Archive for November, 2011

More Black Friday coverage: Deals | Mall parking lot capacities and traffic | Online deals | WINNING: Deals still available, short lines, etc. | Store hours | Mall hours | Gift ideas

Long lines, sold-out deals and other issues around the metro Atlanta area.

Belk (Norcross): A line of people are camped out for the 3 a.m. opening (2:01 a.m.) Closing in on 250 gift card limit (2:42 a.m.)

Brandsmart (Doraville): Line wrapping around entire building (9:30 p.m.)

Brandsmart (Kennesaw): The line to park is wrapped to Chastain and I-75. Line to get in wraps around the whole building, and people are still coming (10:22 p.m.)

Gwinnett Place Mall: Not much traffic (5:30 a.m.)

HHGregg (Alpharetta):”Waiting almost two hours to check out. Store full of product, can’t leave! Do they want to make money tonight?” (1:59 a.m.)

Kohl’s (Alpharetta): One-hour checkout times. (4:02 a.m.)

Kohl’s (Duluth): Checkout clocking in at one hour (2:13 a.m.)

Kohl’s (Woodstock): “Sucked majorly.” (1:04 …

Continue reading Atlanta Black Friday complications »

More Black Friday coverage: Deals | Online deals | WINNING: Deals still available, short lines, etc. | LOSING: Deals gone, long lines, etc. | Store hours | Mall hours | Gift ideas

If you’re braving the crowds today, make sure to check on traffic before you go. I also highly recommend checking the parking lot capacity list (Lenox Square Mall and Town Center at Cobb, for example, are already at 80 percent as of 7:51 a.m.)

Just click on this link for the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center for traffic and mall parking in your area of town.

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Use #BlackFridayATL to join the Twitter conversation on deals, parking and traffic.

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Continue reading Atlanta Black Friday traffic and parking »

More Black Friday coverage: Deals | Mall parking lot capacities and traffic | Online deals | LOSING: Deals gone, long lines, etc. | Store hours | Mall hours | Gift ideas

Short lines, stress-free parking and other reported easy shopping in the metro area.

Home Depot (Duluth): Fewer than 10 cars in the lot (6 a.m.)

Kohl’s (Duluth): Checkout lines miles long but moving. (1:23 a.m.) Update: Takes an hour to get through line. (2:13 a.m.)

Target (Duluth): in and out. All registers open and flowing smoothly. (12:44 a.m.)

Target (Woodstock): “A breeze,” time-wise.  (1:04 a.m.)

Walmart (Marietta): Quick in and out. Still great deals there. (1:39 a.m.)

Walmart (Woodstock): Quick. (1:04 a.m.)

Did you find a doorbuster still available? Have an easy time parking? Let us know in the comments section.

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Use #BlackFridayATL to join the Twitter conversation on deals, parking and traffic.

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Continue reading Atlanta Black Friday hidden gems »

Now that you have your Thanksgiving meal shopping completed, you’re ready to take advantage of great Black Friday deals at not only big retailers, but also the national drugstore chains. Look for special circulars in today’s newspaper for deals for items that may be free when you stack the sale prices with coupons and automatic rebates. You can also find bargains at the drugstore that make great holiday gifts, such as boxed chocolates, fragrances, games and photo gifts.

Look for Extra Bucks to get items for free

Holiday treats: The Black Friday deals at CVS start today and last through Saturday. They include several items that will be free after Extra Bucks. Look for 99-cent items with 99-cent Extra Bucks such as Excedrin twin pack (eight count for each variety), Advil PM (four count) and select Hershey’s King Size chocolate bars. Carmex lip balm is $1 with a $1 Extra Buck (use the 30-cent coupon from the Oct. 30 Redplum circular to make a 30-cent profit), Gum twin pack …

Continue reading Coupon Mom: Savings on holiday treats and tea »

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Metro PCS has introduced what is hands down the best cell phone deal in America for a family.

The Dallas-based carrier is ratcheting up the competition on bigger industry players by offering four lines for $100 a month. That price includes all junk fees and offers unlimited talk, text and web with no contract.

The Metro PCS deal undercuts anything from Walmart, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile and Straight Talk at this time.

Two of the phones offered by Metro PCS have a physical keyboard and two are touch screen. None of them are the latest and greatest, but this offer is a real deal.

If you want to add a fifth line, you’ll pay $125. If you can’t muster up four family members, you’ll pay $90 for three lines.

As of now, the Metro PCS website indicates that this is a limited-time offer that expires Dec. 31. Visit …

Continue reading Clark Howard: This family phone plan is a real deal »

If you’ve watched any TV lately, you probably already have your favorite Black Friday commercial.

This one from Walmart made me laugh out loud:

But there’s also the slew of Target’s 2-Day sale spots. I love this one because this is kind of what the Bargain Hunter position feels like at this time of year:

Hmmm. It’s obvious who the intended audience is, isn’t it?

Do you have a favorite Black Friday commercial? Have you seen any advertising you think is particularly clever?

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

More: Black Friday deals | Mall hours | Store hours | Gift ideas from JessicaShops

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The Thanksgiving Day Atlanta Journal-Constitution is traditionally our biggest newspaper of the year. And Thursday’s AJC is larger than ever, with more than 80 inserts of ads and (stackable!) coupons.

Here’s a sampling of coupons already listed on Black Friday websites:

Famous Footwear: Buy one, get one half off, plus another 20 percent-off coupon.
Kohl’s: $15 Kohl’s cash for every $50 you spend through Sunday.
Macy’s: $10 off sale and clearance apparel Friday and Saturday until 1 p.m., plus another coupon for 15 percent off select sale and clearance apparel through Tuesday.
Old Navy: Thursday-only coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase.
Verizon: Free red Droid Incredible 2 by HTC with two-year contract.

I can’t wait for Thanksgiving coupons. Which stores are you planning to shop?

More: Black Friday deals | Mall hours | Store hours | Gift ideas from JessicaShops

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Going shopping on Black Friday? Use #BlackFridayATL to join the …

Continue reading Thanksgiving AJC has more inserts than ever »

Best of Friday sales

Black Friday: I’ve made my list, checked it twice, and I am excited to share my favorite Black Friday secrets with you. First, head straight to BlackFriday2011.com and BFAds.net, my top choices for advance sales circulars. Find out which stores are opening at midnight or 4 a.m. (coffee, please!) and plot your plan of attack with guides and interactive shopping lists. Deals include a Kindle Fire at Walmart for $199, 40 percent off clothing at Express and 70 percent off fine jewelry at Sears. For the tech savvy, don’t leave home without downloading SaleLocator, a free iPhone/Android app for sales, maps and directions to more than 1,000 major retailers to keep you on track and under budget.

Two days of deals

Walmart: Black Friday at Walmart is a no-brainer, with some of the best deals around. To avoid a stampede, sales are spread over two days, starting at 10 tonight. Some on my list include $10 video games (regularly$20), a Nikon Coolpix camera for $99 …

Continue reading Jessica Shops: Black Friday deals and gift ideas »

Black Friday sales have begun.

And I don’t mean the stores that “Black Friday” irresponsibly before it’s time. Ann Taylor is offering 40 percent off every purchase this week. It’s the beginning of the company’s Black Friday sale, which continues through the week.

Shop in stores or online using coupon code “thanks.” Don’t have time to shop before Friday? Ann Taylor stores in Atlanta will open at midnight on Friday. For a list of stores and hours, visit AnnTaylor.com.

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

More: Black Friday deals | Mall hours | Store hours | Gift ideas from JessicaShops

Going shopping on Black Friday? Use #BlackFridayATL to join the Twitter conversation on deals, parking and traffic.

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Continue reading Ann Taylor begins Black Friday sale early »

Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

It’s what many of us will funnel into our bodies Friday morning as we extract ourselves from an otherwise perfect, cornucopia-induced slumber. Because who needs rest when there are boots on sale?

Long before you stumble out the door to tackle Black Friday, take a gander at this sampling of deals (most are doorbusters, so don’t blame me if they’re not available at 2 p.m.):

Best Buy: If you’re looking for an inexpensive, midsize TV, go for the Sharp 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $199.99. Or find an assortment of Blu-ray movies for $4.99 (including “Inception,” “Love Happens” and “The Dark Knight”).

GameStop: Play the game right and you could grab a $199 PlayStation 3 160 GB bundled with two games, or an Xbox 4GB for $149.

J.C. Penney: Shop online Thanksgiving Day or in stores on Black Friday for 65 percent off women’s coats, 50 percent to 65 percent off sheet sets and 65 percent off home entertainment. You’ll also find 60 …

Continue reading Black Friday deals from Best Buy, Target, Walmart »