and 10 hours later.....
My first "real" Black Friday (BF) experience and it was great!
First-- Thanks to BFADs site for the heads up on the on-line shopping.
I avoided the 4 a.m. line at Kohls, got free shipping and 15% using a coupon code. Got 4 gifts*, cashmere socks for me and 2 Cmas dresses for the grand-girls.
Earlier in the evening I had ordered the Brother Label Maker at OfficeMax ($39.99 for $9.99).
So even before midnight I was 1/2 done w/ my list.
Went to bed at 1:30 with the alarm set for 3:30.
By 4:40 a.m. F-d & I were in line at Sears. He by the Tool Dept and me by Ladies Clothing. (Next year I'll know to go inside the mall and be closer if I want something from the main floor.) I was probably 30-40th in line. There were the usual side liners who pushed in when the doors opened. They were verbally assaulted but this being the "nice" Midwest, no-one pulled punches. I hope they had to wait in a line forever and missed out on whatever they wanted.
I hurried my way onto the escalator and quickly found the department/area right away. The case did not have a single DB item* that I wanted. Had to order it. ERGGG.
Supposedly ANY cashier could order it. I finally found a relative short line back by the DoorBuster (DB) washer & dryer. BIG MISTAKE. That line never did move.
I overheard that the line in children's clothing was hardly any waiting. I nicely asked the associate if she could do orders and she called her manager who came over to help with the order. It won't be in the store until the 16th but that's ok.
In the mean time F-d was in tools, stuck in lines. I headed to Younkers for the ConAir Clothing Steamer ($30 instead of $70). Even though it was a DB and the store opened at 4 a.m., there was a big stack of them and a short line to pay.
F-d still in line in Sears tools, so I headed to Bath & Bodyworks. Got the DB totebag, other gifts* and could use a G1Free coupon. Helpful associates (3 of them) who went back & forth to the stockroom finding what I had on my list. Busy but not crazy with people. (5:45 a.m.) Went by this store 4 hours later and it was a ZOO!
By now F-d has found his way out of Sears tools, and unloaded at the car. Came to carry my bags and at 6:30 a.m. we headed to another mall to Scheel's Sporting Goods and stood in line until 7 a.m. for 4 gifts*.
F-d & another guy we started talking to in line, commented they flunked Shopping 101 because when the doors opened his wife & I made a beeline for the door in front of us and were asking where things were located. The men just stood back & watched. Eventually they found their way inside. Line was 50-60 deep at the opening, at the door we stood at. We were about 20th. Scheel's had lots of very helpful employees too.
I left F-d w/ the goods to pay and I went over to Vic Secret. They were opening at 7 a.m. at the first mall but this mall all was quiet.
It was 7:20 when F-d emerged from Scheel's. He went to do a bathroom/coffee run and I felt like a stalker roaming around the pre-dawn lit mall. Stopped in B&BW to ask about an item they didn't have at the first store. It was not busy, about 10 people inside.
I went back to VS and was joined by another lady waiting for VS to open. 7:30 and the manager & one other employee arrived and said 8 a.m. open. By then there were about 20 in line, I was 2nd. Got the DB tote bag, gift* and things I wanted. Forgot my $10 off coupon, so that was frustrating.
Dh was waiting outside and we headed to Banana Republic for 40% DB. Found something on clearance for 50% instead.
A & F, no sales ever. But ds wanted something there so I looked since I was right there. AEO, sales but nothing outstanding and I can usually find what I want on clearance, online.
While we were at this mall, heard that the line at Shopko was around the building for the DB.
Then to Joann's Fabrics. Got the Ott Light for 50% off, DMC floss, 50% off notions and packaged batting. Was able to use both the 50% off one item coupon and the 20% off entire purchase. NICE cashier.
Back to the first mall for leisurely looking, Sears again for Tools, then at the KA Mixer. The Pro 500 in the ad was not in stock and I wanted to see it in person before I ordered it.
Back to Younkers to look at their KAMixer. Again, not what I wanted. Glad I left Dh in the food court.
We didn't get anything this time and the mall was CRAZY Busy! By this time (9-11:00 a.m.) all the college football fans were shopping before the Neb/Colo game.
We stopped by a local sewing machine store to look at infrared heater. And ended up getting one. Merry Christmas to us.
11:30 a.m. and headed to ToyRUs. Streets and parking lots are NUTS. We walked in the store and got the LT Cook & Learn Kitchen ($99.99 for $49.99). There was a display right as we came in the store, so picked up one and headed to the checkout. No waiting. The grand-girlies will have something to play with when they visit. (shhhh kids... let them be surprised, ok?
)
By then my feet were killing me and I was starving. My 4 a.m. 1/2 cup of coffee was gone long ago.
Lunch, 2 more errands in our small hometown and I was napping in the chair by 2:30.
I'm still excited and thrilled I got 99% of my shopping done today!
I can stay home the rest of the weekend & the season. Dh is in charge of the last 2 gifts. Unfortunately there is all that wrapping to do.
In case you were wondering about our Thanksgiving, we enjoyed the day with ds2. He brought breakfast and spent the day with us. We cooked together and ate too much. It was a nice relaxing day.
And now there is leftover pumpkin pie and fruit salad and rolls to enjoy.
It's been a great holiday.
Tomorrow I do not plan to leave my house at all. F-d has to run into town to pick up a prescription and pay a bill.
I'm going to start doing my Christmas cards, wrapping gifts and will do some laundry and sew and read and enjoy the day.
Get those Christmas cds out everyone, find those cookie recipes, string up the lights. It's finally time!
Holiday Hugs!
Kay~
–– "Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas.
All else is outward display-so much tinsel and decorations.
For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow.
It isn't the tree nor the firelight's glow.
It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men
when the Christmas spirit returns again."
-- Anonymous
*edited because snoopy children may be reading my blog.
First-- Thanks to BFADs site for the heads up on the on-line shopping.
I avoided the 4 a.m. line at Kohls, got free shipping and 15% using a coupon code. Got 4 gifts*, cashmere socks for me and 2 Cmas dresses for the grand-girls.
Earlier in the evening I had ordered the Brother Label Maker at OfficeMax ($39.99 for $9.99).
So even before midnight I was 1/2 done w/ my list.
Went to bed at 1:30 with the alarm set for 3:30.
By 4:40 a.m. F-d & I were in line at Sears. He by the Tool Dept and me by Ladies Clothing. (Next year I'll know to go inside the mall and be closer if I want something from the main floor.) I was probably 30-40th in line. There were the usual side liners who pushed in when the doors opened. They were verbally assaulted but this being the "nice" Midwest, no-one pulled punches. I hope they had to wait in a line forever and missed out on whatever they wanted.
I hurried my way onto the escalator and quickly found the department/area right away. The case did not have a single DB item* that I wanted. Had to order it. ERGGG.
Supposedly ANY cashier could order it. I finally found a relative short line back by the DoorBuster (DB) washer & dryer. BIG MISTAKE. That line never did move.I overheard that the line in children's clothing was hardly any waiting. I nicely asked the associate if she could do orders and she called her manager who came over to help with the order. It won't be in the store until the 16th but that's ok.
In the mean time F-d was in tools, stuck in lines. I headed to Younkers for the ConAir Clothing Steamer ($30 instead of $70). Even though it was a DB and the store opened at 4 a.m., there was a big stack of them and a short line to pay.
F-d still in line in Sears tools, so I headed to Bath & Bodyworks. Got the DB totebag, other gifts* and could use a G1Free coupon. Helpful associates (3 of them) who went back & forth to the stockroom finding what I had on my list. Busy but not crazy with people. (5:45 a.m.) Went by this store 4 hours later and it was a ZOO!
By now F-d has found his way out of Sears tools, and unloaded at the car. Came to carry my bags and at 6:30 a.m. we headed to another mall to Scheel's Sporting Goods and stood in line until 7 a.m. for 4 gifts*.
F-d & another guy we started talking to in line, commented they flunked Shopping 101 because when the doors opened his wife & I made a beeline for the door in front of us and were asking where things were located. The men just stood back & watched. Eventually they found their way inside. Line was 50-60 deep at the opening, at the door we stood at. We were about 20th. Scheel's had lots of very helpful employees too.
I left F-d w/ the goods to pay and I went over to Vic Secret. They were opening at 7 a.m. at the first mall but this mall all was quiet.
It was 7:20 when F-d emerged from Scheel's. He went to do a bathroom/coffee run and I felt like a stalker roaming around the pre-dawn lit mall. Stopped in B&BW to ask about an item they didn't have at the first store. It was not busy, about 10 people inside.
I went back to VS and was joined by another lady waiting for VS to open. 7:30 and the manager & one other employee arrived and said 8 a.m. open. By then there were about 20 in line, I was 2nd. Got the DB tote bag, gift* and things I wanted. Forgot my $10 off coupon, so that was frustrating.
Dh was waiting outside and we headed to Banana Republic for 40% DB. Found something on clearance for 50% instead.
A & F, no sales ever.
But ds wanted something there so I looked since I was right there. AEO, sales but nothing outstanding and I can usually find what I want on clearance, online. While we were at this mall, heard that the line at Shopko was around the building for the DB.
Then to Joann's Fabrics. Got the Ott Light for 50% off, DMC floss, 50% off notions and packaged batting. Was able to use both the 50% off one item coupon and the 20% off entire purchase. NICE cashier.
Back to the first mall for leisurely looking, Sears again for Tools, then at the KA Mixer. The Pro 500 in the ad was not in stock and I wanted to see it in person before I ordered it.
Back to Younkers to look at their KAMixer. Again, not what I wanted. Glad I left Dh in the food court.
We didn't get anything this time and the mall was CRAZY Busy! By this time (9-11:00 a.m.) all the college football fans were shopping before the Neb/Colo game.
We stopped by a local sewing machine store to look at infrared heater. And ended up getting one. Merry Christmas to us.
11:30 a.m. and headed to ToyRUs. Streets and parking lots are NUTS. We walked in the store and got the LT Cook & Learn Kitchen ($99.99 for $49.99). There was a display right as we came in the store, so picked up one and headed to the checkout. No waiting. The grand-girlies will have something to play with when they visit. (shhhh kids... let them be surprised, ok?
) By then my feet were killing me and I was starving. My 4 a.m. 1/2 cup of coffee was gone long ago.
Lunch, 2 more errands in our small hometown and I was napping in the chair by 2:30.
I'm still excited and thrilled I got 99% of my shopping done today!
I can stay home the rest of the weekend & the season. Dh is in charge of the last 2 gifts. Unfortunately there is all that wrapping to do.
In case you were wondering about our Thanksgiving, we enjoyed the day with ds2. He brought breakfast and spent the day with us. We cooked together and ate too much. It was a nice relaxing day.
And now there is leftover pumpkin pie and fruit salad and rolls to enjoy.
It's been a great holiday.
Tomorrow I do not plan to leave my house at all. F-d has to run into town to pick up a prescription and pay a bill.
I'm going to start doing my Christmas cards, wrapping gifts and will do some laundry and sew and read and enjoy the day.
Get those Christmas cds out everyone, find those cookie recipes, string up the lights. It's finally time!
Holiday Hugs!
Kay~
–– "Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas.
All else is outward display-so much tinsel and decorations.
For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow.
It isn't the tree nor the firelight's glow.
It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men
when the Christmas spirit returns again."
-- Anonymous
*edited because snoopy children may be reading my blog.
