Black Friday in Bloomington Normal

Overview

Shop 'til you drop! Simple as that. Black Friday allows shoppers to get top notch deals but there's a catch... In order to get items at low prices, getting up early is the key. Time can play two roles for B.F shoppers: your worst enemy or your best friend. This wiki gives important information such as the store hours as well as a survival guide for those who are true "doorbustin'" shoppers. Reading on will allow you to gain success on your Black Friday extravaganza. In Eastland mall the bigger department stores such as: Bergner's, Kohl's, JC Penny, Macy's, and Old Navy are actually now opening at 7:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. This help with the daily and early morning crowd within the mall and helps give shoppers more time to snag their crazy deals!

Store Hours (A-Z)

Store .......................................... Time ........................................... Details Ace Hardware ................................ 7am ............................................ Babies R Us ................................... 5am ............................................ Bass Pro Shops .............................. 6am ........................................... Bed, Bath & Beyond ......................... 5am ........................................... Best Buy ....................................... 5am ............................................ Ticket = Entrance Dick's Sporting Goods ...................... 5am ............................................ Home Depot ................................... 5am............................................. Kmart 11/25 ................................. 6am-9pm ....................................... Thanksgiving Specials Kmart 11/26 ................................ 5am-11am ....................................... Black Friday Deals Lowes .......................................... 6am ............................................ Meijer ....................................... 5am-12pm ........................................ Menards .................................... 6am-11am ....................................... Michaels ...................................... 5am ............................................. Office Depot ................................. 6am ............................................. Officemax .................................... 7am ............................................. Radio Shack ................................. 5:30am ......................................... Sam's Club ..................................... 5am ........................................... Members Only Staples ......................................... 6am............................................ Target .......................................... 4am ........................................... TJ Maxx ........................................ 7am ........................................... Toys R Us ......................... 10pm(11/25)-10pm(11/26).............................. Walgreens 11/25 .............................. 9am ........................................... Walmart ........................................ 12am ......................................... Electronic 5am-11am ...................................... EASTLAND MALL HOURS ................................. Aéropostale ................................... 5am ........................................... American Eagle ............................... 6am .......................................... Bath and Body Works ....................... 6am ........................................... Bergner's ...................................... 3am ............................................ Buckle .......................................... 6am ............................................ Christopher and Banks ..................... 6am ........................................... C.J Banks ...................................... 6am ........................................... Deb .............................................. 6am ........................................... Express ......................................... 6am ........................................... Game Stop .................................... 5am ............................................ Gap .............................................. 6am ........................................... Hollister Co. ................................ 6am-12pm ...................................... Hot Topic ...................................... 6am ........................................... JcPenny ........................................ 4am ............................................ Journey's ....................................... 7am ........................................... Kays Jewelers ................................. 7am ........................................... Kohl's ........................................... 3am ............................................ Limited ......................................... 6am ............................................ Macy's .......................................... 4am ........................................... Maurices ....................................... 6am ........................................... Mole Hole ...................................... 6am ........................................... Old Navy ....................................... 6am ........................................... Pacsun ......................................... 6am ............................................ Payless ......................................... 6am ........................................... RadioShack ................................. 5:30am ......................................... Rogers & Hollands Jewelers ............... 7am ........................................... Sears ........................................ 4am-12pm ....................................... Vanity .......................................... 6am ........................................... Victoria's Secret ............................. 6am .......................................... Zales Jewelers ............................... 7am ...........................................

Survival Guide

1. Do Research & Get Organized

  • Look up store hours on sites such as http://bfads.net/ or http://www.blackfriday.info/
  • Make a list and decide which items are an absolute must have so you know which to b-line to that morning.
  • Expect to be waiting for a long time in each line at every store
  • Get a good nights sleep and drink a lot of coffee to keep up with the craziness
  • Don't stress to much about it, its just shopping!

2. Places to Avoid

  • Walmart and Best Buy
    • Only noobs think of these stores, especially Walmart. If there is an item that you absolutely cannot pass up, create a strategy so that Walmart and Best Buy will not waste all of your shopping time.

3. Divide and Conquer!

  • First item on list equals first priority!
  • No meandering.
  • Try to spend 20 minutes or less in each store. This allows you to get into the checkout line quicker, which means getting to the next store on the list in a timely matter.

4. Use The Buddy System

  • By having a partner in crime, it will cut your shopping time in half!
  • Your partner in crime can grab a little item and quickly make his or her way to the checkout in order to save a spot in line.

5. Control Impulses

  • Do not let the miscellaneous items on the rack fool you. Although the price for that ink-jet printer catches your eye, only buy it if it is on your list.
  • If you are a true Black Friday veteran, only bring enough cash for the items you plan to buy.
    • ** LEAVE CREDIT CARD AT HOME **

6. Communication is Key!

  • Keep a phone with you at all times!
    • If using the buddy system, keeping a phone handy can help communicate details about the shopping list.

7. Know the Layout

  • The employees usually prep the store the day/night before the big sales begin. So, take a walk around the store.
    • "Being an employee for Kmart for the past three years, I have seen my fair share of true 'b.f shoppers'. There are the dedicated shoppers who make their way around the store for a good thirty minutes just to get the feel for the next morning." - Amanda E., Kmart Employee.

8. Transportation

  • If possible, avoid the dreaded parking situations. If you plan to spend your hours of Black Friday at the mall, use the sly tactic of parking your car in the best, if not, most reasonable spot in the lot the night before. Then in the morning you can either ask a friend that is willing to get up before the sun or hitch a ride in a cab for the ride there.
  • Have a predesignated driver who does not plan to shop. He or she will be your personal chauffeur who will be able to pick you up at the door once your wallet is empty.

9. Pack Light (If you are a line-waiter.)

  • Plan on it being cold, obviously, so bundle up in a winter coat and bring a blanket for some extra warmth.
  • Pending on how long you wait in line, packing some snacks to munch on will help you gain some energy for the adventure to come.
    • Try healthier foods: vegetables or fruit. Junk food can lead to an upset stomach in the couple of hours.

10. Prepare Night Before

  • Although Thanksgiving has an abundance of delicious food overflowing the dining room table, do not lead into temptation! Just try not to over eat.
  • Take a shower the night before, allowing more time to catch some z's.

11. Leave Your Gun At Home

  • Black Friday has an overwhelming and sometimes uncomfortable amount of people in such tight quarters. This situation tends to be easy for someone to push your buttons, due to lack of sleep. As much as you want to dropkick the person that just took the last 42" Flat Screen LED Vizio television, take a deep breath and go onto the next item on the list.

12. Later the Better...?

  • By missing the morning rush, leaving at the later hour allows you to get a better look at the deals on the items left.
    • This tip can be beneficial for the rookies or the older folks.
      • "As much as my daughter hates to make another trip to the mall, she takes me so I can get to JcPenny without dealing with those aggressive shoppers." - Virginia E, Black Friday Shopper
  • One bad thing about the late shopping is that their are hardly any sized left in the stores, but if you are just doing it for fun and good deals you happen to snag, then later is a great time! Just don't expect there to be too much left anywhere you go!

13. Save Your Receipts

  • With all the hustle and bustle of the morning rush, the person running the check out is just as stressed as you are. He or she is only human so be aware that mistakes can be made when they are ringing you up. When you get home, compare your receipts with the items in your bag.
  • The day after Black Friday is one of the biggest return days, if you are returning the next day, expect to be waiting in line again because this day is crazy as well
  • You can buy anything within the stores for the amazing prices and if they don't have your size buy it anyway! Because you can exchange it for the same price anywhere when the store gets your size in! 

14. Never Can Be Too Careful

  • Losing your wallet, cash, purse, credit or debit card is a possibility when rushing from one store to the next. Always check to see if you wallet and all of its contents are in place.

15. Don't Flash Your Cash

  • When checking out, try your best to not show all of the cash you may have in your wallet. If you feel the need to count your money, go to the restroom where it is more private.

Cyber Monday

If you are a person who does not enjoy the hustle and bustle of the early bird shopping, but still want to get great deals on select items, Cyber Monday is the perfect thing for you. Cyber Monday allows people to shop until they drop from the comfort of their own home. This shopping event occurs the following Monday after Thanksgiving. Just as the Black Friday had stores open early in the morning, websites begin their deals at certain times in the morning. However, shopping online has several other benefits that Black Friday does not. The sales for certain stores can last up to eight days after they begin. To find out more information check out Cyber Monday websites: http://www.cybermonday.com/ http://www.cybermonday.net/ http://www.cybermonday.fm/ http://www.cybermonday2011.com/ The following sites will give helpful information and will sometimes have days when free printout coupons are available.

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