Surviving Black Friday Shopping Madness in Miami

The day after Thanksgiving is a day most of us spend feeding our faces through endless trays of leftovers.  It’s also the time where we spend countless belly rubbing hours reminiscing with annoying out-of-town relatives who invade our homes.

Yet, for millions of shoppers nationwide, the day also has an alter-ego with a sinister sounding name.  In the retail industry, the day after Thanksgiving is referred to as BLACK FRIDAY.  Traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, where millions of consumers pack malls, lining up hundreds long, in the early wee hours of the morning just to take advantage of early-bird specials and doorbuster items offered by retailers.

WHO COINED THE PHRASE?

The origin of the moniker is contested. The term has been traced back as far as 1975 when an associated press article in Philadelphia reported that police officers, taxi and bus drivers referred to the day as “Black Friday” because of the headaches caused by the added shopper traffic.  There are also those that say the term was came about because shopping malls open before the sun comes up and close their doors long after it goes down—making it possible to shop the entire day without ever having to see the sun.  However, the most familiar description is the association to retail profit.  The day is also the point in the year where many retailers are finally out of the red and in the black on ledgers.  Regardless of derivation, Black Friday rewards consumers and retailers alike. 

Incidentally, retailers have also reported that Black Friday seems to bring out the worst in customer behavior.  The proposed savings cause people to shove, fight and generally act in not-so-nice fashion.  It’s not uncommon to see a media report about shoppers being trampled upon stores opening theirs doors complete with images of people dashing in and women wailing; sometimes there can even be violence. 

With the hot-headed temperament of some folks in Miami, this can be especially true.  So what are you to do if you want make the most of every dollar spent; take advantage of what truly are good saving opportunities; and, participate in the sport known as Black Friday shopping?  If your goal is to save as much as you can while spending as little time as possible in the madhouse(s), here are a few tips to make the day as smooth as can be.

JUST LIKE SANTA, MAKE A LIST, CHECK IT TWICE, AND TALLY UP WHO’S BEEN NAUGHTY AND NICE

Hands down, the single best thing you can do for yourself is to be proactive.  What do you need? What do you want?  Santa’s got a list and so should you.  Figure out who you need to buy for and if any of your recipients are gift specific, meaning you know exactly what to get them, your chore is even easier.  Lists also make buying electronics and toys MUCH easier.  Once you’ve got a good idea of what Santa’s gonna need to have in his bag, start scouring ads.

Retailers often release advertisements either in print, online or on TV with the drastically reduced items they hope will bring consumers out in hordes.  You can compare sales prices before-hand to ensure the best possible deals.  Dadeland, Dolphin and Sawgrass Malls on Black Friday will not afford you the luxury of strolling around aimlessly.  Remember: you’re goal is to save and be in and out as quickly as possible. 

Also, there are many online sites that post leaked ads weeks, sometimes months, prior.  One of my personal favorites is Black Friday at GottaDeal.com.  This site posts lists with images of Black Friday ads that have been sold or released sometimes with permission of the retailer but often not.  Actually, this year, retail giant (and the biggest money maker during the holiday shopping season) Walmart threatened legal action if their Black Friday ad was released.  Honestly, this makes no sense.  You’d think Walmart would want consumers to see their specials but I guess they’re trying to avoid competitors beating their promotions.

Typically, Thanksgiving Day editions of newspapers will be bursting with Black Friday ads.  Grab a red sharpie or some post-its and get to work.  Make sure to keep these ads with you when shopping the next day as retailers are somewhat notorious for bait-and-switch tactics on Black Friday.  If it’s in print and you can prove it, they have to honor it.     

Lastly, ask around.  I’m sure you know at least one person who will also be a mad shopper on Black Friday.  Ask that person where they’re going.  If there’s something on your list from where he/she is going, ask them to get it for you and that way you have one less place to go to.  You can either give the person the money or reimburse them afterwards.  I give my professional personal shopper mother a list and a wad of cash to purchase items from the places she goes to.

7 THINGS YOU’LL NEED TO SURVIVE A BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING FRENZY IN MIAMI

It can be tiring, considering all the drinking and the tryptophan induced sleep from the day before, but being prepared for Black Friday can let you shop without actually having to drop-especially those of you who shop in the wee hours only to continue on to work later in the day.  Here are some tips to make the big day a smooth one:

1. For starters, eat something.  Don’t make yourself a tired, sitting duck during a mall stampede and give your body some energy by feeding it.  Drink some coffee.  A mocha-choca-nilla-lotta caffeine is what you need.  Since this is Miami, have a cortadito.  Only crack will get you moving quicker! 
2. Make sure to dress comfortably as you’re guaranteed to be doing plenty of walking and standing.  Unless you can hurdle shopping carts and lug bicycle boxes in them, you’ll want to leave the Jimmy Choos at home. (Incidentally, if you can do those things in Jimmy Choos, I want to go shopping with you!) 
3. Before you walk out the door make sure you have your wallet including all paper and plastic you intend to use.  Nothing is worse than going through the whole process only to arrive at a register and discover your wallet is not in your purse.  If you think the cashier will be annoyed, wait until the mob behind you gets wind that you’re holding up the line.  Make sure to take some sort of pouch or envelope for gift receipts.
4. Grab that cell phone.  Far more important than using it for the sake of an emergency, you can use your phone to call people that you know are shopping at other stores, or even in the same store with you.  I spend my minutes on Black Friday calling back and forth between people.
“What do they have?” “A Wii for $299!” “A Wii for $299?!?! That’s insane!!! BUY ME ONE!” Another benefit of the cell phone on Black Friday is for documentary purposes.  Make sure to use that picture and video option to catch and craziness that might bring in top dollar if sold to a media outlet.  The bloodier the better. 
5. You may want to take a snack bar or drink with you just in case you get tired during the day.  While malls may have food courts, there are just too many people out on Black Friday and you may not have the time or luxury to travel somewhere for lunch.  Great places to pull out your Special K Vanilla Bar and chomp away include elevators, check-out lines and while waiting at traffic lights in the car.
6. Take a friend.  Tag-alongs can become partners-in-crime by shopping one half of a store as you do the other.  Actually, last year my best friend and I devised an ingenious plan at Toys R US.  She stood in line as I did a Supermarket Shop-esque Dash through the store grabbing the things we needed collectively.  It saved us about an hour in line at the check-out and as we walked out of the store, there were still people standing in line waiting to come in.
 
7. Arrive Early.  You’ll definitely want to arrive as early as possible especially if you’re wanting to be at a store’s opening.  Yes you want to be towards the front of the line so you can get the ‘while they last’ bargains but you also want to be able to park your car and you’ll want to do so without incident.  Generally, you’ll want to arrive at a store and hour and half to an hour prior to it’s opening.  Sure there is some waiting involved but early arrivals can guarantee you won’t have to deal with some lunatic, umbrella yielding woman swearing that the heavens have advised her that this is her parking space as she challenges you to an umbrella fencing match over it!  The early arrival can also guarantee you a shopping cart to throw all your goodies in.  Also, many retailers will provide items announced that morning only and hand out flyers with the relative information to the patrons in line.  As long as you’re waiting, pull out the ads you’ve brought and review again what you’d like.

Once you’re in the thick of the Black Friday madness, the best thing you can do for yourself is to have lots and lots of patience.  Make sure to bring a back-up supply as well.  The truth is that no matter how hard you try, you are bound to be witness to some incident of Black Friday madness.  As long as you remember that you are there to save money and not to put some diva wanna-be in her place, you’ll be fine.

I have no other option than to be a savvy shopper.  As the mother of a four year old, the sister of a 23 year old, the friend of many and the daughter of a nutty, determined shopper who dragged me along with her as a side-kick for Black Friday adventures dating as far back as the late 70s, I take pride in my Black Friday knowledge.  I’ve talked a bunch of non-Black Friday believers into braving the masses in the wee hours under the guise of saving.  Heck, my best friend, the former non-believer, is now my side-kick for our 5 AM Toys R Us adventures and I have to admit, it’s some of the most FUN we have.

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE

Aventura Mall
Fri Open 7am to 10pm

Dadeland Mall
Fri Open 6am to 10pm

Dolphin Mall
Fri Open 8am to 11pm

The Falls
Fri Open 5am to 10pm

International Mall
Fri Open 5am to 9:30pm

Sawgrass Mills Mall
Fri Open 7am to 10pm

Southland Mall
Fri Open 5am to 10pm

Target
Fri Open 6am to 11pm; Sat Open 8am to 11pm

Kmart
Fri & Sat Open 9am to 6pm

Walmart
Fri Open 5am; Doorbusters End 12pm

Best Buy
Fri Open 5am; Sale Ends 12pm

Circuit City
Friday Open 5am to 10pm

Brandsmart
Fri Open 5am to 10pm

Sears
Fri Open 5am to 12am

JC Penny
Fri Open 5am to 12am

Macy’s
Fri Open 6am to 9pm

Nordstrom
Fri Open 7am to 10pm

Toys R Us
Fri Open 5am; Sales End 12pm and 10pm

KB Toys
Fri Open 4am; Doorbusters end 12 pm

Home Depot
Fri Open 6am; Sale ends 10pm

Linens ‘n Things
Fri Open 5 am to 10pm

Big Lots
Fri Open 6am to 10 pm

Related Links: • Miami Shopping Malls Related Categories: Miami: Local News, Suzy Newhouse is a homegrown herald at Miami Beach 411.  This cat loving, orange and blue wearing, SoFla native credits her strong Cuban family roots as the strength helping her raise her son. See more articles by Suzy. See more articles by Suzy Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

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