That infamous day is almost here. The one that strikes fear into bank accounts everywhere.
Black Friday.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans burn calories by rampaging through retail stores seeking deals, upon deals, upon deals. At Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, we don’t do anything out of the ordinary on this day. We just do our thang (i.e., continue making awesome tacos) while the Walmarts and Targets of the world erupt in shopping hysteria.
We’re not above it; we just don’t encourage our guests to cram their way through the doors to get a hold of “50 percent off burritos” (and if we did, we’d ask our guests to remain in an orderly line and go easy on the trampling).
So for those of you who are brave enough to face the Black Friday madness, here are 10 steps to get you through unscathed.
Do your homework
Black Friday ads start coming out as early as mid-October. Notice them. Begin to price compare early to see where you’ll find the best deals on the items you want. Track down promotions and coupons, and even check to see if they’ll be having Early Bird or Night Owl specials. If you’re going to take this seriously, take it seriously.
Go alone
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to reunite and spend time together around a cornucopia of food.
Black Friday is not.
You need to be quick and agile when speed walking through stores, and friends and family will most likely slow you down. You really don’t want to get caught in a situation where one of you falls and screams, “Leave me! Save yourself!”
Have a Plan A
Of course you can drive around willy-nilly looking for sales, or you can suit up and do this thing right. Put a plan in place for the stores you want to hit and the items you want to purchase. It may be smart to map out the best routes to get to each place.
Have a Plan B
Things are going to be moving very fast, and you may have to make an audible. Have a back-up plan of different stores you can visit in case there’s an item you want that’s sold out or if a store has too many people wedged into the front door so no one can physically get in.
Prioritize. Expect the unexpected, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a successful day.
Gas up
Make sure you have an adequate amount of gas in the tank. You don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road as maniacal drivers speed by with that TV that was supposed to be yours.
No impulse buys
Stick. To. Your. List.
This isn’t the weekly trip to the grocery store where you decide you actually do need some cupcakes and a new spatula. You have an objective today, and nothing should distract you.
Be polite
Somehow, you’re going to have to keep your cool amid the insanity. There’s going to be a lot of unruly customers on this day, so why don’t you be the “polite” one? Plus, good karma could just land you everything on your list.
Check online while in line
Just because you’re in line to check out, doesn’t mean you’re done. Hop online to price-check again (try Amazon first) and see if there are better deals out there. A lot of stores update their prices hourly throughout the day. If you see a better deal, ditch your cart and get outta there.
If online shopping, go incognito
Now if you want to do some of your shopping online (including Cyber Monday), a good trick is to go “incognito” or on “private mode” on your desktop. This prevents retailers from knowing determining factors about you, such as location, shopping habits and even annual income, thus potentially offering you a less lucrative deal.
(See? We know more than just tacos.)
End the day right
After an early and chaotic morning, it’s important you reward yourself and unwind properly. Visit your nearest Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, refuel with some tacos and relax with a beerita.
If you follow our guide, you could just be crowned king or queen of Black Friday. The annals of shopping history await.
