix once...but it was a "warm weather party" and a whole lot of fun

No way, no how, would I do Black Friday for any amount of $.

mattdavis11 · 11-26-2011, 03:22 AM

Even though I financed several years of my younger days by waiting in line for concert tickets, it got to a point where I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Morally, I felt it was wrong. There were real fans behind me that wanted to see the show, and I inflated the price of good seats.

It beat sacking groceries though.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I will shop on the Friday after Thanksgiving right after I get a confirmed weather report that hell has frozen over and the USA has paid off all its debt.

There is no force in this universe including dark energy that would compel me to engage in this event. Ain't gonna happen. Ever.

Laneco · 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Only thing I'll shop for at 3am is pizza, on the rare occasion that I am fully boozed up and out on the town that late

Shop at 3am? Bah! I was FINISHED by 3a.m. Started at midnight. Came home, slept a couple of hours, then woke Steve up and sent him out the door with his list. The money saved is not really the point, it's the FUN and knowing that my shopping is is basically done as of yesterday. Gives me the rest of the time until Christmas to make cookies! Yeah! Cookies!!

When I read this mornings paper, I was appalled at the ridiculous behavior. Shootings? Pepper spraying people to get the Xbox? Good heavens... The stores were packed here at midnight with friendly, convivial people. The check out lines were ridiculous - 45 mintues per line. But no pushing, shoving, or display of ill manners anywhere.

I love living in Medford, Oregon.

angela

mattdavis11 · 11-26-2011, 08:47 AM

Sent Steve out the door with his list... Lol. I'm curious to know what came back.

Laneco · 11-26-2011, 05:01 PM

Ammo.

I sent him for drill bits, couple of short ladders, etc., at Home Depot/Lowes. They sound like weird Christmas presents, but they were items for family members. Something they need not some junk.

Somehow, the ammo store got in the way. They had some really great deals on shotgun shells, and the other assorted go-bang-bang toys we have.

Here's the thing. The ammo store is on the opposite side of town from where he was going. I mean COMPLETELY on the opposite side of town.

angela

rnln · 11-27-2011, 12:57 AM

This thing will make me get up at 3am, if it's on sales

widgeon13 · 11-27-2011, 04:01 PM

Just heard the news, all time record for Black Friday, $52 Billion in sales. Guess those unemployed are still running up the credit.

LakeCleElum · 11-27-2011, 05:19 PM

The little town I Live in advertised Radio Shack specials and I wanted a laptop they had 2 years ago. I went in a few days before and talked to the owners I know. They said they had one. I said I'd be there at 6:30 when they opened.

Was told to stay in bed, they'd put it aside for me....Same price as if I'd got to the city and waited in line for 3 hrs in the rain...