Gamernode: Features - Dac's Guide to Black Friday Success

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It's F'ING Cold Out There!

Unless you live in the depths of Florida or California, it's November, and you're going to be frickin' freezin' your ass off all night. This isn't like skiing-in-Aspen cold. Oh no, this is much worse. Picture yourself entering a walk-in freezer, and just sitting there for 10 straight hours. Don't just bring a coat and heavy clothes. Bring multiple blankets, a plethora of those air-activated hand warmers (check your local dollar store), hats, gloves, and anything else to cover your raw skin. If you do bring blankets, however, be sure they're nothing special, because you'll have to be prepared to ditch them when those doors open. I'd like to stress one more time: Those little hand warmers will save your life. Get as many as possible, because you can always sell them to people...

Sell! Sell! Sell!

Buying is only part of the fun of Black Friday! You're the one spending all your hard-earned money, so why don't you try making a little of it back on the side? Get two or three dozen Dunkin' Donuts and sell 'em at a buck a pop. If you can, bring a giant coffee container and sell some java using those tiny Styrofoam cups. This one's key, though, and doesn't require you bringing anything. If you get there early enough, you'll be in line for the aforementioned tickets. If you manage to snag a few of those for computers, TVs, and printers, you'll be able to sell that shit so fast to people. I wasn't one of the lucky ones getting the computer tickets last year, but I know that a few of the tickets were sold for over a hundred dollars a piece. Don't feel bad doing it, either. You got there early, and you deserve the tickets. If people want them, they can go ahead and buy them.

Get The Little Things First

When they finally do open those doors, you'll already have your ticket for the 700 dollar 42" LCD, so don't rush straight there. You already have that secured, so don't worry about it. Run (literally, run) straight to those Bluetooth headsets, or the cheap SD cards. Those small items that everyone seems to want will fly off the shelves so fast, so get there first. Don't grab a shopping cart, crazy. Just snag what you can get at first, and when all the popular products are dried out, walk to the checkout line.

Multiple Transactions Are You Friend

Once you have the initial bunch of crap you wanted, go check out. Don't be slow about it, but you're past the rush. Black Friday is over for you; the exciting part is done. Bring some of the items to your car, then come back in for the rest. The odds are, anyone with a ticket for a big item (like a computer or TV) will be standing in an additional line to receive those items. Dude, you already waited in a line for 10 hours, I don't think you're all about spending even 10 more minutes wasting away behind someone else. Go grab your hidden items, and don't be nonchalant about it, either. Be proud and show off the fact that you were smarter than Jane and Jeff over there who aren't going to be leaving with 600 DVD's like you. Finally, when you're all finished paying for your hidden treasure, go back for the big stuff. It'll still be there; your ticket says so.

Make No Promises

I'm a generally nice person. (I mean, I'm telling you all my secrets, aren't I?) But here's something you'll definitely want to stay away from. Don't make any promises to people who want something from the Black Friday ad. If they want something, kindly let them know that you'll be going after your stuff first. If, by the time you're finished shopping, their item is still there, you can snag it for them, but more than likely it'll be gone. I made the mistake of trying to get my sister a computer. I'll tell you one thing: that did not pan out well. Get your stuff, and stay in the zone. If they really want something, they can stand in line and wait for it, too.

Be Prepared!

(Remember The Lion King? Writing that totally reminded me of The Lion King...) So those are my pro tips for you. If you follow them, you'll certainly have your best Black Friday yet. Now, there are always complications that could happen. Maybe they're handing out the tickets after they open the doors this year, maybe they found your secret stash and put it back. Inevitable problems may arise, but that's what makes thinking on your toes and being smarter than everyone else fun! If you stick to the formula and stay frosty, I have faith you'll get everything you want this year.

Good luck.

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