Boxing day limited quantity items

[Toni]

On boxing day, there are many items on sale that have limited quantities. I like how some stores handle it in a civilized way. These stores hand out coupons to each customer (from the beginning of the line) until they are out of coupons for the limited quantity items. Then take the coupons to get the items and when paying for it at the cashier. I like this approach and prevents pushing and shoving in the store to get those items. Besides, I think this make the store look good because of their well organization and fewer grumpy customers that lined up since x hours before opening.

On the other hand, there are some stores that just let people rush in and race for the limited quantity items. The sight of a horde of people pushing, shoving and making a mess of everything else reminds me of a zoo. I think this makes the store unprofessional looking and lack of organization.

What were some of your boxing day experiences with line-ups and how the stores handle the limited quantity items?

[crimsona]

For FS/Staples at least, every time they have a grand opening, it's all coupon based.
Which is good. Hopefully they'll do the same for boxing day, but i doubt it.

[Mox]

So here is a theorhetical question for those vets around here. If I wanted to get something that the flyer says there are only like 10-15 per store at BEST BUY, how early should I be getting there?

Thanks

[jay_bionic]

So here is a theorhetical question for those vets around here. If I wanted to get something that the flyer says there are only like 10-15 per store at BEST BUY, how early should I be getting there?

Thanks
Well I always stand outside the store at 5 pm, thats right, 5 pm. I've always been the first one for the last 7 years.

[SubXO]

Well I always stand outside the store at 5 pm, thats right, 5 pm. I've always been the first one for the last 7 years.

WHOA! That's crazy! :cheesygri
you damn well deserve it then! :lol:

[Mox]

LOL yea man thats dedication. Im thinking a few hours 2-3 before opening. Would I have any chance to get a 10 per store item?

[deals4j]

LOL yea man thats dedication. Im thinking a few hours 2-3 before opening. Would I have any chance to get a 10 per store item?

I doubt it.. I arrived at FS 2 hours before opening a few years back and I was at least 100th in line.

[crimsona]

10 per store item except to start at 3 am or so... my friend got the 8th item (coupon # listed) out of a 10 per store camera.

[MtX]

lol.. this aint even the IKEA free chair give away and you camp out 5pm day before?

[mahjongmaniac]

Well I always stand outside the store at 5 pm, thats right, 5 pm. I've always been the first one for the last 7 years.
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well if ur THAT DESPERATE for the item... then yes... go camp out the day b4 the sale starts... u deserve it....

i remember last yr i came about 1 1/2 hrs b4 store opened.... and i was like the 100 th person in line... boy were ppl crazy about it..... but lucky me i saw a friend lining up 1st in line!.... so i'm like "hey,... u must've gotten here like 3 hrs b4 i did!" and he told me that he came at 3 am.... wow.... !.... so i was lucky that i "budged" in and was able 2 get in front of 100 ppl and was the 2nd in line :lol: :lol:

[squall458]

lol.. this aint even the IKEA free chair give away and you camp out 5pm day before?
i remember that dude, he was there like 2pm the day before, didnt he have a bbq to heat stuff to eat? i saw some other dudes with laptops watching dvds to kill time.

[mushroomcheese]

you couldnt pay me to stand in line that early :eek:

way to go, teach everyone how its done :cheesygri

[webdoctors]

um.....its December, so.... er...isn't it friggin cold outside? to stand outside OVERNIGHT for a boxing day door crasher, they'd have to B giving it for free to put up with that kinda abuse...

[Geologic]

What really sucks is that if it was a week ago, I'd be willing to go around 4 or 5AM, but considering how fast and how sudden it got cold, I doubt I will. last week it was 0 degrees and barely went negative, now its like -20

[Toni]

Wow, that's some dedication to get the items you want! More than 12 hours in the cold? Any tips on how you last that long in the cold? The most I've been was 2 hours in the cold at office depot for a hp printer....hehehe.

Will best buy have the first 100 people in line to be entered into a draw for $20,000 (if I remember correctly from previous years) ?

[mahjongmaniac]

What really sucks is that if it was a week ago, I'd be willing to go around 4 or 5AM, but considering how fast and how sudden it got cold, I doubt I will. last week it was 0 degrees and barely went negative, now its like -20
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lol... depends on location man.... yah... toronto does have crappy weather during winter... i've noticed for the last 2 years.... and 4 some reason BC always has good weather... seriously, i live in alberta... and whenever we have snowfall... they like almost always (>90%) have RAINFALL!......

oh yeah.. btw.. last year i came 1 1/2 hr b4 store opened and it was just 0 deg. C, i think.... no rainfall/snowfall.... except maybe little windchill.... :D so depending on location, diff weather of course! luckily no crap weather 4 me last yr during boxing day... i'm hoping 4 da same this year!

[cheap_guy]

Just seems like a complete waste of time. With RFD, I've always managed to get great sales all year around. For example, I went to an electronics sale a couple of weeks ago where everything in store was cost+5%, the only catch was that the prices weren't listed, you just had to ask. I didn't find anything that I wanted because I'd seen everything there at similar prices on sale (like the HK AVR130 which was 399 a couple of months ago at FS, was 414).

Now, maybe, I'm sometimes paying a LITTLE bit more, but still, I'll gladly pay a little bit more than have to put up with the crowds and the chaos. Boxing day is great for people who aren't "professional shoppers" (a nicer way of describing those of us that Best Buy would rather not have as customers). They go out, find a pretty good deal with what they want, and they have something, but the 5 hours they've lost has to be worth something.

But the worst is that stores use the limited quantity loss leaders to scam the public into buying lots of things that aren't really as cheap as you can find them at other times, especially where electronics are concerned. Sad part is that most people don't even get the really cheap stuff.

my 2 cents...

[suziecute]

Wow, that's some dedication to get the items you want! More than 12 hours in the cold? Any tips on how you last that long in the cold?

A few years ago, Future Shop in Montreal posted in the newspaper that they open at 1am (if I remember this info correctly) on Boxing Day by error and there were actually people lining up at the store at 1am. I saw it on the news. These people were bundled up like the Michelin tire and some people even had a tent set up to protect them from the cold. Well, I guess you may as well set a camp fire to keep yourself warm :cheesygri

[eelfliw]

The big lines outsides stores generate lots of media coverage, hence lots of hot air and free advertising.

And a lot of stores rely on hot air to sell stuff to people who don't really need it but bought it because of hype.

Just look at eating worms. It's really gross (I'd rather eat dogs). But media generate lots of hype so more and more ppl are willing to pay to try. Gives a good boost to the economy.

[hd2002]

i remember last yr i came about 1 1/2 hrs b4 store opened.... and i was like the 100 th person in line... boy were ppl crazy about it..... but lucky me i saw a friend lining up 1st in line!.... so i'm like "hey,... u must've gotten here like 3 hrs b4 i did!" and he told me that he came at 3 am.... wow.... !.... so i was lucky that i "budged" in and was able 2 get in front of 100 ppl and was the 2nd in line :lol: :lol:

can't believe people brag about stuff like this...

[doraemi]

I was one of those dumbasses to line up for the free chair....number 13th in line...got there at 8:30 pm

was quite an experience