BEN has 388 chronicles

1. Braving Black Friday 2008
   

   Player Chronicle -- Posted on Nov 29 2008

   With only an HDTV on my list, I've committed myself to filtering through the ads and finding the deal of a lifetime, lol. Anyone else going out to brave the visiting relatives and soccer moms?
   
   Actually, I have a specific model in mind and will basically be looking to find a place that offers a better deal than what I've found at Wal-Mart! If I DO find a better deal, I'll take the ad to Wal-Mart and get it there at an even lower price
   
   40' Sony Bravia (LCD & 1080p)...HERE I COME!
   
   
   UPDATE:
   Well, I did brave the crowds and attacked Black Friday this year. After researching the newspaper ads (that of course were hilariously abundant), I had a game plan.
   
   My alarm would go off at 4:15am, at which time I would make my way over to American (Electronic/Furniture Retailer). Once there, the parking lot was full and as I parked FAR away from the front door, I was met with a guy laughing, complaining, and headed back to his car. It's not what I wanted to see, but this guy was a weaker soldier.
   
   I pushed through the emotional fear of standing in a HUGE line with this cold, and walked past the front door, to the side of the building, and at least 3/4 of the way to the back of this very large warehouse-type of building!
   
   Not seeing the front door, but still waiting took courage, lol. I chose to cross my arms, look down towards the ground, and bear the cold in my own mind. The first time I talked in line was when the door guy (after I arrived at the front door after 15-20 minutes of waiting outside), said I was the cut-off. He asked if I was with the guys that were right in front of me and I pulled a perk out of my bag and said a smooth "Yeah man."
   
   A got in the store and was guided by barrack-lick streamers that guided the herd into the line of the items you were shopping for. No browsing here people, this was buying time! haha
   
   I waited in the TV line for another 10 minutes or so and when I got to the front of the line and with my sales associate waiting, I was asked to tell the manager what I was looking for, so he could check "The List". This hand written 8x10 piece of paper had all the available models, with X'd out models that had sold out.
   
   I told him this Sony model that I had planned for, but then saw the dreaded X through it. It was out, but as they said many times that morning..."But we do have a comparable item that I actually prefer." haha.
   
   Silent Bob had warned me about my choice of Sony and with this situation answering any sort of doubt, I went with a 40' Samsung (LCD & 1080p) (see photo)!
   
   I picked it up for $797.00 and also purchased a "Performance Pack" for $99.00, which included a clean electric hub for an entire entertainment center, 1 main HD wire, TV cleaning kit, and a HDTV calibrating DVD. I passed on the 3 or 5 year in-store warranties, but will have a 1 year manufacturing warranty.
   
   I grabbed my free $25 gift card at the door and waited to pick up the beast until the crowds died down.
   
   On my way home, Wal-Mart tempted me enough to stop by and around 15 $2-$9 DVDs, a camera I don't necessary need, and a single $2 picture frame...Black Friday was completed.
   
   A drive through Burger King breakfast was my prize and I jump back into bed soon after I watched the sun rise on my way back home...
   
   THE END

   
   

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BEN has 6 comment s on this chronicle.

1. Lord_Santa
   Posted On Feb 15 2009

   not going to pretend that I know exactly what "black friday" truly means, but it appears to be the day of big sales around the country(?)
   
   I too have braved through the crowds, once or twice (when getting GTA IV at midnight-release, etc.) and know it can be tough
   
   Well done to you, it takes a true soldier to keep it cold until the end ^^
   
   Great read =)

2. JackDaniels624
   Posted On Dec 10 2008

   Congrats on surviving! Those people are crazy waiting in line for that long...At work there were people lining up at first break which was at around 12:40 a.m Luckily we got out before they opened so I got to live!
   
   Oh by the way that was very well written!

3. Dynafire
   Posted On Nov 29 2008

   Glad to see you've got yourself a new TV! I too braved the Black Friday insanity, but I didn't end up with any huge deals. Check out the chronicle when I get it done.

4. Silent Bob
   Posted On Nov 27 2008

   Are you SURE you want a Sony? I've got a friend with a TV repair service in Ankeny, and he claims they're absolute crap...and overpriced crap at that.

5. Gvirus05
   Posted On Nov 26 2008

   At least you don't have to work retail on black friday.

6. BigNeen004
   Posted On Nov 26 2008

   Black Friday makes me cringe!
   
   Luckily, my girlfriends' family is coming in for Thanksgiving and going shopping on Friday, so that leaves me to sit peacefully and get my game on!