Does anyone know how early do you have to get to best buy to get the doorbusters

Edit by Moderator: Title Clarified

No set time really. Depends on how busy your local BB can get.
I would guess a couple hours early will get you most items.

So, let's say a 5AM opening for Best Buy......that would be 1AM or 2AM. 11PM/midnight might be a little safer if your BB has heavier traffic.

Even then there isn't a guarantee on certain items, because we have no idea the quantity they are going to have on hand.
I haven't done the BB line in a while though and there sounds like a bit more enthusiasm this year.

Edit: Sounds like 10PM or 11PM is the general consensus of the thread to guarantee a good place in line

If you're looking to get one of the cheaper laptops, then you need to be at the front of the line. You might even have to consider 10PM.

And bundle up if you're somewhere where it'll be cold!

Last year we went around to our local BB (they've since opened up more in the area so that might help the lines). The lines had at LEAST 500 people at 4:30 am. I'm guessing that if you finish your Thanksgiving dinner and head directly over to BB, you might score a place in line close enough to get what you want.

Where do you guys live?? Last year (2005) my local best buy had about 90 people at 8pm thursday, this is montclair, california. I then drove to another BB 5 miles away (rancho cucamonga), the same thing... i then drove to another one 10 miles away, same... same thing.

Last year it was below 20 degrees and windy here in Wisconsin. We arrived at BB around 2AM and there were 50+ people already waiting in line! I heard that the first people arrived around 10PM the evening before. There weren't that many fantastic deals really. Seemed to be mostly EBay'er there looking to turn a profit. My big find was the $150 eMachine that I use for a server. A few upgrades later and it is happily serving my MP3's and videos.

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering what time you all get on lines? I want the computer at BB, but am not sure what time to get in line. I know for the ps3 that at walmart they were on line the night before, but like 10pm for the 7am opening. Tents and all!!

Thanks!
Jenn

Do you mean online at home on the computer? Or on line at the B&M???

I'll probably be online @ home around 4 AM...my vacuum cleaner is near death, so I'll be hunting for one...I do not venture out of the house on BF, unless someone's buying me supper...

I meant on store outside lines, but I also asked on another thread i believe about on line deals.

How does it work on the computer on line? if you are on at 4am...do you have to wait until 5am or 11am or whatnot to get the deals?

Jenn

oh, i need a vacuum also! thanks for reminding me! are all the store deals on the computer too?

It depends on the site...and now I've noticed a couple of stores that are starting their sales as early as Wednesday...but those are mostly clothing stores...Sears sent an email that said you could start shopping on Thursday, but didn't provide any further details...

do you know what other stores?
oh i hate when they do not give other details!

Jenn

Kohl's is Wednesday...per the email they sent...but they didn't give a time either...you can look at their ad here....

http://www.bargainshare.com/index.php?showtopic=92143

thank you for all your help.

Jenn

When we did some BF shopping online last year, some sites were slow, some regular speed. Be prepared for sluggishness or timing-out (because many online retailers are not. ) This year, we will be OOT so if we buy anything it will be as soon as we hit the hotel.


Good luck

If you did not get in line by 9 PM at the Best Buy I was at, you probably did not get any doorbuster items.

At the Chicago Microcenter store, the first 5 shoppers were in line at 4PM the Thanksgiving Day, a full 14 hours before the doors opened!

I arrived at 3 AM to be 108th in line. 30 minutes before door opening, I recounted the group and over 50 people had cut in front......shhhhhheeeeeshhhhhh!!!!

Didn't matter though, because I was able to get all the TV vouchers for me to REDATE the many items I bought on Wed. with NO CROWDS to deal with. Went to breakfast before they opened, took a nap, and returned to do my business (10 minutes to redate). Amazingly I was able to buy 9 more items at the BF prices at 11AM.

Ultimate Shopper.

according to some people in the line I was in at 5am for Staples (I got in line at 4:50am...and I was the 40-50th person to late for any GPS or TVs...) they saw people already setting up camp for BB yesterday at 5pm.

I was out of the staples in 12 minutes with what i wanted...and went to office depot...and was out by 6:45am...

I arrived at circuit city by 7am...and found a line...that took over an hour to get in. Surprisngly, they still has some freebies even at 8:30am...

Hope this might help for next year.

What line? I wait in my car until I see someone starts to unlock doors. Then I walk into the store.

I was in line at BB last year at 4:00 pm, I was #16. (ended up being # 21 when doors opened, with cutters and spot holders )

I did have a fun time though, and met great people. So, even if the deals aren't spectacular, I may just go for the adult interaction.

LOL.

You know, in some areas they are outlawing "overnighters" because of crime. I've read stories about people camping out for WIIs and such getting robbed at gunpoint. Some things are just not worth it.

For all those camping out, be safe.