Monday, November 29, 2010

The Coldest Black Friday

I was cold.

The coldest that I had probably ever been. My fingers were going numb and I could barely feel my toes.

Oh my God. What if I got Frost Bite and lost my toes? Would Tom still love me without my big toe? Or would he gag and beg me to keep my socks on at all times?

Was this worth it? Was standing in a line outside of Kohls at 2:02 in the morning on Black Friday worth it? Did I really need to find deals? I peeked inside the window and saw the sale signs up and my heart raced with excitement. Yes. The deals were worth it. So what if I lost a big toe?

A gust of wind brushed against my face. It felt like a slap and I recoiled. Why didn’t I live in a warm state?

“The wind makes it worse,” I said to my friend Amanda as the people behind us bumped into our backs. Again. I think it was because one of them was all, “If we all stand together, we won’t be as cold.” I thought she just meant the family members she was with. But no, I think she intended us to join her circle and get friendly, real fast. It seemed like they kept inching closer and closer to us to the point where I wanted to turn around and snap, “Hey! Personal bubble, people. You’re in my personal bubble.”

I stomped my feet, one after the other. I probably looked like I had to pee, but I didn’t care. It kept them warm.

“It’s cold,” I whined, stating the obvious. This was my first time ever standing in line outside a store. Usually I go to Black Friday around 7, when the doors are already open. But this time I had the opportunity to go first thing. The kids were with Amanda’s husband (fast asleep) so I decided to see what it was like being out extremely early.

I was finding out that it was very, very cold.

And that perfect strangers were trying to bring me into their circle to keep warm.

And that parents sent their teenagers out to save a spot in line for them, which sort of irritated me. That’s called CUTTING, people. You can’t just slip in line even if someone is holding your spot. It’s rude. It was on the tip of my tongue to shout that. “It’s RUDE, ma’am, you get in the back of the line. I don’t care if you had your son save a spot for you. You haven’t been out here freezing your ass off and having a stranger grope at you for warmth.”

I didn’t though. Because I heard stories from when people snapped on Black Friday. Suppose I said something and was beat up? It was too early to fight; I’d probably just stand there stupidly and take it. And that’s even if I felt it. My entire body felt numb.

Time seemed to pass by slowly. I would think that ten minutes had passed and it would turn out that only two had.

Was this WORTH it?

I stomped my feet even harder and tried to shift away from the woman in back of me who attempted to rest against my arm.

“Now I know what the people on the Titanic felt like,” I said to Amanda. “When it sank, I mean. Freezing like this. And being tossed in the water, no less. If I had been Kate Winslet, I’d have gone, “Sorry Jack, I don’t care what I promised, I’m just going to die on this door. I’m too cold to care.”

I sipped some hot chocolate that we brought with us. It wasn’t really hot anymore though.

Finally, FINALLY, we had five minutes left. And that’s when I saw them. People, who had been sitting in their warm, toasty cars, standing at the end of the parking lot, waiting to rush inside as soon as the doors opened.

Um.

Some other people in line noticed this too. Evil looks were exchanged. I narrowed my eyes towards a woman who looked like she was going to race inside Kohls as soon as the doors were unlocked. I silently told her, “Don’t you dare. You haven’t been standing outside for an hour like I have, freezing.”

Seriously, what is WRONG with people? You can’t just CUT in line. And if you’re reading this, and have cut before, shame on you. There are no excuses.

A Kohls worker approached the door. Murmurings rumbled through the crowd. It’s opening, the doors are opening, we can finally get warm!

Once the doors were clicked open, those people waiting at the ends of the parking lot did try to get in front of us. But thankfully, a Kohls worker kept them back. And a couple people in line seemed like they’d fight the people who tried to cut. One guy shouted, “GET IN LINE LIKE THE REST OF US!” My hero.

I found a cart, which is a rarity for Kohls on Black Friday. And then I started shopping. I didn’t have a set plan, like some people. I noticed other people had a list written out. I did not. I’m not organized. I try to be, really, but it doesn’t work out. My mother, she’s the queen of lists.

“Let’s go to the toys first,” I said to Amanda. I figured that would be the best place to start.

By the time we were done shopping, the line was stretched all around the store. It took an hour to get through it.

Then we went to Target. It was busy, yes, but not as bad as Kohls. I managed to find this Princess set for Natalie:



And this Toy Story set for Tommy:



Both on sale.

I found a couple of other things too. The line was long, but it moved quicker than Kohls.

And then that was it. Black Friday. Was it worth it? I’d like to think so. I did find some good deals. Would I ever do it again? Probably not. I’d probably stick to going at 7 AM.

But was it exhilarating? Oh yeah.

45 comments:

  1. You are brave going out in the elements at that hour of the day! Glad you found some great deals to make it worth your while. And yeah, I'd have totally been mouthing off to the people trying to cut in line after sitting in their nice warm cars all night. I'm glad the Kohl's workers kept them at bay. It wouldn't be fair for them to get in the store before everyone in line.

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  2. Girl, you are hardcore. I would have gotten all psycho crazy if somebody tried to cut in line in front of me after I froze my booty off which is why I don't do Black Friday.

    Loved the line about how you try to be organized but it just doesn't work out. BwaHA Ha! Right there with you. Right there with you.

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  3. My mom and I were at JC Penney by 4 =) we had a great time and found some stellar deals! Glad you didn't get frost bitten =)

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  4. I went out too, I'm hoping to blog about it today. It was crazy and that's just the way I like it.

    I would have shouted at the cheaters for skipping the line too. You should get something for losing a toe ;)

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  5. My mother and sister-in-law do the Black Friday thing (they live MUCH closer to the border than I do) but I have yet to experience such exhilaration. Great snags!

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  6. I stayed home and drank coffee while sitting on the couch. You are way tougher than I am.

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  7. I don't think I would have made it in the cold!

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  8. I was in line at Kohl's at 3 a.m. too, and I was freezing my butt off and it was AZ. Can't IMAGINE how you did it. We had a huge bunch of people rush the front of the line when the doors open too. I was so stunned that people were THAT rude. And they got in to our store. Apparently our Kohl's workers weren't as efficient as yours. However, I will NEVER do Kohl's again, EVER! We were in the checkout line for over 2 hours. Nightmare! I think I'm probably ok not doing Black Friday again. Glad you found a couple of deals.

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  9. I am usually at Kohl's when doors open- though I def don't cut in line!! I didn't see much in the Kohls ad like normal, so I skipped it and went to Target at 4. Took 20 minutes to get to the back of the store and by then two lines already formed all the way around the store- I did find a few things I was looking for. Black Friday is one day I reward myself with a St@rbucks -THAT line was 40 minutes! wow.
    Yes, it was cold here also! About 25 degrees colder than when we'd arrived home from dinner 5 hours before!! You are a brave chick standing out there in line!!

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  10. I'd never stand in the cold for Black Friday myself. But as I work in retail I know the deals really aren't worth it over all. Most of what you'll find can be found all weekend honestly. The few truly good deals are few and far between.

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  11. that's it??? That's all you got???? Are you kidding me!!!! :O)

    I shopped for 24 straight hours and got tons of great deals....but thank goodness I live in a warm state :O)

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  12. I'm pretty sure whatever money I saved Black Friday would be put towards bail money after I knocked out people pushing and trying to cut a line I had been standing in. Thus I don't partake in Black Friday (I also had to work again this year). Glad it was worth it for you!

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  13. I started at 8:30 Thursday night at Toys R us (didn't open until 10). It was insanity!!!

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  14. You are one of my favorite bloggers! I to was standing in line before the doors opened--but it was a warm morning in Georgia!

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  15. glad you got some awesome deals..
    but for me..
    black friday found me in bed till around 9:30... lol

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  16. I'm surprised you guys didn't survive by sharing a sleeping bag. While naked.

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  17. My husband and I went to Kohls at around 10 on Friday - and the lines were STILL an hour long. It was crazy. I didn't find anything good enough to justify waiting in that long of a line. *Shudder*

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  18. I couldn't...I wouldn't...well but never say never ;)

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  19. You get a super *high-five*! I could never do it. And oh gosh, had I seen those people cut...FULL BODY SLAM TO THE GROUND.

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  20. Our Kohls experiences sound a lot alike although I only had to freeze for about ten minutes before the doors opened. Kohls' security kept people from crowding in on the people waiting patiently in line. At our Kohls the line wrapped almost all the way back to the registers and they had security posted at different spots by the line to ensure that no one cut. THANK GOODNESS! So many people tried! Lucky you for finding a cart though. The three of us had to use the green shopping bags for some of our load although that didn't even hold half of what we had! Glad that you survived your first early Black Friday shopping trip :)

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  21. You win the shopping queen title - no way, no how would I have done that!

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  22. I've never shopped on Black Friday. I shopped online and went Shopping for a little bit on Saturday. I'm not brave enough to get out there and shop on Black Friday. You showed great control by not telling those people off. I don't know if I could have held that in. I have strick rules about my "personal bubble". I've been known to turn around and inform people they were in my personal space on many occasions... :o)

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  23. You are brave for going out on Black Friday. I think our kids are into the same things since I brought the princess pack for my daughter and the Toy Story pack for my son.

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  24. Unlike Chery D., I'm not gonna weinie out and excuse myself before I post a comment. Here it is. Hope you're ready.

    You're crazy. (No exclamation point necessary. It's just a fact I've known for a very long time in line-waiting years.)

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  25. I have been tempted but never succumbed to waiting in line for HOURS before a store opens for great deals. There was this electronics store called A&B Sound that would have the most amazing Boxing Day sales. People waiting in line over night to get $10 TVs or other crazy deals.

    Now, hearing your story...well, I'm glad to stick to online shopping for my deals :)

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  26. I started shivering just reading this. Next time, try Cyber Monday from the computer at home! Much more civilized, Amber!

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  27. The last time I did this I was at at Target and the stay in the car last minute chargers beat me through the doors.

    I seriously wanted to cut the cutters.

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  28. People who cut in line, people who shove, people who grope, all just suck. I'm glad the workers didn't let the cutters push past you!

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  29. It's too bad Tom is not home now, because that is how I manage to "shop" on Black Friday. I send my husband out in the wee freezing hours (yes, I live in CA, but it's still cold) to do all the nasty fighting of the crowds. Then at a more reasonable hour, like 5, I head out to shop my fabric sales. Where I really do stand in line for hours, but with nice people who are crafty and know about personal bubbles.

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  30. Don't they read your blog? Now they'll know what they are getting - no suprise!

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  31. I give you props, girl. I would never do that. Never. ;)

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  32. You are one brave woman! I'm not sure it'd be worth it to me... but then I like my sleep, so I'd rather stay in bed and pay full price :)

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  33. I am willing to go for good deals, but on the other hand...I think it was like 60 in Texas. You are tough...I can't imagine the deal that would get me out in the COLD. BRRRRR.

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  34. So, I did the walmart black friday.... (I also had to work at 9 AM that day) We headed out at about 11 to get there at 11:30 for when the 12:01 sales started. o.O Apparantly, people had been ripping into the sales displays as soon as they had went up. :/ Then we find out that we had to get our tickets for the big ticket items at midnight and wait in line for 5 hours. 5 HOURS! We were only allowed to leave for 20 minutes at a time and if you went over that allotted time then you forfeited your place in line. I did manage to get my laptop for $200.00, a giraffe thing for my son, 3 zhuzhu pets (which sold as soon they brought them out) about 10 dvds, pjs for my son and some candles. It was super crazy but so worth it! You're so brave though because walmart was open all night and we got to be in there...we bought cards and magazines and hung out on the floor (We being me and my best friend) and hung out with some girls we met. It was really interesting. I'd totally do it again next year. They only had 44 laptops of the 200.00 ones and we were 30 and 31 in line. Its a good thing we got there when we did!

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  35. My mother once talked me into getting up super early to do black friday shopping and I traumatized for life... never again.

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  36. You're a brave woman, no amount of bargains would get me out in the early hours in the cold. The toys look great, though.

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  37. I shopped kohls on Black Friday too!

    Only I did it online. In my bed, in my PJ's.... Where it was warm! =)

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  38. I can't imagine... I am SO not a shopper. Kudos to you, though, and I am glad you are pleased with your purchases.

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  39. I hate it when people have someone hold their place in line! I almost got into a fist fight with a crazy woman at the Coach outlet store last year. People are nuts on Black Friday. Glad you braved it.

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  40. I could just never DO that! Hooray for deals, tho!

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  41. I am glad you did that because now I know that I never want to... I always kinda wondered, but dude, I hate being cold. And really, really like sleep.

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  42. I was at Walmart at midnight...never again

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  43. I've never done the early morning Black Friday shopping thing and after hearing your description, I know why. Glad you got some good toys!

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  44. I started my Black Friday shopping at midnight...didn't get home until 7 am. LOL

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