Black Friday Online Deals

"Retailers expect to get 40% of yearly sales between Black Friday and Christmas." Associated Press

Some people complained that Black Friday interfered with Thanksgiving. The retailers are desperate to get people in the stores. Imagine in your mind Thanksgiving Day, and your young people are all gone because they have been told they HAVE to work. NO WAY!! The one freakin' holiday that is meant for family only without gifts or expectations other than being together is being stolen by greed. Granted, our economy needs the push, but don't infringe on Thanksgiving!

Note: I wrote this last year in 2012 when I revised this hub. This year retailers that were normally closed on Thanksgiving opened for early sales. This year there are fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

All of us have different schedules. Some people get a rush from pushing through the throngs of people to fight over an item. I am not one of them - especially not when I could be at home with my family. So, let Black Friday be on Friday.

Hey, we are busy. We have much to do. Many of us do not get away from our computers very often, especially to shop in a crowded store.

I am sure there are millions like me who dread Christmas shopping. I just do not see the sense in ruining my Thanksgiving by going early (some go days in advance) to get in a long line at some big box store, like Best Buy, then they are pushed and shoved through narrow doorways and playing tug-a-war over a Nintendo DS box or some other "thing" they can't live without.

Nope, I would much rather look for the online deals in my jammies. I can start at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving since the big stores, like Wal-mart stated that it would help the economy if they opened for the masses on Thanksgiving, or whatever God-awful early morning hour that some stores open. Plus, I am not interrupting my Thanksgiving time by picking my purse up and saying, "Sorry, kids, enjoy your meal. I have lost my mind and going to leave you here so I can get your gifts. I don't wanna miss out on our materialistic Christmas. Love you. See ya!" Waving my hand behind me before I leave.

Hell, no! One can start following the deals online. Best Buy and other stores have been putting their deals out there for Black Friday deals. I started getting text messages last weekend from stores I have signed up with for deals. Ping, Ping, Ping... my phone hasn't stopped sounding off for the texts that come through from the stores.

I don't care if it is on Black Friday or not, as long as I can stay home and get the deals online. So, why deal with rude people, cranky sales clerks who should be home with their families, and claustrophobic crowd when I can type into my Google Search “ Black Friday Online Deals for 2013”?

Stores are worried about the economy, so they are making sure customers know their deals are out there, and they are out there earlier than usual this year - in stores and online.

In years past, I found some great online deals. For my husband, I saved $180 on a 36” TV for his shop at Best Buy, I saved 60% for pajamas for the whole family at Kohl’s, I saved 20% on a NuWave Pro Oven at Amazon.com for me; and I saved 15% on all my Macy’s purchases. What will this year bring? Maybe some SPS1x for my buddy who constantly babies his Hot Rod! It is buy one get one free at the checkout.

Just a little Googling and time at the computer on Amazon.com is all I need to do my Christmas shopping. Plus, you cannot forget Cyber Monday deals are coming up. I will be online to make additional purchases.

Here are several of the other online deals you can find for your tastes or the person’s tastes you are shopping for: JC Penney, Game Stop, Lowes, Bath and Body Works, Wal-Mart, Target, Bass Pro Shops, Cabellas, Dillards, Harry and David, Home Depot, and the list goes on.

Don't forget Amazon and E-bay for great deals that may surpass those of the big name stores. I bought several candle warmer lamps for family and friends at prices that beat the big stores.

Also, there is a “Buy Local” campaign across the nation. I do plan on doing some of my online shopping with local businesses, and because I believe in keeping my business local for the local economy, I will be getting out to buy some things I cannot get online.

For instance, I want to get a gift certificate at the local mechanic’s shop for a tune up and tire rotation – my husband will love that. For my girlfriends, there are some fabulous deals, like half price gift certificates, at one of the local day spas for all types of services from pedicures to massages. For my community, shopping in local stores does not put my life at risk – I can’t speak for your local shopping, but I hope it is the same safe, comfortable situation.

Buying local is best, even if you live in a big city like New York City or London, go to the shops owned by locals - the few, but still existing, mom and pop shops. They are making great deals and taking big cuts because of the big corporate businesses. Go help them out, and get a better product in many cases.

Putting myself in a situation of being body-surfed across the aisle or being squished between two to ten strangers is not my idea of a warm feeling when picking out a gift for someone I care about. Maybe I am just not a competitive shopper. I prefer my computer, my Google Search Bar, choosing my stores, and best of all, I want to buy local. So, Black Friday, or Thanksgiving Day, hands-on shopping is not for me. Besides, stores are going to keep sales going all season long, so why risk being crushed to death – literally – if I can buy from the comfort of my own home and wait for the delivery?

Here's a secret: the stores are going to keep offering deals between now and Christmas. They are going to hold back on some items and push others. The merchandise is going to be the carrot and they are going to draw customers in by their noses in order to sell it. I choose to buy it online. My junk box is full of great deals. My phone texts are full of more great deals. I intend to take advantage of them.

Cheers to you and yours on a happy shopping experience, whatever way you choose to go. Do not forget your local shop owners.

REVISED for the 2013 Shopping Year.

• Sales grew 4.1% - down over 2% from 2011
• Online shopping expected to go up 17%
• Only 147 million went out to shop on "extended" Black Friday - down from 5 million in 2011
• Why? More people are shopping online and more people are being more frugal with their money this year.

"Early" Black Friday or Grey Thursday (What a name to give Thanksgiving!) did not work as planned.