Black Friday 2010 Shopping Tips

Black Friday is the best shopping day of the year. Many retailers slash prices on big-ticket items to lure shoppers to their store. The best Black Friday sales happen early in the morning at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. Generally people line up several hours before the store opens in order to get the first shot at the great shopping deals. These shopping tips will help you make the most of the Black Friday Sales.

Shopping Tips: Choosing Your Stores

• Compare the prices at the stores. You can research on the Internet as well as look through the circulars that you receive in your Sunday paper.
• Choose which stores have the most savings for you.
• Plan to hit only one store for the morning sales. The long lines will prevent you from getting the best deals at multiple stores, plus usually the items are gone within the first hour.

Shopping Tips: Planning Your Attack

• Choose the item that you want the most and try to get that first.
• A cart may slow you down, especially on the first item.
• Try getting the cart after you have gotten your first item or split up and send your partner to get the cart.
• Use a partner so that you can hit multiple areas of the store at the same time.

Shopping Tips: Stay Focused on Your Plan

• Go for your big items first. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by aisle displays or other items.
• Stay on budget by shopping with a specific list in mind. In the madness it is easy to come out with ten items that you didn’t mean to purchase and blow your entire budget. The sale is only worth going to if you manage to stick to your budget, otherwise you would be better shopping online without the temptation to splurge.

Shopping Tips: Be Prepared for the Fighting

• Be prepared for pushing, yelling and possible fights between customers. Try not to get involved by taking your item and moving on as quickly as possible.
• Be careful when you first enter the store. Often customers will stampede the door and employees or others get hurt in the rush.
• The general rule is that if you have touched the item it is yours. Do not put an item down unless you put it in your cart, because someone else can grab it.

Shopping Tips: Shop at Midnight

• Some twenty-four hours stores will offer their Black Friday deals starting at midnight. Look for the item and place it in your cart before midnight. Although they may have certain big-ticket items covered before then.
• Most people do not realize you can hit the sale that early, and so it is a lot less crowded. Contact your local store to see what their policy is regarding these sales.

Shopping Tips: Dealing with the Lines

• Be prepared to stand in line before the store opens, and then again after you have found your items.
• Try using the customer service desk or electronics department register to check out. Avoid drinking too much coffee or soda, so that you can make it through the lines, without needing a bathroom break.