Confess: Did you shop on Black Friday, Did you shop today Did you get deals?

For the first time in my anti-corporation life, I decided to see what all the fuss was for Black Friday. I went to:

Target

Burlington

Century 21

Bed Bath and Beyond

Marshalls

In a word: Nothing. All I saw were a few random items at deep discounts and the rest of everything, priced as usual. What I saw, were gullible shoppers grabbing a lot of stuff that was on "sale" (and not even that deeply discounted), that the probably wouldn't have normally bought anyway: Limoges reindeer for sale, anyone?

I just want to know your thoughts on this matter.

I know I have always found the best deals online, all the time without the chaos of distraction of box stores with crowds of people trying to sell me shit

I don't really buy people gifts, so I am able to avoid the big box stores entirely for the holiday season.

I went to Best Buy in the afternoon and bought cheap blu rays after the crowds are gone and then went to Uniqlo for stuff I wanted to buy but knew was going to be on sale that day.

I agree with your assessment that people buy stuff they don't need/want because they think its such a great deal.

I did a little shopping online yesterday, so I guess I went in for "Small biz Saturday." Have been needing a new external drive for ages, and J&R had a deal for once.

Black Friday seems geared more towards people buying electronics and toys than anything else. I saw more than a few big-screen TV boxes on the curb this weekend, but who knows, maybe they didn't all come from Best Buy or Target or the like...

I bought a blu-ray player at Costco, but I don't think it was marked down, I only bought it because my existing LG blu ray wouldn't play my new blu ray discs. I did buy an Empire Pass on line today, it was $40 rather than the $65+ I'd be paying if I renewed in February. The Empire Pass is only available today at $40, tomorrow it promises to be the regular price.