Avoiding HUGE Lines!

[mjain275]

One of the factors on black friday is that the lines may be very long. You might wait an hour missing out on deals. Please post here ways to avoid huge lines.

Kohl's:
1. Go to the jewelery section and purchase items there!
Any store with a pharmacy:
1. I was at Shopko and the line extended all the way to the back of the store. Go to the pharmacy and purchase items there.

2. Keep someone waiting in line as you go and grab your items.

Try and Pay in Cash. There is less hassle of your CC getting rejected.

Please post other tips:

[wikipost]

Kohl's:
1. Go to the jewelery section and purchase items there!
Any store with a pharmacy:
1. I was at Shopko and the line extended all the way to the back of the store. Go to the pharmacy and purchase items there.

2. Keep someone waiting in line as you go and grab your items.

3.Try and Pay in Cash. There is less hassle of your CC getting rejected.

4. Try paying at some sort of bakery. At supertarget you can pay at Starbucks!

5. Check for other places that have a cashier(eg cell phone place).

[thund3rcat]

Cut in line.

[dementia]

One that used to work at one of the BBs here was to get in line at the mobile phone counter. Couple of years ago they said (after people were in line) that you had to buy something from their dept. to use that register, so everyone started pickup up filler-type items (replacement palm stylus, etc). Then they saw what was happening and starting fussing at people with "you cant do that, you have to buy a phone or palm pilot to use this register" There was a huge revolt and everyone refused to get out of line. :lol: So then she said "fine! but I'm not going to let you return it!". *rolls eyes* Several folks called the woman names before it was over with. I, myself, suggested she get on medication. :lol:

So, it's a definately huge YMMV, but worth a try. Same principle applies for most stores, find the obscure register that most folks forget about.

[marvinmanuel]

purchase the item a day before bf. Then on bf, stop by the store on the afternoon when the lines are gone then just do a price adjustment. If the line is still there, go directly to returns or customer service, it should most likely have shorter lines than the cashier.

I used this technique on Microcenter's Syntax-Olevia tv craze. Bought the tv the day before and loaded it to my truck in less than ten minutes. Came back to the store friday afternoon with just the receipt, the cc used and my id. Worked like a charm!

[function]

Any store with a pharmacy:
1. I was at Shopko and the line extended all the way to the back of the store. Go to the pharmacy and purchase items there.


I have to highly encourage people to NOT do this, ever

beside the foolishness of having a cashier station at a pharmacy location, people in line at a pharmacy are normally there because they actually NEED meds, and are often forced to wait behind greedy people looking to buy their pack of gum a little faster while the elderly lady who can barely get around has to stand behind them

and before saying "oh they should know better, it's black friday" keep in mind that the person probably doesnt have any choice

suck it up and take the wait in line in exchange for saving a buck or two

[Shadow_Watcher]

Roshambo someone for their place in line!

Including the little old lady that should be using a home med delivery service since she can barely get around!

[MoonSprite]

. Keep someone waiting in line as you go and grab your items.

This is a no go as well. Last year at BB, my Mom was waiting in line for over an hour. Some guy in front of her decides to have his wofe shop around and they fill up a cart. My Mom and others behind her called foul, and the manager made the couple go to the back of the line. They began yelling out to customers to ONLY go into checkout when you are done shopping.

I always pay in cash, as it seems the stores like to have those cash only lines and you can usually breeze through them.

[vanos_wife]

Don't use a cart unless absolutely necessary. This makes flying through the store quicker since you won't get jammed up behind all those carts in the narrow isles. Also, it makes it easier to get to the register for faster checkout. I was in and out of Walmart last year in about 7 minutes with an armful of toys - no cart, no jam up, no line to wait in :lol:

[faheyd]

This is a no go as well. Last year at BB, my Mom was waiting in line for over an hour. Some guy in front of her decides to have his wofe shop around and they fill up a cart. My Mom and others behind her called foul, and the manager made the couple go to the back of the line. They began yelling out to customers to ONLY go into checkout when you are done shopping.

I always pay in cash, as it seems the stores like to have those cash only lines and you can usually breeze through them.

I cry foul on this. A line is a line and as long as you got your cart ready to go when you get up to the front, where's the harm in that.

Sure you personally feel a little put out because you are standing behind someone that is smarter than you, but get over it.

[rmboy211]

I cry foul on this. A line is a line and as long as you got your cart ready to go when you get up to the front, where's the harm in that.

Sure you personally feel a little put out because you are standing behind someone that is smarter than you, but get over it.

I also agree on this. When it comes to BF, you have to come out with your A+ game. Anything that you can do that gives you that competitive edge over other people is what makes BF shopping fun and a competition.

[dementia]

I cry foul on this. A line is a line and as long as you got your cart ready to go when you get up to the front, where's the harm in that.

Sure you personally feel a little put out because you are standing behind someone that is smarter than you, but get over it.

I agree with ya. What niece and I did one year at BB (after we snatched the hard to get items) was take turns standing in line. I'd stand in line and she'd shop (grabbing doubles if I wanted same thing), she'd take my place and I'd shop. We stayed on the phone most of the time during it with one another and worked beautifully.

[MoonSprite]

I cry foul on this. A line is a line and as long as you got your cart ready to go when you get up to the front, where's the harm in that.

Sure you personally feel a little put out because you are standing behind someone that is smarter than you, but get over it.


My Mom was alone shopping by herself and waiting in line like everyone else. And this guy cuts in front of her with all these items, a FULL CART. The wife had a cart in line in front of my Mom. Her hubby comes up with ANOTHER cart of stuff right when she was about to pay. C'mon, it pissed off the whole line. Now they have to wait longer. Sure, it would have been nice to keep shopping while someone else stands in line for you, but it doesn't work that way in my local BB.

Don't insult my Mother, either. The person obviously wasn't "smarter" than her, because they went to the back of a 2 hour line, while my Mom paid for her stuff and left.

I also agree on this. When it comes to BF, you have to come out with your A+ game. Anything that you can do that gives you that competitive edge over other people is what makes BF shopping fun and a competition.


Well, you also don't want to piss off a woman with a cane and a big mouth! LOL, be careful or get sent to the BACK of a 2+ hour checkout line! :lol:

[Scottk]

One of the factors on black friday is that the lines may be very long. You might wait an hour missing out on deals. Please post here ways to avoid huge lines.



Stay home. :lol:

[pthor1231]

I have to highly encourage people to NOT do this, ever

beside the foolishness of having a cashier station at a pharmacy location, people in line at a pharmacy are normally there because they actually NEED meds, and are often forced to wait behind greedy people looking to buy their pack of gum a little faster while the elderly lady who can barely get around has to stand behind them

and before saying "oh they should know better, it's black friday" keep in mind that the person probably doesnt have any choice

suck it up and take the wait in line in exchange for saving a buck or two

Oh please, if you need the meds you are getting from the pharmacy RIGHT THEN, then you screwed up, don't blame it on other people using a valid register. It's not like the pharmacy register can only handle 10 transactions per day, then anyone else is SOL.

[Deal Digger]

Keeping someone in line while the other person shops, then showing up at the last second with a buggy full of crap, will get it beat out of you.... That's if you're in front of me =)

[Raiden]

I worked at Circuit City and in my experience to get in and out you should:

1. Have one person get in line as soon as you enter the store and have others get the items they want.

2. Know EXACTLY what your going in for.

3. Ask store workers exactly where the items you want are before you enter the store.

4. Pay with a Credit Card, not cash and NO CHECKS!

5. Be as nice as possible to the employees and they will will hopefully return the favor.

6. Keep asking them for what you want as they are being asked for items every minute.

7. Have something to carry your items in!

[decolores9]

Then on bf, stop by the store on the afternoon when the lines are gone then just do a price adjustment.
A lot of stores won't allow this. In addition, BF items often have a different sku or UPC, so the identical item purchased the day before would not have the same pricing as the BF item.