Searching for Black Friday deals

Why go through newspaper inserts of individual stores to find the deal you want, when you can search for an item and find the best deals?

Visit http://www.blackfriday.fm, type in the item and model number you want, and it will tell you who has the best offers online.

But before you click the Buy button, check the prices at Amazon.com first, which seems to be beating everybody (including Costco, Best Buy, other online merchants) in a number of items, plus they offer free shipping for some items.

REI garage sales for people who don't insist on buying only shrink-wrapped items

If you covet the high quality stuff at REI, but even Sports Basement (see previous post) is beyond your budget, try your luck on REI's used-gear sale. It's like a flea market with rabid shoppers. Avoid this event if you hate crowds.

They sell damaged goods that have been returned. Sometimes the damage is so bad, you pity the poor inexperienced fool who gets drunk with the low price; but sometimes they're so negligible, you can't believe the sweet deal that you are having.

Tips and strategies:

• Come before 10 am for the best selection. Don't bother going really early (like 9:30), unless you are going to Berkeley. It's all peace and unity with the hippies, unless we're talking about REI deals. You might get banged on the head with a Birkenstock. 
• The prices are fixed. Do not attempt to haggle. 
• Grab whatever looks interesting. You can decide later. 
• When you think you have the maximum amount of stuff your spindly arms can carry, go to a corner and think about whether they are actually useful to you.
• Inspect the goods really carefully. Inflate mattresses, check holes and missing poles in tents, look for tears and stains in fabric. They are sold as is; you cannot return them.
• Remember this is REI. If you are not sure, grab one of the knowledgeable associates and ask for advice. 
• When you've determined that you don't want the item, return it to the bin as soon as possible, so someone else can enjoy the deal. 

REI Mountain View is having a Used Gear Sale on November 7, 2009. The following Saturday, REI Fremont will have its own sale. For future events, check the calendar for your local REI.

If you aren't already a member, apply for membership. It's a one-time fee for your lifetime, but you get annual rebates. It's totally worth it. Grab a form from a friendly associate, so s/he can get credit.

I'm slipping this in before the editor catches this irrelevant link: Funny article about REI and camping.

Sports Basement: discount REI and Sports Authority rolled into one

If you like the high quality stuff at REI, but don't particularly care for the prices, consider shopping at its ghetto version, the Sports Basement. They sell the same high quality stuff at about a 20% discount.

The setting is definitely warehousey with sections marked by hand-scrawled cardboard signs; the selection is not as plentiful (you won't find 10 different choices of silk liners for your sleeping bag here); the few "associates" don't give you personal attention or lengthy expert advice; and the cashier is eating made-in-China pizza while she takes your money.

OK, before I turn you completely away from Sports Basement, I should mention that they do have other advantages over REI. They cover most mainstream sports, not just outdoorsy stuff. They also sell racquet sports, weight training, and triathlon-related equipment. So they're pretty much REI and Sports Authority rolled into one.

The prices can get better if your company hooked up with them, giving you an additional 10% discount. Sometimes, they host special events with local biking, hiking, or one of those outdoorsy clubs. You can get an additional 20% from their lowest marked price if you are a member of such a club.

Bottom line: If you don't know exactly what you want or if you want an exceptional return policy, stick with REI. If you want better prices, come to Sports Basement.

Editor's Notes

This blog is a compilation of reviews about random merchandise, services and events. It also includes tips that could save you time or money. If you scored some great buys because of this blog, how about considering donating a portion of your savings to a trustworthy organization that helps people who can't meet their essential needs. (Try diagramming that sentence!) Give to food banks, disaster relief organizations, safe water providers, and churches that provide meals to the hungry. But only if you want to.

The name of the blog is from an old joke:
Q. How was copper wire invented?
A. Two [stereotypical group] were fighting over a penny.

If you find typos and grammatical errors on this site, it's because we're using a discount editor. You get what you pay for. We try to pass along good stuff, but we don't guarantee the accuracy of the articles.

p.s. We also run a mailing list for time-sensitive sales. But you have to be in-the-know to get membership.