I remember my first Black Friday. I got to Best Buy around 3:00am (they opened at 6:00) and I was about 15th in line. Those were the good 'ol days. But I've learned a bit over the years, and I'll share with y'all. There are different strategies and different opinions. These are mine. Use what you find useful and ignore what you don't. What works for me may not work for you.

• Black Friday isn't about shopping, it is about buying. You need to know what you want, get it, and get on with your life. With the ad leaks, you've got a week or more to review the ads and develop your plan. Use that time wisely.
• The biggest key to Black Friday success is getting out of the stores. The quicker you get out of one store, the sooner you can get to the next one. Check out lines, at their peak, can exceed one hour long. Your day is screwed if you get into one of those. I don't always go to Best Buy first, but when I do, I am typically the first person to check out, even if I'm 200-300 in line to get in. In a typical year, I can get to at least 3 stores for opening. Historically its been a 5:00am, 6:00am and 7:00am. This year with the dramatically staggered starts, I hope to be at TRU (10:00pm), WalMart (12:00am), Kohl's (3:00am), Target (4:00am), Kmart (5:00am), Big Lots (6:00am) and maybe Office Max (7:00am) for opening. That's an ambitious plan, but I think I can do most of it. I'm willing to scrap Kmart and Office Max if necessary.
• In order to accomplish this, I know exactly what I'm buying at each store, which items are "must haves" and which ones are "like to haves", and to the extent possible, exactly where each items is located in the store. I have my list printed out by store, and within each store, the items are listed in the order in which I believe I will get them as I walk through the store.
• You've got to be willing to skip some items and/or some stores if they are going to screw up your plan. This goes back to the checkout lines. If going back for an item makes you miss getting into the check lane promptly, you should consider missing out on that item (frequently, similar items may be available at another store at a slightly higher price anyway - don't screw up your whole day over $2.00). Also, if you get into a checkout line and it is taking too long, consider dropping your goods and moving on. I had to do this at COMPusa one year. They opened at midnight and I didn't get to the checkout line until around 1:00. They were absolutely not moving. By 2:00, I realized I had at least another hour left, meaning it would be near 4:00am before I could get in line at Best Buy. That was too late, so I left my merchandise and moved on.
• Remember you can always return things. Don't debate with yourself whether to buy something or not - it wastes valuable time. Know what you want and buy it. If you change your mind later, or end up buying the same thing at 4 stores, who cares? Just return it later (or, if its valuable, sell it on Ebay for a profit).
• If you're going to Walmart for your "big item", then don't plan on buying anything else worthwhile anywhere (Walmart or another store). I've never "done Walmart" because it would screw up my entire strategy outlined above. Unlike most stores where you can get in and get the things you want and get out, Walmart has separate lines for every item, so you're pretty much limited to only buying one thing. Then, by the time you get it, you'll be waiting in the checkout lane for an hour.
• Understand that some other stores will have some items with "Walmart like" lines. Be prepared for extra lines for "behind the counter" items such as cellphones, digital cameras, etc. and work those extra lines into your overall plan. I know BestBuy has gotten MUCH better with this over the years and you don't have to wait in extra lines much there. But the office supply stores are horrendous for these - making you wait in separate lines like stupid stuff like computer memory.
• Look at all the ads for stores in your areas. It's wacky what stores will sell sometimes. A couple years ago Home Depot had a flatscreen TV in their ad that was similar to a hot item at BestBuy for a comparable price. Obviously, waiting it line at Home Depot is a much easier task that waiting in line at BestBuy. (I used to always go to BestBuy first, but its gotten ridiculous now needing to get there 12 hours before opening to get "ticketed items". I can typically find things at other stores that BestBuy has in their ads - Office Supply stores are great for computer items.)
• If you want to maximize your success, plan to scout out the stores on Wednesday night after work. Take your list with you, find the items you want, and note where they are in the store. But remember that this is only a guide. Some things will undoubtedly move after you've taken notes.
• Watch for stores that put items in a "convenient location". ALWAYS scan the front of the store when you walk in for items that are on your list. I HATE when stores do this, but they always do. I don't want to look for the Easy Bake oven in the aisle next to boys clothes, I want to look for it in toys.
• Think about how you're going to carry stuff if you are planning to buy a lot at a store. Cart may not be available, or they may prevent you from moving through a store. I've managed to stack boxes up about 6 feet tall and carry them to the checkout lane.

I'll post more tips as I think of them. But those are the big ones. You need to have a plan.

What awesome suggestions! thanks!

I agree with the get in and get out approach. Last year I started at 4 a.m. Kohls. I needed quite a few things but had trouble finding some because they were dispersed. I knew the lines were exponentially growing, so I sacrificed half my list and some store cash to get out asap for 5 a.m. WM next door. Good thing I did because it was a free for all when I arrived and would have missed out if I was playing around in Kohls. Btw, I got the other half of my stuff at Kohls later.

Kohls was a nightmare last time I went for BF. I was eying their dvd player and as soon as I saw they were all out we GTFO as the lines were reaching the back of the store already.

Excellent advise. These are the same rules I typically follow as well.

Good advice although I think it is rude to leace a cart full of stuff you pulled from shelves and decided to leave because you didnt want to wait in line.... Imagine the total mess and chaos if everyone did this

Great advice. You summed it up nicely. My plan this year is very similar to yours, though somehow I'm going to need to throw Barnes and Noble in whenever it opens. Best of luck to you!

I've been doing BF doorbusting for 5 years now, and I agree with everything you said except one part needs a disclaimer:



Best Buy (and possibly other stores) is notorious for their "restocking fee" when you return an item. I would add a disclaimer about KNOWING what each store's return policy is for BLACK FRIDAY items. Make sure you mention BF because I've seen some stores change their policy for the one day event.


New tip: Shopping buddies are priceless. I realized this when I brought along my wife last year, who was a BF newbie then. Kohl's and TRU didn't know what hit them. Now I had someone to hold place in line while I went on bathroom breaks, we could "divide and conquer" the store which cuts your time in the store by half, AND if you do remember an item while in the checkout line, one can stay with the cart/stuff and the other run back to get the forgotten loot. DISCLAIMER: Just make sure when you pick a buddy, that they know what they are getting into.

I used to be concerned about return policies. There's a few stores that you've got to be really aware (Burlington Coat Factory used to not permit any returns). But I've found that (a) restocking fees don't apply to unopened packages (which makes sense), (b) if you're buying something that is a great deal on black friday, the retailer can sell it for more later, so they will typically bend their return policy as necessary to accomodate and (c) if they don't take it back, you can typically resell things (especially electronics) on Ebay for no worse than break-even.

I've never shopped with a partner, preferring to do it alone. I feel like a buddy would slow me down. I could see doing it if it was more of an "employee" working at your direction, but I don't want their input. Your last point is what sums it up: Make sure they know what they're getting into.

That's basically how it is with my wife. She knows this is my turf and she took direction well. She went and grabbed everything I told her to get. She was awesome.

Old post from last year, but worth bumping.

Great advice!

I keep my youngest daughters stroller in my vehicle on BF in case of a cart issue. She doesn't use it anymore, plays with it at home, so the only day it's ever out of the house is on BF...lol

Ladies - don't carry a purse! Find something else to keep your loot in, along with your ID.

Dress comfortably. It's so irritating seeing people all dressed up just to shop on BF <nobody is going to LOOK AT YOU they are too busy getting their deals and moving on, find another day to try and impress people!>

Keep snacks and drinks in your car for between stores.

Make sure you gas up your vehicle in advance! I did this yesterday.

Bring something to cover things up especially if you have to put something in your backseat, or have an SUV, etc. That away people don't see what you have in your vehicle.

DON"T GO ON FACEBOOK AND TELL EVERYONE YOU ARE OUT SHOPPING!!!! TELL EM AFTER YOU GET HOME! THIS IS TMI FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME WHILE YOU ARE AWAY!!!