People across the nation have been lining at Best Buy locations well before Black Friday even started. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, nearly a dozen people passed up their Thanksgiving dinner just so they could score some of the deals that Best Buy has to offer this year.
They even braved the rain so they could save $280 on a 49-inch TV. According to the M Live report, some people were already camped out of their local Best Buy with tents, chairs, and umbrellas on Thursday, Thanksgiving day. Some are excited to get the Toshiba TV for $149.99, while others want to get their hands on the new Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablets for $130 less than retail price with a student discount and the purchase of a bundle.
The latest Best Buy ad which includes the Toshiba TV and Microsoft Surface Pro 4 deals is what drove the customers to the store early. For some, it’s their first time experiencing the Black Friday madness. It was James Hainstock’s first Black Friday shopping experience, who told the news station he drove straight to Best Buy after work at 2:45 a.m. on early Thursday. Since he works again on Thursday night, he wouldn’t have been able to see his family for Thanksgiving dinner.
He then realized that he didn’t really need to rush to the store to be the first in line, since he would have still bagged a television if he showed up 12 hours later. Hainstock pitched a tent and got some rest, which was quickly interrupted by the rain. Thanks to his tent, Hainstock was able to keep his seat in line as he rushed home to take a hot shower.
The report also says that some of them planned to shop for themselves and for their family members. According to another update from WHIO News , Best Buy in Miamisburg, OH, opened its doors at 5:00 p.m. , along with Kohl’s in Centerville and Toys R Us, also in Centerville. The lines started forming outside their local Best Buy around 2:00 p.m.
Best Buy’s Black Friday online sales are already live on the website, according to BGR.com . This is a great option if you don’t want to camp out in front of stores to get some of the best deals of the season. Buyers are hoping to cash in on HDTVs, tablets, smartphones, and other gadgets that are listed in Best Buy’s Black Friday ad. You can view the full ad by clicking the link here .
In case you didn’t know, Best Buy is offering free shipping on every order all season long. The in-store deals will be available starting Thanksgiving Day, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., if you want to brave the Black Friday rush. On the actual Black Friday Day, Best Buy stores will open its doors again at 8 a.m. You can check out Best Buy’s special Black Friday online minisite at this special link , courtesy of BGR.com .
On top of the huge Black Friday savings, Best Buy has already announced its Cyber Monday 2015 deals. You can check out the online catalog by clicking here .
So, should you stop in-store or online for the Black Friday deals. Well, it’s a matter of preference. If you hate long lines and crowds, then you should definitely shop at Best Buy from the comfort of your own home. But if you love the rush of getting a deal with thousands of other shoppers, then feel free to forgo your Thanksgiving meal to get that TV or tablet you want.
Some of the best sellers for Black Friday include large-screen TVs, iPads, mini iPads, and headphones, according to store director Mike Burkhart. “It seemed a lot busier today than it did last year,” he told WHIO News .
What are your plans for Black Friday? Do you plan to shop at Best Buy online or in-store? Sound off below in the comments section.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
