Black Friday Update

[Nikki Stone1]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091127/ap_on_bi_ge/us_black_friday_holiday_shopping

"...Early reports from Best Buy and mall operator Taubman Centers offered some encouraging signs that consumers were buying more for themselves and that crowds were larger compared with last year. Toys R Us CEO Gerald Storch said that on average about 1,000 were in line for the midnight opening for each store.

"So far, we are seeing that consumer are willing to spend a little more than what was on their intended list," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail industry analyst at NPD Group Inc. "This is a big gift for retailers. It was missing from the equation last year."

Still, worries about jobs clearly were on shoppers' minds as they lined up for big bargains on TVs and practical gifts.

At a Best Buy in suburban Cincinnati, store officials said some people starting camping out with tents at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The store started handing out tickets for big items, like laptop computers and televisions, around 4 a.m. Friday."..."

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I'll wait for the final nunbers on Monday.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Anecdotally it seems clear to me already that this year's holiday shopping is busier than last.

It's very noticeable where I am.

[Nikki Stone1]

3. I haven't been out yet.

I have some errands to run later today, including a post office run, so I'll see how it is then.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Shoud I just button in then?

I was thinking of going to hunt for a cheaper netbook for a friend who is looking for one... but I guess Base should be good enough.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. You mean buy online? I do that anyway.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. Hey Nadin. Here is a report from the LA Times. (I'll look for your San Diego paper in a minute)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-black-friday28-2009nov28,0,7649380.story

....But industry watchers are skeptical that shoppers will spend heavily. Amid a sharp consumer pullback on discretionary spending, and with the nation's unemployment rate in the double digits, there are fears that the day could be more gray than black.

"Retailers are a little frayed around the edges and consumers continue to be quite stingy," said John Morris, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets. "The overarching theme is that retailers at this juncture in the season are hedging their bets and their optimism."

Today, the recession factored heavily into many customers' budgets.

At Wal-Mart, pallets that had been covered with discounted merchandise and shielded with black tarps were emptied within minutes of being revealed. The stockpile of Rock Band video games, which normally go for $180 each but were marked down to $50, vanished in an instant.

Three years ago, J. Hezley Lopez, 22, held the front of the Black Friday line at Fry's but ended up empty-handed. This year, he walked away from Wal-Mart with a 40-inch Sony flat-screen television that he bought for $600 -- $300 off the retail price.

The junior college student from Walnut was laid off two months ago from his job working in a warehouse for an online shoe company. He has since been relying on his family while saving up.

"I was keeping it for a rainy day," he said. "But I thought it would be a good chance to get something for my parents. You've got to take advantage of the cheap items."....

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Ok head hurts

kid does not have a job

"I was keeping it for a rainy day," he said. "But I thought it would be a good chance to get something for my parents. You've got to take advantage of the cheap items."....

Okey dokey.

But this is why I will wait for the numbers on Monday. If we actually stay even we will not be that bad. Remember green shoots are starting to appear, but labor is lagging, ALWAYS.

[Nikki Stone1]

12. LOL! Hey Nadin, your San Diego station has a Black Friday Guide!

http://www.10news.com/news/21631229/detail.html

Black Friday Store Ads

Toys R Us
Babies R Us
WalMart
Target
K Mart
Kohl's
JC Penney
Old Navy
Best Buy
Radio Shack
Harbor Freight
Home Depot
Lowe's
Ace Hardware
Sports Authority
Office Depot
Staples
Walgreens


Black Friday Web Sites

Black Friday Ads 'The Official Black Friday 2009 Web Site'
Black Friday Net
TheBlackFriday.com
TGI Black Friday
iBlackFriday
DealTaker Black Friday
Black Friday Dealighted
GottaDeal.com
Deal News
Black Friday Info
BlackFriday.fm - Your Black Friday Source
Gizmodo's Computers/Electronics Deals List
www.dealalerter.com
www.sundaysaver.com
www.ebates.com
www.pricespider.com
www.blackfriday.fm
www.heyitsfree.net
www.slickdeals.net
www.pricegrabber.net
www.shipgooder.com

[juno jones]

26. You'd probably be better off with the base or online at some place like newegg.com

Twixvoy had an eyeopening OP about the policies of one large retailer (Target) vis a vis the black friday merchandise. The upswing was that most of the 'doorbusters' are generally cheap and unreliable merchandise, some of which has been languishing for months. Most were returned in the next few weeks for malfunction and breakage.

Since you are doing this for someone overseas, you might want to spend the extra $30 and make sure its done right the first time. Good luck with your search! :hi:

[FarCenter]

6. Local strip mall lot was not full, grocery lot seemed fuller.

Drove past a local strip mall and they were not completely full around 11:30 am. Several rows in the parking lot were only half full of cars.

The local grocery store lot seemed fuller than it would normally be. Restocking?

[Nikki Stone1]

10. People are still only buying staples then

Hmm

[FarCenter]

15. Seems like there is pretty nice weather across the country

Some rain in New England, but most places should have good driving and shopping conditions.

[BuelahWitch]

14. CVS next door doesn't look very busy, except for the pharmacy drive up

[MadHound]

8. They always try to talk up how good Black Friday is going,

In an effort to get people out and shopping, either that day or the following weekend. They're going to publish a set of numbers Monday, but those will, at best, be an educated guess. Wait for the numbers here in a week or two, once they've got all the numbers in. But we'll probably be able to tell well before then how well this buying season is going.

[rucky]

11. My wife's having a good day at her store, so far.

Online sales, not so hot, but in-store sales already up from last year.

[rucky]

21. Update: The fucking city blocked off the streets!

now nobody can park. it's for an event that's not starting until 7pm!

I'm looking foward to the gathering, but you'd think the city would try to support downtown business - not deter it.

[LeftHander]

13. maybe fuller....but there are fewer products...fewer buyers.

yes people are out shopping but it won't be sustained, individually people will spend less. Many are just zombie shoppers following old habits and traditions.

[dugaresa]

16. i am making a date day with my spouse tomorrow to do some shopping for kids

it will be mostly to get them things they need like sweatshirts for junior who is just getting taller and lankier by the moment.
the girly girl is getting some clothes and a small sewing machine which I view as a practical gift that she can use.

then we will have a nice luncheon or early dinner and retire back to our home for a nice evening of eggnog and rum.

[bikebloke]

17. In Arlington

I went for a ride, passing through one of Arlington's business strips. Not all that crowded. Less than a regular weekend day.

[Nikki Stone1]

19. Really. No kidding!

A friend of mine in Alexandria woke up at 4 this morning to stand in front of WalMart at 5am. I guess the big box stores got the business?

[mitchtv]

18. Heavy out in Palm Springs( snow birds came back)

lines began on Tues at Best. Om my way out , I''ll check in later

[mitchtv]

25. just got back...

found parking, not too crowded very little in the doorbuster dept , certainly not in the toaster ovens I was looking at, paltry collection of wireless routers I need will head out to BB tomorrow

[DainBramaged]

20. I'm not even buying lunch today......

[blueamy66]

22. I just saw a news report on a local channel here in AZ

Some lady showed her bill...it was for $7 freaking thousand dollars. Of course it was a charge receipt, but WTF???????

[Nikki Stone1]

27. 7 Grand? For what?

?????

[blueamy66]

30. They didn't show the goods..

just the receipt.

That was my question...7 grand for what?

[Morning Dew]

23. Bloomington Minnesota Toys R Us - 11:30 pm Thursday

A line was stretched out from the door all the way around the side of the building... I estimated 100 people.

11:30 pm ?? WTF?

[Nikki Stone1]

28. I was having a nice sleep at 11:30.

:)

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Well anectotally, I went to look to see if I found that netbook

good news I found the netbook. Bad news I found the netbook. It's not quite the doorbuster, but it was heavily discounted and they still had quite half a pallet of them.

Of course if they agree to it, we will take it down, if not it is going back.

[Prism]

29. Busier stores because of decline in online shopping?

I'm curious to see the retail store vs. online store numbers. With the credit card changes and the sky high interest rate gouging by many banks preparing for the upcoming "reform", I wonder if more people are motivated to pull on their shoes and step away from the computer.

I'm hoping this year's numbers are better for everyone though.