Make Your Shopping List
Once you know what items you want to make a shopping list that includes the stores that have the item and their advertised prices. This will help you map out a game plan for finding all of your items at the best prices. You should weigh price and location equally. Get as many things as you can in one trip, and try to focus on the store where you'll get the most savings overall.
Grab online deal
Remember you can buy items on 2009 Black Friday you don’t want just to sell it on EBay. Check online deals on amazon, ebay, buy.com and other online stores to see what the stuff will sell for.
Carry the right Card
Before going to store make sure you have credit card that store accept. Try to avoid a credit card from an company that has gone out of business due to the recent financial crisis. Nothing like shopping for hours on 2009 Black Friday and then being told at the checkout your card is not accepted. J
Grab the receipt and Rebate form
Make sure the store gives you your receipt plus an extra copy that you can send with your rebates after the checkout. Once you arrive at home jump on it and make the copies, fill out the forms, stamp it and send it out. If you wait few days you may get busy in other work and you may lose your rebate amount which Companies want you to. And make sure you copy all the info that you are putting in the envelope – rebate companies do lose your stuff and you want to be able to prove you sent it in.
Be sure and check the stores website for online rebate applications…some stores allow you to apply online. Many stores, even if they require paper rebate applications, will still allow you to check your status online.
A bit extra careful
Be careful during the rebate season. A lot of rebate checks look like cheap junk mailings. People have thrown away a lot of rebate money.
Have a wild idea if there is line
You go to store at 5 AM and you see the checkout line is 2 hours long. You’re thinking you need to get out of here and to the next store. If only you could keep my stuff and checkout later. Here is an deal buster idea. You are in a store that also sells appliances, you could put your stuff in a refrigerator or microwave that is on display. On 2009 Black Friday nobody looks at appliances. You may be able to hide your stuff and come back after the checkout line has gone down and checkout. In the meantime your stuff is hidden and you are on your way to the next store to shop.
Pick the correct store ad
Don’t go to a store with the 2009 Black Friday ads from all your stores. You don’t need all the 2009 Black Friday ads in that one store and, as your hands get full, you’ll be tempted to lay down that stack of ads while you examine merchandise. A few minutes later you notice your ads are gone, you go looking for them, they’re gone because someone else picked them up and your shopping trip is ruined.
Have a online deal and save your night
Many stores will place their 2009 Black Friday ads online before Black Friday and some of them will allow you to purchase online at the 2009 Black Friday ad prices and have the items shipped to your home. At today’s gas prices and figuring what your time is worth, online can be a great, even better, deal.
Hire a labor man
If the big screen TV and the laptop are only available at the store and in limited quantities. But man are they a great deal…hundreds of dollars of potential savings. But staying up all night, in the cold and rain, is not your idea of a good time. Not a problem. There is some kid in your church youth group or a college student who wants to make a $100. Hire them and let them freeze and then shop for you while you stay home and sleep in.
Comfort your Night
Here’s idea how to comfort your night. Bring a sleeping bag, umbrella, folding canvas chair, thermos with hot coffee, maybe another thermos with hot soup, a book to read, your IPod. Not only will you get a great deal, but you’ll be a whole lot happier about the wait.
Have a classic optimization
After you have decided which 2009 Black Friday stores to shop, punch all the store locations into your GPS and ask it to optimize the route. Your GPS will take you to one store after another in the most time efficient route. Remember, 5 minutes could make a difference in whether or not you get to the store in time to buy the last widget they have.
