Not me. I think the last time I did that was when Tickle Me Elmo came out. And you had to get a coupon for 1 per customer, and I needed 3.
Leslie

I'm with you Connie. I do almost all my shopping online.

Not worth waiting in long lines and fighting the crowd IMO. My DD will be out there though!

NOT ME !!!!

I shop during the day while most everyone else is at work.

patti

When my Kiddos were younger My Mother use to give all the GKids money to do their Christmas Shopping on Black Friday. It was really fun. We stayed in the Mall all day long. We split up in Groups and met back at the Food Court.

I miss those times...honest I do.

Gayle

Nope!

Not me! Not interested! My son asked me to go, and I said "no way".

Not Me!!!

I'd rather pay full price than brave the masses! I went a few years ago and that was enough to last me a life time. The traffic, the people....the rude people!!!
NO MORE...LOL

Deb

I have gone shopping on Black Friday since I was a child, and my grandmother took us into center city Philadelphia to go through the stores, get the Santa Claus picture taken, and have lunch at Wanamaker's Crystal Tea room.

After The malls opened, the my traditional BF shopping trip has been to the KOP mall, and for the past few years, included lunch at California Cafe.

I don't participate in the long lines, early mornings, etc. at big box stores for sales. I sleep late on BF morning, after cooking a big dinner the day before....and then go over to the mall.

Besides lunch, buy a few small things...but mostly just enjoy the crowd and decorations.

I would rather have my nails pulled out slowly than brave the mobs! I don't care what kind of good deals are out there, someone else can have them.

I have to... my brother is coming to town and Friday is the only day I can take my 6 year old niece shopping for her Christmas present. :-(

Jodi-

Nothing could be cheap enough to get me out shopping that day. They couldn't even be giving stuff away. No thanks!

Best buy has a wonderful sale right now, so I don't think I will need to go. If I need something my DD will get it for me.

Judy

Not me. I used to do that when Bobby was small and got some really good deals on his toys. I do all my shopping on line now and it is so much nicer and easier too. No more packed stores, rude customers, and long lines.

Me! Me! Me! It is my special time with my daughters. This year I will ahve 2 to go with. We leave early and are usually home to start the Christmas decorating by 10

Not me. I try to get all of my shopping done before Thanksgiving. I just don't like fighting the crowds.

I can't even imagine the crowds and bedlam. Don't think I have the nerve to venture out and be crushed or crazed. LOL I'll just live with what I have and deal with the rest another time.

Not me! I have 2 stories about Black Friday shopping...Years ago, my DD wanted to go to KMart...Her words, we'll go early, you don't even have to get dressed up, no one will see you....Well, here we are "not dressed too nice" me spilling my coffee on the front of my sweat shirt, her with glasses and no makeup...We get to KMart and everyone and their brother were there shopping...All our neighbors, yikes! We had our cart loaded and came around the corner and there was a local newspaper taking pictures...Sure enough, that afternoon, guess who was on the front page, coffee stained shirt and all....
The other time, we were at a major Irish dance competition in Chicago and DD and DGDs thought it would be a good idea to shop in downtown Chicago and it was Black Friday....There are times, when you just don't use your head!
So no more for me, very happy to shop on line or better yet, give my list to DD and have her do mine.....

Me. DH and I go to WalMart, but we don't get up early to go. We want the 19 inch tv and a couple of other things.
JoanMN

Sure do get varying reactions to this more-or-less-same event, don't we??!!

Though there seems to be a good deal of similar sentiments expressed on the part of most participants.

As they say, "It takes all kinds to make a world!", I guess.

The only way that it takes bravery to visit the local stores thAt day is ... if you don't have any money! In the stores around here ... it's just another pre-Christmas Friday.

Shouldn't you folks instigate your stores to agitate for moving your Thanksgiving up to nearer ours, second Monday in Oct? Or, till after Halloween, at least?

Then they could get a big start on Christmas ...

... beginning right after Halloween!!

ole joyful

My Ohio family does it every single year, the women anyway: my aunts, cousins, cousins' wives, 10-12 of them. My mom goes if she's in Ohio. They make matching sweatshirts with some holiday design, so they are clearly together. They take 3 minivans, 2 for people and 1 for bags, a speadsheet, all the ads, and synchronize their watches. LOL. They always, every year for 20+ years, go to Olive Garden for lunch. It's too much chaos for me, though.

So if you're in Columbus, Ohio, Friday and see a large group of large women (I mean fluffy) in matching sweatshirts, tell them "Stephanie said Hi!"

LOL Stephanie they are on a mission!! Man thats too organized for me even if I did go!

Do you know that I am going to be 70 this year and I have never in my life done that. I hate crowds to begin with and I hate malls so I would never even think about it. My daughter on the other hand...will be in line at the door.

My DH and I go every year. We have fun, usually we are not even looking for anything in particular. Last year we split up going into Target, he had already gotten his stuff and I was in line. He called me from the truck and asked if I had gotten Teagen the chair that plugs into your ipod, or games and I said I couldn't find it and that I was already in line. He came back in and got it and got in line with me. He then moved over to a different line and came back with a camera and said. Someone put this down when they were in line ahead of me and then I heard a bunch of people complaining they couldn't get one. I don't know if we need it or not but lets get it. We did and I now have a new camera.

We are usually done about 11 and then go and grab something to eat. We just have fun.

No way! I worked in retail for 20+ years and there's no way in he!! you would get me near a store on Black Friday. Thank goodness DH and I only have to buy for each other, our DS, his GF, and another couple (dear friends of ours). DH and I usually buy something needed for the house and stuff stockings. We spend the $$ on DS and always get his GF something special. We found that the way to an un-stressful holiday season is to keep in mind what the season is really about. We decorate the house, put on holiday music, light a fire in the fireplace, open a bottle of wine and relax with our loved ones and dear friends. Beautiful!

My kids are going out...very early! We are keeping the grandkids overnight Thursday so they can go shopping. They went last year and I got up at 3:00 am to go to there house because Seth was so young and not sleeping good. It was easier for my to go there so they could stay in there own beds. He's used to sleeping here now so we are keeping them all over night. No way would I go shopping that early for anything...never have. I do most of mine online also...easier for me! I hate shopping!

Don't look at me, I am tired of people goosing me with baskets and running over my feet. Tired of people grabbing what I am trying to look at. Nope, I will be here at home with my latte and knitting. Will go out on the following monday. Vique.

I'll be right here, checking in on the KT periodically to see what good buys other KTers pick up on Black Friday. I didn't go shopping on that day when I was young enough to handle it. I'll not be going now when I can't. lol

Shirley

My sister and I went....once.....and never again.
We came back to her car to put items in the trunk, and when we came back with more, and to leave....the trunk was EMPTY! Someone had unlocked her car door, and then pushed the button for the trunk, took our stuff and then relocked the car. It was heartbreaking. We stood there for a second with our mouths open, not believing what we were seeing!

I have never been able to go, always had to work... and now that i am 'semi-retired', i could go if i wanted to but just thinking about the crowds, and fighting for a parking space..... nope, don't think so. You won't see this fluffy grandmother out there.
Ya'll have fun out there!

June

We use valet parking at our mall.

Dean and I will probably go. There are a couple of things at LOWE'S that are on Christmas' lists! We have fun with it, we just go to be in the mess at some stores! LOL Then we go out for brunch and home to take a nap! No fighting over anything tho!

Our family went about 6 years ago to Kohl's. They had some great doorbuster deals when the stores opened at 5:00. Both the girls were given an amount of money and told to go for it. They both spent their money and got a BUNCH of clothes! But we prefer to go alone anymore.

I'm going out on Black Friday . . . to the chiropractor! :-)

I'd rather stay home and yank out my fingernails with a pair of pliers. I hate to go shopping on any day.

Ron

Tradition around our house is, I stay home and sleep, DH is at the door as Mervyns opens to get their free (collectible?) Christmas ornament.

Not gonna happen this year. Our Mervyns is stripped bare after filing bankruptcy. Everything was for sale, even the racks and display cases.

Jodi-

I'll be at Joann's! Going to pick up an Ott Lite for oldest son for his wife.
I worked at Joann's and used to love to work the day after Thanksgiving. Most people are in a good mood and I love the excitemnt and happiness in the air.
Kathy G in MI

I am not going anywhere on Black Friday. I used to go later in the morning with MIL and SIL.

I will be working a double shift on Black Friday and I am hoping that I am busy as sh**!
I plan on going to Target around 6:30 am that morning for one gift, then to the grocery
store to get bunches of cookies to share with my customers.
I am also hoping that it is reallly, really cold out so customers will stop by
for a tan and some warmth.
Deb

No. I hate crowds and I don't have that many people to buy for. This year I have to work. I let all the others take off so I really can't go shopping.

No sense moving it Joyful, around here the stores all had Christmas departments set up and going before Halloween.

Several years ago, what, 4 or 5 now? Something like that I make the 4am trek to BestBuy to get a laptop computer. I did get it. Was one of the last ones. I'll give them credit though for organization. They went down the row and asked what people wanted and if it was the "doorbuster" specials or something they got a sheet of paper that you had to turn in to get it. There were some people trying to talk me out of mine. I asked them how much it was worth to them, since I stood in line for all that time. They turned and left. Took my computer home and enjoyed it. I said afterward though that next time, I won't stand in line, I'd pay the higher price. And actually you can often get as good a deal by watching prices.

Maybe I'll bake something. Or have some champagne and snacks. I like to avoid stores at this time of year whenever I can.

I never go shopping on Black Friday. I hate crowds. I try to plan a fun event, like a movie or Broadway play for the day after Thanksgiving. I like going to a mall on a Monday or Tuesday morning early in December. I try to get all my shopping done in one day. One year I did ALL my shopping on-line. Another year I got the same gifts for everyone, birdfeeders for couples,etc.

I will be up and out the door by 3:30 am.I shop for people that can't get out to do their own shopping,and also for those who don't like to shop.This is how I have paid for my own Christmas for the last 4yrs.

Not me!!!! I'm working Friday but wouldn't be out shopping
if I was off.

DS will be here from the east coast for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So he is going to try to get his Christmas shopping done early Friday. Since he wakes up east coast time, he will get a head start on the rest of the family here in California. When he returns to NYC on Saturday, hopefully he will have all his purchases stored in the closet here and ready to wrap when he returns for Christmas.

I will be out there with the masses. Hey the 3 items I need most in the world are on Walmarts black friday sale. This will save me over $100. I will be there. I do however have a game plan. I will not take my purse, and I will not need a cart. The items I need are small. I know this Walmarts floor plan like I know my own house. I plan to be in and out. LOL right

I think it's fun to go and see the crowds, but I don't have anything particular to buy, so I won't be there. It would just tempt me!