Archive for the ‘Black Friday/Cyber Monday’ Category

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

Listen to Clark's live radio show 8-10 p.m. weekdays on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.

Black Friday started on Thanksgiving this year. Is the annual retail salesfest encroaching too far on the American institutions of family and football that usually mark Turkey Day?

Some retailers have been steadily taking Thanksgiving away from employees by starting the sales earlier and earlier over the last couple of years. Kmart was the first to do this several years ago by opening on Thanksgiving. Now others like Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us are following suit.

Target opened stores at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving for Black Friday sales. But they were bested by Sears and Walmart, both of which opened at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, retailers used to get upset when copies of their Black Friday ads leaked out on the web. Today, however, they …

Continue reading Clark Howard: Not all sales are truly a bargain »

The thing about Cyber Monday is that there is NO instant gratification.

Unlike the many people who shopped the early sales on Gray Thursday and were home before 10 p.m. watching their favorite shows on a new HDTV, you will just have to wait for your Cyber Monday purchases to arrive at your door.

However, please feel free to share your finds and send a picture or two today! — Facebook | Twitter | Email

– Nedra Rhone, for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog

Cyber Monday: The Glitches

No massive shopping venture ever seems to go off without a hitch — not even virtual shopping. A few reported shopping challenges this Cyber Monday were sent my way via Twitter:

@katiebravesfan reports: “Barnes and Nobles website! Was sloooooow as could be this morning!”

@greenbeans612 says: “Creative Loafing’s Loaf Deals. Bought 1 with $7 discount, was charged for 2 at full price. Site crashed a bunch of times.”

I had my own interesting experience on Kohls.com. Couldn’t search anything without getting …

Continue reading Cyber Monday Update: Share your finds »

By now you may be totally over the whole shopping thing, but Cyber Monday doesn’t care.

In fact, by most retailer accounts, the Monday once devoted to online shopping is now “Cyber Week.” Kohl’s and Target, for example, are both advertising Cyber Specials for the entire week.

Maybe you’ve been prepping for this all month. Maybe you started your online shopping during Black Friday. Maybe you’re just firing up the computer this morning  — whatever the scenario, here’s a sampling of the deals a few major retailers have listed for Cyber Monday:

Belk: Belk is running three days of doorbusters which include 50 percent off Sperry slippers for men and women; 50 percent off the entire stock of leather coats from Michael Kors, Buffalo and Via Spiga and $59.99 for Weight Watchers 10 -pc cookware set. Some exclusions apply to the 20 percent off cyber sale discount.

Dell: Dell is offering Cyber Monday doorbusters every three hours beginning Monday at midnight. They include the new …

Continue reading Cyber Monday: The deals »

I spent much of Black Friday staring in wide-eyed amusement at photos and videos of crazy, frenetic shoppers, but I never would have thought someone would lose their life.

On Sunday, an alleged shoplifter who was apprehended at a local Walmart, died.

Here’s the full story.

Follow me on Facebook |Twitter | Email

– Nedra Rhone, for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog

Continue reading Black Friday: Shopping weekend tragedy »

So you’re all geared up for Cyber Monday which officially starts at midnight (though as we all know the online deals have been flowing all week).

And while experts expect shoppers to spend $1.5 billion and push online shopping up 12 percent over last year, not all retailer are involved.

Owners of local stores including PeachMac, an Athens-based retailer with 11 stores and Atlanta-based Abbadabba’s, a shoe shop with five stores, each opted to pass on Cyber Monday.

Find out why they made that choice and why other retailers are doing the same, in this story, by my colleague Arielle Kass.

What do you think of retailers who choose not to participate in Cyber Monday? Are they crazy to miss out on big bucks?

Shopping on Cyber Monday? Join the conversation  Facebook | Twitter (#BlackFridayATL) | Email
– Nedra Rhone, for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog

Continue reading Cyber Monday: Some retailers sit it out »

Phew!

You survived Black Friday. Or maybe you just avoided it all together. Either way, get ready to take your shopping spree online for Cyber Monday.

If you haven’t already done so, here are a few things you may need to do to get ready:

Membership has advantages: Join the loyalty programs for any retailers you plan to shop. Also sign up for their email alerts, follow them on Twitter and Pinterest and like them on Facebook for additional deals and up-to-the minute information.

Divide and conquer: Create a dedicated email account for your online shopping so you don’t have to sift through personal emails to get the deals. This is also a good place to send e-receipts from brick-and-mortar stores.

C’mon, get appy: An increasing number of apps can help you navigate the world of e-commerce with your smartphone or tablet. For example, the Find.com app helps you compare prices of items online and watches when they drop. The PriceBlink app self-activates every time you shop …

Continue reading Cyber Monday: 5 tips for online shopping success »

Tweet the latest deals, the crowds and, of course, your pictures — via Tweet or #ig — using Twitter (#BlackFridayATL), or by email at share@ajc.com.

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You wouldn’t guess it from the YouTube video bouncing around the web, but Wal-Mart says no one was injured in a frenzy over a Black Friday deal at one of its stores in south Georgia.

According to an AP report, a spokesman for the retailer said the incident was isolated, staff and security were on hand and no one was escorted from the store in Moultrie, located in south Georgia, between Albany and Valdosta.

But if you don’t look at that video and perhaps gasp a bit, you may need a hit from the portable defib machine.

Black Friday: Photos of Atlanta shoppers

You came, you saw, you shopped.

And you’re still into full-blown Black Friday mode, Atlanta.

Here’s a bit what some of it has looked like far:

At right, shoppers press toward the doors for the 6 a.m. opening of JC Penny’s at North Point Mall. (Bob …

Continue reading Black Friday Update: Jarring video of Georgia Wal-Mart frenzy »

Here’s a recap of store opening hours for Gray Thursday/Black Friday:

BLACK FRIDAY STORE OPENING HOURS

A sampling of major retailers:

Belk: Midnight Friday

BJ’s: 7 a.m. Friday

Best Buy: Midnight Friday (Tickets distributed up to two hours before opening.)

Brandsmart: 10 p.m. Thursday

Dick’s Sporting Goods: Midnight Friday

Disney Store: Midnight Friday (the Perimeter Mall location opens  at 6 a.m.)

H.H. Gregg: 10 p.m. Thursday

Home Depot: 5 a.m. Friday

JC Penney: 6 a.m. Friday

Kohl’s: Midnight Friday

Lowe’s: 5 a.m. Friday

Kmart: 6 a.m. (until 4 p.m.) and 8 p.m. Thursday

Macy’s: Midnight Friday

Rite Aid: 7 a.m. Friday

Sam’s Club: 7 a.m. Friday

Sears: 8 p.m. Thursday

Staples: 5 a.m. Friday

Stein Mart: 7 a.m. Friday

Target: 9 p.m. Thursday

Toys R Us: 8 p.m. Thursday

Walmart: 8 p.m. Thursday

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A sampling of major malls:

(Individual store hours may vary.)

Atlantic Station: 8 a.m. Friday

Arbor Place Mall: 5 a.m. …

Continue reading Black Friday: Store hours »

By now you’ve made your must-buy list, done most of your research and, if you’re really good, even scouted the stores.

Now get ready to shop!

Whether you’re a Black Friday veteran or braving your first trip into this annual shopping adventure, here are a few things to remember:

Make a plan: Decide which stores you’ll visit and in what order, based on the items you’re seeking and store hours. Map out your driving route. Keep in mind more crowds are likely during doorbuster hours.

Stay informed: Get traffic and parking updates at AM 750 and 95.5 Fm News/Talk WSB, or at wsbradio.com’s 24-hour Traffic Center.

Prep your smartphone: If you haven’t already, load your apps, including those for price comparisons, coupons and apps to organize your loyalty programs.

Get cash: While carrying extra money also means being extra careful, some stores may have cash-only lines to save you time at checkout.

Eat/dress well: Don’t shop all night or morning on an empty stomach. Eat …

Continue reading Black Friday: A checklist for today’s shoppers »

According to the folks at NerdWallet, the Black Friday jig is up.

While everyone (including me) is yapping about doorbusters, most items are priced the same or even slightly more than they were during Black Friday 2011. So as you prepare to head out to tomorrow or Friday, take this as a warning:

In the NerdWallet analysis of 22 Black Friday ad scans, 20 listed at least one product at the same exact price in 2012 as in the retailer’s 2011 Black Friday ad.

Here are some of those items:

Ace Hardware: Stanley Sawhorse 2/Pk. $9.99

Costco: Aria Ladies 2-Piece Sueded Microfleece PJ Set, Item No. 576077, $13.99

Ikea:  7 piece cookware set, $19.99

OfficeMax: Brother HL-2240 Laser Printer Item No. 2238-1879, $49.99

Sports Authority: ProForm 18.0 RE Elliptical, $799

Not that you’re looking for any of these items (I’m not), but still. More interesting is that three major retailers Walmart, Target and Best Buy have higher median prices than last year:

Walmart : $12.73 in 2011 vs …

Continue reading Black Friday: Higher median prices this year »