Best Friday-After-Thanksgiving Sales in Elyria

The holidays are approaching and everyone is starting to wonder what to get their family/friends/relatives. People are asking each other what they want for Christmas, writing up what they're going to get others, and much more. But, what everyone also has on their mind is money. How they're going to find the best bargain and the best gift at the same time? Well, since Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, one thing comes to mind. "Black Friday", which is the day after Thanksgiving and stores have their largest sales. Most people have had experience with this before and a lot have been unsuccessful due to the volume of people waiting to get the best bargain on everything. Here are 10 tips in finding the best bargains in the Elyria, OH area and being successful at it.

1. First off and probably the most obvious one is read the ads. They put out ads in the newspaper about two days before "Black Friday" to notify all the consumers about their sales. After reading the ads, try to compare the item you want with the same or similar item in other stores. Find the best bargain out there, you don't want to had find a bargain and go there and it being sold out, then realizing that there was a better bargain else where and having to go there too and finding it is also sold out there.

2. Look online. Many stores have their sales available online. The negative part of that is you won't get your item you're purchasing for a few days and there's always a possibility that it'll be sold out. If you choose to go with this route, do it early before anyone else does to assure you'll get your bargain item.

3. Find out which stores that you need to shop at have a time frame for their sales. A lot of stores like to have their sales only available from the time they are open till around noon. Go to those first before the others to assure that you won't miss out on the sale.

4. Make a list. Create yourself a list of the things you are going to purchase in advanced before you even go out to buy anything. Make the list in order of importance. The last thing you need is to have a stack of ads in your hands while leaving your house and fumbling through them to find out what you need to get.

5. Get there early. If it is a very hot item selling for a ridiculously low price that you are planning to purchase, get to that place 30-60 minutes before they are going to open and get in line. Last year, in the Best Buy in Avon, they were handing out vouchers for items before the store was even open. If you get there early and they are doing something like this, you'll have your item guaranteed before you even go in.

6. Shop as a team. If this is possible, get some family members or friends and split up. Assign each person certain things to get. We can't be in multiple places at once so having some help would be great.

7. Find stores closer to other stores that you need to go to. Try to think about what is around the top priority store that you need to go to and if there are large sales there that you are interested in. I know in Elyria, there is Circuit City, Home Depot, and Walmart all in one plaza and a Best Buy not far from there. That will save you a lot of time and havoc not having to deal with traffic.

8. Budget your time. Don't spend too much time shopping. Go into the store, get what you need, and leave. Shopping will waste time and you may miss out on the other sales at the other locations you still need to visit.

9. Be patient, don't be afraid to wait in line. You may think that the lines in the store are not moving but, they are. Last year, in Circuit City in Elyria, the line went from one side of the store to the other. The employees are doing the best they can to move things along quickly so, you will be out of there before you know it.

10. Be safe and courteous. There's no need to push and shove nor yell at anyone. Causing trouble will just slow you down and slow down everyone else. Be courteous and polite and everyone will be much happier. Also, being courteous towards the employees will assist them in helping you and others. Yelling at them would just hold them up from trying to move things along smoothly and quickly.