Black Friday/ Cyber Monday

[mac60]

I used to do it, the Black Friday shopping. I have slowed down a lot. I do go to Kohls. I am really disgusted with the whole retail markets, as seriously there is no reason to open at 10 pm or 12 pm on Thanksgiving night. Let the families have a nice holiday day with their families. Retailers have gotten so greedy with the holidays. Whether they do "Black Friday" prices from 8 am to 2 pm or 7 pm to 11 pm, the shoppers will be there. The whole thing is getting out of hand.....especially when people get trampled to dealth while doing it.

[Childminder]

I just booked my hotel last night, I know we are going to great lakes crossings at midnight, I need to go to target and walmart. I love black friday, my kids love it too, they sit in the hallways watching people, to them that is exciting. I bring my kids because they are line holders, so I can shop.

Great Lakes Crossing, in MI is opening at 9pm Thanksgiving night.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Buy LOCAL!

Please, everyone, try to buy something from a small business that is locally owned! They NEED your business, Walmart and Target...not so much. Personally, for the adults on my list, I like to buy hand-made local items, like prints from local artists, crafts, hand made jewlery. Or gifts from a small shop. Or gift certificates to locally owned restaurants. Please, Main Street needs us. We are all small businesses, so let's do our part to support small shopkeepers, artists, restaurantuers, etc. I know the bix box stores are convenient and easy, but even ONE gift purchased from a small local business would help.

[Christian Mother]

I don't like to do black fri...I sleep in...heheh!! But last yr they had great deals online at walmart so I think I'll stay up and ck out all the cyber deals. Walmart had a great deal on the DSi XL so I want to see what they are doing again this yr on those... My kids are exchanging one gift for each other this yr. My daughter wants a barbie doll house and my son wants a ipod. I looked on CL and might go that rout also. We have never done a huge Christmas gift giving thing. We pull out of a hat for the family and buy 1 gift for each other and then we do a lot of transitional things like bake a ham, go out looking at Christmas lights, go out with the family and go on neighborhood hay rides looking at house lights. Sing carols around the neighborhood. Drink hot coco and also spend lots of time with family. The kids don't know anything else.

[countrymom]

Great Lakes Crossing, in MI is opening at 9pm Thanksgiving night.

I think forever 21 opens at midnight, I hate that store, but my girls want to get some cheap jewlery (and my niece) Last year it opened early but the stores didn't open till midnight, the screaming was crazy, my ds thought it was the best thing he has ever seen, crazy people shopping

[mac60]

Please, everyone, try to buy something from a small business that is locally owned! They NEED your business, Walmart and Target...not so much. Personally, for the adults on my list, I like to buy hand-made local items, like prints from local artists, crafts, hand made jewlery. Or gifts from a small shop. Or gift certificates to locally owned restaurants. Please, Main Street needs us. We are all small businesses, so let's do our part to support small shopkeepers, artists, restaurantuers, etc. I know the bix box stores are convenient and easy, but even ONE gift purchased from a small local business would help.

I so agree with you on this. Only problem is, in our town, nobody thinks it is important to be open after 5/5:30 pm, and I work till 5:15, and can not get to the shops. They have renovated our town, and constantly have "Shop here" ads in the paper, yet no one has been smart enough to figure out that you must be open in the evenings when the working person can get to the stores, seems like they would of taught that in retail management.

[MyAngels]

Please, everyone, try to buy something from a small business that is locally owned! They NEED your business, Walmart and Target...not so much. Personally, for the adults on my list, I like to buy hand-made local items, like prints from local artists, crafts, hand made jewlery. Or gifts from a small shop. Or gift certificates to locally owned restaurants. Please, Main Street needs us. We are all small businesses, so let's do our part to support small shopkeepers, artists, restaurantuers, etc. I know the bix box stores are convenient and easy, but even ONE gift purchased from a small local business would help.

Our downtown revitalization was just finished completely this summer. It is so beautiful with all of the lights at night, and the shops and restaurants are cool and awesome! I wish all cities and towns had a place like ours to shop. I can always find unique gifts downtown that get ooohs and ahhhs from family and friends, so yes, support your local stores - you will reap the benefits, too .

[Abigail]

WOW, I just realized that Walmart opens at 10 pm! Why not 4 am or whatever the time was last year? Why are the stores moving it up? Then I looked further into the ad and different pages of the items start the sale and some are not available until midnight or later or something....good thing I saw it or I would have gone at 10 and had to go back, . What bites is the items that don't go on sale til a few hours later the lines might be long. UGH

About 40 mins away from where I live there is a walmart in a smaller town. (They don't have anything else store wise.) I plan my entire Christmas around what they have to offer. I arrived at 9:30 and was out of the store by 11. It was excellent.

This year Walmart has a little people princess castle and pop and surprise train. Both retail at 100.00-120.00. They have them for 20.00!

I tried to find the castle and train in our ad, but didn't see it!

[DCMom]

Please, everyone, try to buy something from a small business that is locally owned! They NEED your business, Walmart and Target...not so much. Personally, for the adults on my list, I like to buy hand-made local items, like prints from local artists, crafts, hand made jewlery. Or gifts from a small shop. Or gift certificates to locally owned restaurants. Please, Main Street needs us. We are all small businesses, so let's do our part to support small shopkeepers, artists, restaurantuers, etc. I know the bix box stores are convenient and easy, but even ONE gift purchased from a small local business would help.

So true. I have all adults on my list now that my kids are grown up and starting out. We do local restaurant gift certificates and gas cards; pay their car insurance for a month or grocery store gift cards. I Love handmade, local gifts. Some of my favorite things are from places like this.

That's not to say the hubby isn't in line at Menards for something! He loves a good deal. Me? I'm sleeping in...