We are trying to buy a new printer today and I think we will be using a little trick That Husband learned a few years back. The story goes like this…
Once upon a time, That Husband went to Wal-mart on Black Friday. Walking into this store on this day in particular usually results in elbows in your side, knocks to the head, and possible death by trampling. Except That Husband strolled in sometime in the afternoon, after the madness was over. He walked right by everyone angling for the same electronics, meandered over toward the DVD section and picked up several DVD’s NOT marked down by Wal-mart. You see, he had a trick up his sleeve.
He took ads from Staples, Best Buy, and other big name retailers and looked at what DVD deals they were offering. He found those DVD’s at Wal-mart, walked up to the register, and asked for a price match. The cashier had no idea what he was talking about, but the manager understood right away. So he walked out of Wal-mart with some insanely good deals on DVD’s without participating in the Black Friday madness in any way.
Moral of the story: Find out which stores price match. As long as the coupon or ad you are holding does not mention anything about “limited quantities” you are safe to avoid the crowds and feel elite about scoring such fantastic deals after sleeping in that morning. I’m sorry I don’t have any tricks for avoiding the nasty traffic though.
November 28th, 2008 on 2:33 am
Hey thats what I do! And I am going to do in about three hours
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November 28th, 2008 on 6:48 am
I’m going this afternoon - what’s the rush?
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November 28th, 2008 on 8:14 am
That’s a really good idea.
I’m heading out with my best friend this afternoonish. I don’t have to get anything but it will still be an interesting expiernce.
I almost wish I could stay home with my husband who will be watching her toddler. They’re the best of friends and it’s so cute to watch them.
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November 28th, 2008 on 8:43 am
We’re buying online! Way easier than carrying my baby and avoiding the insane sidewalk campers!
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November 28th, 2008 on 9:25 am
Lol. So TH. That is awesome.
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November 28th, 2008 on 10:13 am
I do my black Friday shopping online, in my pajamas, wrapped in a blanket. I’m perusing dSLRs as we speak. And because I happen to be sitting at my mother-in-law’s kitchen table at the moment, she may be splitting the price with me and an early Chanukkah gift. Hooray!
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November 28th, 2008 on 12:37 pm
I realize that this is a great strategy, and price-matching is part of their (employees) job. I just feel so guilty doing this, as it’s usually somewhat of a pain for the cashiers/managers. Very smart though!
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November 28th, 2008 on 1:54 pm
i have this printer and i heart it! my only complaint is that it doesn’t print on CDs.
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November 28th, 2008 on 2:40 pm
I may price match, but there is not matching the door busters. My brother and sister in law need extra hands grabbing for the babies. I HATE it. Im not gunna lie but they are on a budget soooooooo I help out!
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November 28th, 2008 on 11:06 pm
Did you hear about the WalMart employee that got trampled and died on the spot? Yeah, another good reason to not be there at 4 am.
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November 29th, 2008 on 1:07 am
I’m hoping you wrote this post before the news about the Walmart employee came out… otherwise that comment about “possible death by trampling” was not cool.
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November 29th, 2008 on 10:08 pm
Julie-Hooray hooray for you!
kaymarie-You have a kind heart
NMc-You are right, the comment seems wholly insensitive now but I actually wrote this post several days before black friday. Yikes!
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November 30th, 2008 on 11:49 am
Yes, I saw that fatality trampling, too, and suspected that you (Jenna), wrote this post before you heard. What an awful tragedy.
And as for price matching - I used to work at Sears, and it was not a big problem. The only issue was that if someone did not bring the ad with them, and told me they “thought they saw it somewhere at such-and-such-store”, we had to CALL that store and VERIFY their price. Now that was a pain. Take the entire ad with you, and it shouldn’t be a problem to price match!
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December 1st, 2008 on 12:12 am
[...] to me several times how insensitive my statement about “being trampled to death” sounds on this post. I think I wrote that particular post on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week, and I sincerely regret [...]
January 14th, 2011 on 8:18 am
That advice works all year, too.
WalMart will always price match, so do your research before you do any shopping. If you are buying big ticket items, especially.
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