Black Friday 2012: Best Deals Near Darien

Patch has all the information you need to form a strategic plan this Black Friday, including links to local ads.

Black Friday 2012: What You Need to Know Before You Leave the House

Patch has all the information you need to form a strategic plan this Black Friday, including links to local ads.

As if you needed an introduction, Nov. 23 marks one of the busiest shopping days of the year—Black Friday. The event often brings out the best and sometimes, the worst, in shoppers. Some have been known to wait in line for hours before the doors open—and blistering cold, biting winds or driving rain has proved no match for the avid Black Friday deal-hunter. So far this year, the National Weather Service is predicting mild weather. Thanksgiving night, there’s a chance of showers and mostly cloudy skies, with a low around 42. On Black Friday it should be mostly sunny with a high near 46-  and Friday night, partly cloudy, with a low around 28. And now—what you've all been waiting for—the Black Friday ads. Here's your Black Friday Cheat Sheet…

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How Early is Too Early for Christmas Shopping?

It used to be Black Friday was for the earliest of early shoppers. Not anymore. Look around. The stores are ready now.

Look around the Chicago area and you'll see all the signs: The early birds no longer wait until Black Friday to do their Christmas shopping. This year, Black Friday is on Nov. 23, but big retailers and mail-order companies are starting well in advance. Amazon, for example, is beginning its Black Friday on Nov. 14. Crazy or crazy smart? Just how early is too early to shop for Christmas 2012 gifts? Take our poll.

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Early Black Friday Deals in Darien, Lemont and Woodridge Area

Best Buy and Super Target begin matching prices of online retailers beginning Nov. 1. Find the nearest locations to you in Patch's business directory.

So, you just can't wait to get your Christmas 2012 gift-shopping groove on? You don't have to wait until Black Friday to get some great online deals. Best Buy's announcement that it will allow in-store customers to price-match online retailers by showing the price on their smartphones has been matched by Target and Super Target, according to BFAds.net, a website devoted to Black Friday and gift-shopping alerts. Among other online retailers, the stores will match prices of Amazon.com, Walmart.com,Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com. Best Buy's price-matching begins Sunday, Nov. 4, while Target's begins Thursday, Nov. 1. You can catch those deals locally at these nearby stores. Visit our business directory for more information.

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POLL: Walmart's Black Friday Sales Set to Start Thanksgiving Night

The store will open at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving. Will you be ready for shopping.

While most of us will still be digesting our turkey dinners at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving, some eager shoppers will be flocking to Walmart to get a jump on Black Friday sales. Walmarts across the country, including in Darien, will open at 10 p.m. on Nov. 24 for more than 24 hours of holiday shopping. Deals will be staggered, with kids stuff such as bikes, Nintendo Wii cartridges and Fisher Price toys going on sale when the store opens, followed by electronics at midnight. Items such as hunting supplies and tires will hit the sales racks at 8 a.m. Friday. Once a sale starts, the prices will remain valid throughout Friday until the store runs out of the goods.

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