Here are some tips to make the most of your early morning quest for door busters and deals:
- Come up with a plan and plot a route from store to store.
- Know that some stores -- Kohl's, JCPenney, Wal-Mart, Parisian -- have already released their ads for Black Friday. Go to www.freep.com for more information on those. The rest of the ads will be available in the Free Press on Thanksgiving Day.
- Set more than one alarm. If necessary, arrange for a friend to give you a wake-up call. Penney's will give you a wake-up call starting at 3 a.m. on Friday. To register: www.jcp.com.
- Think about pulling an all-nighter because some stores, including certain KB Toys, open at midnight. (To find opening time for a KB near you: www.kbtoys.com.) Also opening at midnight: the outlets at Birch Run (www.primeoutlets.com) and the Tanger Outlets in Howell (www.tangeroutlets.com).
- Caffeinate, caffeinate, caffeinate. As the morning wears on, you'll need more than adrenaline to keep going.
- If you're going to be standing in line outside a store, dress in layers.
- If you're going to be waiting in line outside a store for any length of time, consider the buddy system. The two of you can take turns standing in line and warming up in the car. And it's always safer when you're with a friend.Don't flash your cash. And be careful where you put your purse or wallet. Remember: safety first.
- Read the fine print in ads and on coupons; they often have exclusions. Not all rebates are instant; some need to be mailed in, which means you won't get your money back right away. Make sure to note how many doorbuster televisions, cameras, computers, Blu-ray players, etc., will be available at each store. Quantities are limited, and rain checks aren't offered.
- If you're at all intrigued by something, buy it before someone else does. You can always return it later.
- Keep all your receipts in the same envelope or folder so you'll be able to find them quickly.
- Always ask for gift receipts. They make it easier for the recipient to return an item.
- If you simply can't wait to shop: Meijer is open Thanksgiving Day. So is Kmart. And Big Lots. Sears (www.sears.com) and Macy's (www.macys.com) are both advertising Thanksgiving Day Web specials.
- Know that while many of the Black Friday deals are good, there will be more to come. So if you miss out on Friday, chances are you'll be able to get another good deal soon
Places of note:
Eastland Center, Harper Woods
8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Target open 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; Macy's and Sears open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Lowe's open 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fairlane Town Center, Dearborn
7 a.m.-9 p.m. (JCPenney open 4 a.m.-11 p.m; Macy's and Sears open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Great Lakes Crossing, Auburn Hills
8 a.m.-10 p.m. (Several stores open at 5 a.m.)
Laurel Park Place, Livonia
7 a.m.-9 p.m. (Parisian open 4 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Macomb Mall, Roseville
8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Kohl's open 4 a.m.-midnight; Sears open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Northland Center, Southfield
8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Macy's open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Target open 6 a.m.-11 p.m.)
Oakland Mall, Troy
7 a.m.-10 p.m. (JCPenney open 4 a.m.-11 p.m; Macy's and Sears open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Prime Outlets, Birch Run
Opens at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will remain open through 9 p.m. Friday.
Somerset Collection, Troy
8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Macy's open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Tanger Outlets, Howell
Opens at 12 a.m. Friday morning for a "Midnight Madness" sale. Closes 9 p.m.
Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi
7 a.m.-9 p.m. (JCPenney open 4 a.m.-11 p.m.; Lord & Taylor open 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Macy's & Sears open 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Nordstrom open 7 a.m.-9 p.m.) STORES
Kmart
7 a.m.-11 p.m. (Also open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thanksgiving)
Meijer
Open 24 hours a day, including Thanksgiving.
Wal-Mart
Most Super Centers are open 24 hours, which includes Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday "After Thanksgiving Specials" run from 5 a.m.-11 a.m.
