Black Friday Tips for Success!

So, you really want that awesome new Black Friday doorbuster TV, or computer or whatever? You're ready to camp out for Black Friday? You're ready to fight? You're ready to kick and scream and throw elbows if needed? Here are 11 tips that will improve your odds! Some are common sense, but others (like #9) can easily catch a novice off guard.

1. Know the process. What time will the store open on Black Friday? Will the doorbuster items be in limited supply with only X number per store? Which store location will likely have the fewest people for you to compete with? Is there a new store that is trendy and more frequented? Is there a lesser known location? Will they hand out tickets for hot/doorbuster items to people who are at the front of the line?

2. Know your budget. You would be surprised how easy it is to go over. Plan ahead.

3. Know the ads. Duh. No really. Why? If you are at a store that hands out tickets for doorbuster items, some may look similar. You need to know which one is yours. Also, is this item really what you think it is? Or is it a slightly downgraded version? Is it a problem product they are just trying to offload?

4. Coupons. See if there are coupons in addition to the Black Friday store offers. Some websites may have coupons you can quickly Google for with keywords "" and "coupon".

5. Prioritize. You need to know which items you are going for first so you know where to go first.

6. Know the store layout. It is very hard to be the first one to get an item if you don't know where you are going. If possible, you also want to know where the ticketed item pickup will be, and where checkout is so you don't waste time in the wrong line(s). If you have a team, plan your routes for each team member, and have communication (cell phones etc.)

7. Prepare for camp out. This can mean warm clothes (think gloves, hat, scarves, earmuffs, etc.), a sleeping bag (easy to roll things into right before the rush), food/drink, a copy of the ads, and at very least a watch or clock of some sort.

8. Sleep preparation. If you are going to sleep in line overnight, have an alarm clock. Set it for at least 1 hour before opening, maybe 2 hours. Consider a backup alarm clock. Sleeping some the day before or planning time afterwards can also make the camp out easier.

9. Anticipate the 1-2 hour early line surge. This happens when people who brought tents, or sleeping bags, or chairs pack them up and the space they left fills in. I have seen people lose 20 or more places in line at BestBuy when not ready. It happens in a sudden, growing chain reaction!

10. Use friends. Make friends in line. Better yet, bring friends to help you. Remember though, this is not a place for small kids. But niceness does have a place in Black Friday. Some people are actually nice and may help you if they know and like you beforehand. They may not, but it never hurts to have allies.

11. Attempt a price match. Some stores will match. This can be a backup plan.

Congratulations, your training is now complete! Now Go! Fight! Conquer!