Basically I need one good desktop for my kids. I pinned down to Best Buy’s Emachines desktop system. (Because it is flat $150. No rebates etc.) Also I planned few more items like sandisk 512MB MP player, Lite-on DVD recorder etc.
Based on the Internet discussions, hype, retailers publicity I know that I have to go to store before three hours. Initially I thought 3 AM is OK but later I thought 2AM is good.
At one point I feel it is better to go there before 1AM too. But I did not. I went to bed around 11AM. Slept for couple of hours. Woke up around 1.20 AM. Finally I started from home around 1.35 AM. Reached BB around 1.50. After parking car reached the line around 1.50 AM. More than 25+ people are already in the line with tents, blankets etc. Initially I got doubt that Will I get desktop? But I stayed in the line. No point in going back & sleeping again.
Decided to try my luck. Temperature is around 9F + it is too windy. Slowly more and more people are joining in line. One old lady (around 55+) joined the line next to me.
After first 30 mins, I started feeling cold. (My two-layer dress is not good enough.) I brought some tea to keep my self-warm. Started drinking the first cup of tea. Old lady next to me started talking. Initially I am very surprised why she is in the line. She told me that her son wants a Game cube package. (It is $100 less than retail price.) Seems to be during thanks giving dinner, he told to her. She decided immediately & seems to be she came very well prepared. With 4 layers of dresses & one think fleece blanket. Her son works in Costco, which is very opposite to BB. He is working at that time. (Around 4AM.) But I am very surprise with her decision. (For $100 saving, 3+ hours of standing in cold 9F) May be this is called true love? Or extreme love or true bargain hunter? Her son came by before going to Costco work (around 4AM), handed hot coffee to her. I was listening to songs & some times talking to other people around me. Around 4.05AM, BB folks started giving tokens to people in the line. First started with Toshiba TV, Kodak digital camera etc. Later Panasonic Camcorder. I took Panasonic token. Waiting for computers stuff. $380 Laptops are gone. Started feeling tension about desktop. Desktop tokens came. Luckily I got token for Emachine's desktop. I asked old lady to get additional token for me. (To give to my friend.) She took the token & give it to me. Time is around 4.30. Tea is over & wind is increasing & started feeling too much pain. Basically water is coming from nose continuously. Old lady offered her fleece Blanket to me. Saying that you much come with much better dressing & don’t give up. Last 30 mins is very horrible to be me. Finally store opened prompt 5AM. I went inside & took all the planned stuff & went in to checkout line. All done by 5.40 AM except desktop pickup. Separate line was created for desktop checkout. That line is too long. So I decided to go back to other stores & come back later. While returning from BB, I checked lines at circuit city & Office depot. Lines are too big. Decided not worth waiting. Started immediately & went Menards around 6.40 A.M. Struggled to get a parking spot. Finally managed a parking. Went inside & grabbed all the planned stuff & immediately went t checkout lines. All done with in 40 Mins. (Brought car seat for saketh, batteries, activity books etc. Back to home around 7.20AM. After little bit of breakfast, again went to BB to pick up desktop & camcorder & some rockeers etc. Returned home by 11 AM. It is snowing heavily. Return drive was too messy & very slow. Finally everything went smooth. Got lot of body pains later. (May be because of cold whether exposure.) Used some painkillers later. We put the desktop in the afternoon session & it was working great. Dhanvi face was glowing like a 1000-Watt bulb after seeing his new desktop. He played for couple of hours. I am very much happy after seeing his face. All pain is gone.
Later part of the day, I started thinking it is worth? May be if I buy all of them via sale prices, may be I will pay additional $400 to $500 for my stuff. So started thinking deeply about it.
it is worth going around 2AM in cold, alone? I felt is it is an good experience. In particular old women story was really touching to me. I placed myself in her position. Will I do that at her age? Still I am not sure at this point. This is my 7 th year in USA. Never went to black Friday shopping at that early. i.e. I went to stores but always after opening of the store i.e. after 5 or 6 AM. Whatever is left, I used to collect. But this year, it was whole new experience.
I saw all kind of people. (People who badly need some thing, people nice to have items, just to give the loved ones the asked stuff, and some idiots too. Who came around 5AM and trying to jump in to lines.)? Overall this black Friday is more than bargain hunting for me.
Share yours opinions too.
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