Anyone who shops on Black Friday is my
hero. Granted, I got a fabulous deal on
a 47” flat screen tv years ago but I had to stand in a line for a couple of
hours. When I did finally get inside, it
looked like a bomb had gone off. Stuff
was everywhere. Piles of merchandise were on the floor. Scraps of paper were everywhere.
…and the people were acting like they were playing in the Super Bowl. They were
shoving, elbowing, jumping over things…
I vowed that I would never again shop Black Friday – and I haven’t.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t help my
family and friends who do shop Black Friday sales! If you love to shop, I can
understand why you look forward to this day every year. The deals can be
amazing! So, to maximize your day out, we did a little research on the most
important Dos and Don’ts for your Black Friday adventure.
Check Black Friday Ads
Many sites like BlackFriday.fm, BFads.net, and BlackFriday.info
have every store and their deals listed. Pick out the stores where you
want to shop by reviewing their ads ahead of time.
Make a List and Check It Twice
Have a
shopping list. Make a shopping list and know
when the items are actually on sale, because door busters and time sales are
very common for Black Friday. The benefit in knowing sale times is so you don’t
show up at the store at noon and your item was on sale from 8-11a.
Keep Receipts
You may end up buying things you
thought were a great deal and after you get home you decide to return them. In
all the hustle and bustle small little slips of paper can easily get lost.
Take an envelope dedicated to sales receipts, to help you keep track of
receipts. Also, be sure to take a gift receipt if they offer it at
checkout, you never know when you will need it!
Cancel Black Friday
Skip Black
Friday altogether and wait for Cyber Monday! No
crowds. You can wear pajamas. It’s a no-brainer.
Consider
an “Up & Coming” Gift Versus a Popular One
You may know about subscription boxes, but if not – boy, are you missing out! So
basically, a subscription box is a package of sample retail products
sent directly to a customer on a recurring basis. The boxes target a wide range
of customers and cater to a variety of specific needs and interests. The use of
subscription boxes are rising in popularity among consumers! Inherently
personal (some boxes are personalized to your tastes) and with the element of
surprise (you never know exactly what you’re going to get), subscription boxes
bring a bit of playfulness back to shopping.
Family & MWR will unveil its first subscription box in
January 2017 (we’ll have a theme box for every month of the year).
Subscriptions for our first box are being sold now and will mail in December
for arrival in January. The January box theme is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” The
five to seven sample sized products in the box will be something related to
surviving or enjoying cold weather…could be a new flavor of tea or k-cup, wool
socks, lip balm, soup starter, reusable hand warmers…could be anything that
fits the theme!
You can see a sample box, ask us questions or buy a
subscription by visiting us in the Post Exchange lobby on November 25 and
December 2. Look for the big white banner!
Have Reasonable Expectations of
Employees
Retail workers want to help customers.
They really do. That’s part of their
job. But consider that on a normal day, for example, they’ll help 100 customers.
On Black Friday, that number can increase to 500. There’s just not a lot of
time and energy to go around. Be patient…and kind to retail employees. As my
grandmother used to say, “you can catch more flies with honey than with
vinegar.” You may get a little extra attention (and maybe the “last one in the
back” if you’re pleasant.
Be Respectful of Those Around You
Other shoppers and retail workers are
all trying to enjoy the hectic environment that Black Friday creates. There’s
no need to push or be aggressive towards other shoppers. If you and another
shopper have your hands on the same item, it’s ok to let go. Watch out for
small children. Be pleasant to store employees. Smile. Be helpful. It’s the
holidays! We should be on our best behavior. That and it’s the holiday season.
We don’t want to see a video of you clothes-lining an old lady to get to a doll
that pees. During this time of year, no one has extra money to post your bail.
Shopping on Black Friday
feels to me a little like a battle for Middle Earth. There’s hand to hand
combat, injuries, and forces at work that cause people to behave opposite of
how they normally would. Our hope is that you find one or more of these tips is
helpful to you and allows you to maximize your time and budget! …and may the force be with you.
