They are really pulling out the goodies this year. Too bad my money is already allocated, 'cuz a new netbook sounds good, lol.

To all going, please be careful, and remember pepper spray comes in fogger form /biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Andy

Yay black friday /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I bought a GPS for 55 bucks and got all my xmas shopping done to boot /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I will avoid the stores at all possible costs today.

Ditto!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I'm back. Got to Wal-Mart at a little after 4am. Formed an alliance

with 3 women and a guy waiting for the PJs /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> . We had the thing

surrounded and when they said "go" we would help each other get

the sizes we were looking for haha. I got 4 pair of PJs $12, that's

less then 1 pair would cost normally. I was back in my car by 5:28

so check out was quick too. Then I headed to 5Below and got Colin

the SpongeBob MP3 Player. Back home before the sun came up

(or the son for that matter /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> ). I've had 2 hours sleep and I'm

too wound to get any at the moment haha. I predict I crash at

some point today /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Good job, your right, you can't beat $3 PJs. Years ago, I did Black Friday, but I get too frustrated too quickly by the mob mentality of the people, and the hoarding. So I wait….

I'm trying to stop going to Walmart because I ALWAYS have problems w/the products I buy there. I have not YET gotten a dvd from that place that wasn't damaged or something. For instance, Monkette really wanted "UP", so I went to Walmart and picked up that Star Trek and the 2 disc offering of Nightmare before Xmas. Sadly, the two disc was a one disc and had to return it. The last couple of Family Guy box sets I bought there were defective as well and no matter how many times I returned them the new ones have the same problem. The discs just freeze, or show blurry subtitles on their own and of course the obligatory making so much racket in the disc player that the dog runs for cover under the table. This is a new dvd player that I clean religiousily every week if not every other week. Unfortunately it's not limited to electronics. When I buy clothes there, they last possibly one wearing before seams split or buttons fall off but the best was buying a case of diet coke there and finding 4 empty cans in the middle of the case.

Maybe i'm just old school, but it's not a savings if I have to make multiple trips back and stand in these exchange lines for an hour. I'm all for hiring special needs people but do you have to give them a position in customer service? What follows is just what happened on Tuesday, but it's essentially the SAME SCENE the day after every visit when I've shopped at Walmart.

Monkey walks into WALMART w/single disc version of apparently dbl disc dvd release that he paid the bigger $$$ for

Walmart Drone#1 aka The Greeter w/rent a cop aspirations: Where are you going w/that?

Monkey:Right there (points about 4 feet to his immediate right) to return this defective product (show him the receipt)

WMD1: Do you have a receipt?

Monkey: (waggles in front of dull lifeless eyes)

WMD1: We don't normally take dvd returns w/out a receipt

Monkey: Fortunately, I have it (waggles again)

WMD1: Ooooh you have the receipt (scans barcode and puts a tag item) WELCOME TO WALMART HAVE A GREAT DAY TO DAY.

Monkey: (muttering to self) oh god I'm in hell. (Stands in line while watching the biggest female meth head ever in broad daylight attempting to exchange screaming pink lingerie while a manager attempts to explain for health code reasons they're not permitted to accept returns on initimates that are not in a shrink wrapped sealed bag etc. After 15 minutes of wrangling they agree to give her 1/2 price credit for it, when the woman walked away I distinctly saw the manager but on surgical gloves and mumble that she was going to the incinerator.

Walmart Drone#2: Next

Monkey: Hi, I bought this dvd here and I'd like to return it for a new one. I've got my receipt right here (holds it up and waves it at WalMart Drone#2 also w/the dull lifeless eyes.

Walmart Drone#2: Ummm, we don't do cash returns…

Monkey: I don't want cash I want to exchange this for another just like it

WMD2: Do you have a receipt, we won't issue credit w/out a receipt on an opened package?

Monkey: (waggles receipt w/in drone's lifeless eyes field of vision and sort of get it's attention)

WMD2: Ohhhh you have the receipt!

Monkey: Yes'm. But I couldn't tell there was a disc missing until I opened the package

WMD2: Wha? All you can get w/that is another one just like this one right here.

Monkey: Really?!! Perfect that's exactly what'd I'd like to do

WMD2: Yeah so go up to electronics and ask them for a duplicate.

Monkey: OK! Thanks for your help.

(goes up to the second level electronics. I walk up to the counter and WMD#3 [ELECTRONICS DRONE] brushes past me as I approach extending out the damaged product and walks away to look at one of the display TVs showing "UP")

I'm standing there when WMD3 turns and says

WMD3: Hi, didn't see you there, can I help you?

Monkey: (scratches head) ummm not sure but you can try! I need a replacement for this as it's defective and the returns people sent me here to get the new copy.

WMD3: Sir, the best I can do is let you exchange this for a new copy only, I'm not allowed to issue you cash or credit w/out a receipt

Monkey: (holds up the now legendary receipt)

WMD3:Ooooh you have a receipt. The best I can do is let you exchange this….

Monkey: Exchange for new one is what i'd like if that's okay w/out (squinting to see name tag) Mirabelle!

WMD3: (Eyes light up briefly), PERFECT now let me see what you have.

(show her the dvd cover, it's a humongous jack skellington head hard to miss, WMD3 spends 10 solid minutes looking for it)

Monkey: I can show you where it's at if you like

WMD3: NO NO YOU STAY AT THE COUNTER, I CAN'T HAVE YOU WALKING ALL OVER THE STORE W/AN OPEN ITEM LIKE THAT JUST STAY THERE SIR.

Monkey: I already walked all over the store w/the open product and no one even batted an eyelash..

WMD3: Mascara is down stairs in cosmetics next to the pharmacy

Monkey: what?

WMD3: what? Here's the dvd (holds up proudly the wrong one)

Monkey: That's the single disc version, this is the two disc one

WMD3: Oh (hurt look on face, gazing listlessly around for what I have). Can you hold yours up again?

Monkey: (holds it up)

WMD3: Oh here it is. (Brings it over to me) Now you must take this right down to returns so they can complete the transaction

Monkey: (so I take the whole mess BACK down to returns, wait in line as some women returns egg nog because there's no alcohol in it. Finally it's my turn and I approach the same Drone that sort of waited on me before)

WMD2: Next

Monkey: Hi, I've got the new copy to exchange for the old one that was damaged.

WMD2: We don't do exchanges for credit or cash w/out receipt.

Monkey: I was just here and you sent me to electronics to get a replacement (once again waggling receipt)

WMD2: OOooooh you have a receipt, now the best we can do….

Monkey: Y'know I went up to electronics and got a new copy could I exchange this for the damaged one (squints at name tag)Pricillia?

WMD2: Yes that would be great. I really love this movie it's funny

Monkey: Sure is, I just hope the second disc is worth all this trouble

WMD2: What trouble, was there a problem or issue w/the dvd?

Monkey: No but it's been a real pleasure shopping at Walmart.

WMD2: Big dopey smile, well thank you and please come shop w/us again

Monkey: (under his breath walking away) yeah but for the love of all things sacred don't lose the receipt.

I gotta shop at Target and Best Buy more often. Is it any wonder I do the bulk of my shopping on Amazon?