Should You Wait Until Black Friday?

I must admit that I am guilty of shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. While not a true trooper (I don’t spend the night), I do wake up super early and try to hit the stores shortly after they open. Basically this means that those $100 computers will be out of reach for me. But there are other deals to be had.The real question is whether it is worth waiting in line for the cheap computers, otherwise known as “doorbusters”. These doorbusters are deals that are too good to be true and are only available in limited quantities.Before the explosion of the internet and eBay in particular, regular folks actually had a chance at getting one of these good deals. After all, people in line were getting something for themselves. But now online auctioneers are out in droves on Black Friday. Getting a great deal on the Friday after Thanksgiving. If they can get a good deal and resell at a profit then why not wait in line?So what does that mean to the rest of us? Should we just give up or should we try and brave the crowds? What I have found is that the big ticket items with the biggest discounts are sold out quickly. But items of lesser value are more readily available later into the day. I usually find some great prices on technology media like memory cards, mini dv tapes, cd’s , dvd’s, and the like. Deals on clothing, and non-technology items are also easier to find.A little prep work goes a long way in getting what you want. Making a list ahead of time of the stores you want to visit, and the items that you plan to buy from each store is essential. Also deciding the order in which you will visit stores will help keep the morning organized and running smoothly – this is especially key if you are shopping with other people as they will have their own list of priorities.One little known secret is that many online retailers also try to get in on the hype and offer their own sales. So if you would rather shop from the comfort of home then hit the internet running and you may find a few steals while everyone else is at the mall. And this is even before Cyber Monday.As for me, I honestly enjoy the spirit of comraderie and competition that I find in the wee hours of the morning on the busiest of all shopping days. And the best part is heading out for a hot breakfast after we are completely tuckered out.