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Sites Already Leaking Black Friday Deals

By Dayana Yochim, Fool.com,

Posted: 2007-10-25 15:35:49

Filed Under: Tech News

Hurry up -- grab your coat and car keys! There's no time to waste if you want to score a bona-fide, brag-worthy holiday bargain.

Sound familiar? It should. Before the Halloween candy has even been consumed -- and even before the sales circulars are printed, rumors fly around the Internet about the big post-Thanksgiving holiday deals stores will trumpet to woo throngs of bargain shoppers out on Black Friday (so-named for the point when stores' balances sheets turn from red to profitable black).

This annual performance is nearly as predictable as the plotline of "It's a Wonderful Life."

As if on cue, last Wednesday Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) sent its annual tsk-tsk notice to websites in advance of their posting the store's sales circulars before the official Nov. 19 release date. According to CNNMoney, Wal-Mart's preemptive legal move is a new tactic to stop the operators of the sales gossip websites. In the past, the rogue sites have received stern warnings from retailers like Target (NYSE: TGT), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), and Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) -- but only after their door-buster deal ads have been prematurely posted.

Despite this new tactic, the Black Friday dance will play out as it has in years past. For those who haven't caught the rerun, allow me to screen the highlights:

* The setup: A handful of websites -- BlackFridayAds.com, bfads.net, Gottadeal.com, to name a few -- hype stores' marketing schedules by posting anticipated deals at holiday hot spots like Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Best Buy, and Circuit City before the ads appear in newsprint or on the stores' websites.

* The conflict: Website operators get a curt warning from retailers who cry foul and chastise them for getting advance copies of their sales circulars underhandedly and posting them for the entire deal-hungry world to see.

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* The world catches wind (insert cameos by noteworthy newscasters): Journalists scrambling for a scoop blare "Want to score a major deal on [hot holiday item du jour]? Tune in tonight -- only [channel's call letters] will show you where to snag it!! Our exclusive (if you have never been on the Internet) scoop at six!!" Meanwhile, the websites rack up clicks and continue to update the sales pitches all season long.

* A peek at the inside story (cue mood lighting, cigar smoke, and frenzied activity on the Wall Street trading floor): In the shadowy boardroom of an unidentified big box retailer, back slapping and "Atta boy!"s ensue. Despite their ads getting trumped by some kid with a little HTML know-how and a modem, stores know there's nothing like free advance advertising and -- bonus! -- a preview of their competition's holiday strategy. In fact, GottaDeal's founder said last year the Wal-Mart ad on his site got 2 million clicks in October and November.

* Roll credits: Over the angelic strains of "Silent Night," the season's blockbuster deals slowly scroll over a montage of frenzied shoppers elbowing old ladies, toddlers, and stray kittens to get to the goods.

I won't bore you with the details of the predictable sequel, Look Who Regrets Shopping II, although you might want to bookmark this holiday hangover cure for future reference.

You can see how easy it is to be swept up in the holiday-shopping hype machine. Limited availability of the best buys can drive even the most rational shoppers to pitch a tent in the retailer's parking lot before Black Friday's opening hours (and try to score a moment of fame on the local news).

Don't be that guy or gal. Sanity -- not frenzy -- is the way to go in this war for your wallet. And that doesn't mean missing out on bona-fide Black Friday bargains, either.

One simple trick may be all it takes to bring sanity back to the holidays.

If you're willing to do your homework, you can beat the swarms of shoppers and sleep in the day after Thanksgiving.

* First, identify your most-coveted item that will go on sale: Keep checking the store website and the Black Friday deal preview sites mentioned above.

* Buy it before it's a steal: Before the official sale starts, make your way to the store and pick it up at the current, pre-sale price.

* Ask for a refund on what you overpaid: On the day of the sale, make your way back to the store and request a price adjustment for the difference.

* One last thing -- and this is key: Carefully study the stores' holiday return policies before you buy. In recent years, retailers have become much stricter with returns, exchanges, and adjustments around the holidays.

So do your homework, be kind to beleaguered sales clerks, find a really good hiding place for your shopping winnings, and let yourself sleep in while the herd of bargain hunters tries to score the deal you've already snagged.

2007-10-25 12:44:43

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lisiliz 08:30:00 PM Nov 14 2007

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Leave the kids at home!!!

lisiliz 08:26:00 PM Nov 14 2007

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I Loooove black friday. I've been workin in retail for the past 6 years and we of course ,will be having our own sale. Its funny watching the people come into my store as if we had the last gallon of water and they've been dehydrated for weeks. For the past 3 years I've had black friday off (I work on thanksgiving, christmas and new years just to have this day off) to do my own shopping in the stores, but I do go into the stores early around 6 a.m. (the most important ones first) and plan them all out . I take my time in each store, never hurry. Never get upset when there is a line (what do u expect?) if they have what I want then great, but even if they dont there are other sales going on that I can always pick something else up.
Please people, when shopping on Black Friday: 1. be patient, 2. dont be rude to the sales people, they do want to help you and if you are rude you wont get any help at all 3. Expect the lines to be long (if there not then thats even better) and 4. And MOST im

mbrown5703 05:53:18 AM Nov 07 2007

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I am sooo with JackSoren on the thought, we must get back in control of DC and city gov and retailers.

jacksoren 10:08:25 PM Nov 06 2007

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yeah - - they paid an independent publicist to "leak" the info early......
c'mon you guys......these corporations run the world......and you.....
Let's not buy anything from thanksgiving to christmas.....see what happens...
wanna get back control of this country?.....DO IT!

www.myspace.com/jacksoren

denathorpe 05:45:56 PM Nov 06 2007

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denathorpe 05:45:55 PM Nov 06 2007

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denathorpe 05:45:51 PM Nov 06 2007

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softshunana 05:25:00 PM Nov 06 2007

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Wal Mart is the greatest store in Massasschusetts! Why would you buy toilet paper in Target for 7.99 when you can get it at Wal Mart for 5.99? Come to my store in Avon Mass and I will take care of You. csm cathie

terracyclone 03:56:00 PM Nov 06 2007

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Funny....and I thought it was called "Black Friday" by the people who have to work retail on that day, because it's such an awful day to work for them.

terracyclone 03:55:00 PM Nov 06 2007

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Funny....and I thought it was called "Black Friday" by the people who have to work retail on that day, because it's such an awful day to work for them.

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