The Collector Store

Black Friday Survival Guide

Black Friday is an event where many items are, according to Walmart’s Black Friday Ad, listed as much as 60 percent off. Learn how to better prepare yourself for a chaotic shopping spree with these tips

%28Illustration+by+Kat+Sellers%29

(Illustration by Kat Sellers)

By Justin Christensen, North Star Reporter

LOOK AT WHAT YOU WANT

If you don’t have an idea what you want to buy, look at the Black Friday ads published by many stores. These ads will list the items that are being sold and the price they are being sold at. Once you know what you want, know where it is inside the store so when Black Friday hits you, you know where the item is. Blackfriday.com has many ads you can compare.

(Infographic by Mackenzie Pugh)

FIGURE OUT WHEN TO GO

Find out when the store you want to go to opens. Many stores can open as early as Thursday evening. Many other stores still open on Friday morning. Opening times can usually be found with the Black Friday ads or they can be found on the store’s website.

ARRIVE EARLY

Arrive about an hour or two before the store opens to get a parking spot and a good place in line. Arriving early will ensure you a parking spot closer to the store so you don’t have to find parking far from the store.

CLAIM THE GOLD

Once the store opens, quickly find what you want the most first. The store can run out of stock of many popular items within minutes. After you have your primary item, you can look for anything else that is on sale. Some stores may have indicators to where the most popular items are.

HIDE YOUR RICHES

After you buy your PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and other expensive items, hide them in unmarked bags and make them out of sight from the outside of your car. Many items can be stolen when unattended items are left in full view, so hide your items out of view if you decide to go to a second store.

BRING A FRIEND

Friends can help you navigate through the chaotic nature of Black Friday. Friends can make every part of Black Friday more enjoyable, even standing in the big line beforehand. Bringing a friend can also protect you from anybody who wants to steal the items you just bought.

GO ONLINE

Nov. 26, 2018, is Cyber Monday, an internet version of Black Friday. If you didn’t get what you want, or you don’t feel like going out to all the chaos, you can shop online and still get good deals on products.