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.

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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Record-Breaking Black Friday Weekend Blasts Retailers into Holiday Shopping Season

The National Retail Federation says more shoppers participated in Black Friday weekend than ever.

The holiday shopping season traditionally has started around 6 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but by that hour this year, Target employees and those of other stores who braved an early morning shopping rush in Woodridge—and across the country— had already seen the end of a long shift. They were catching their breath to prepare for the next group of shoppers. The waves of crowds had gone, leaving dirt-tracked floors and managers with bloodshot eyes and rumpled shirts. This time around, more shoppers purchased and took advantage of deals on the biggest shopping weekend of the year than ever before, according the National Retail Federation. [ Related: Shoppers Share Their Best Black Friday Bargains ] In mid-November, a preliminary …

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Everything You Need to Know About Black Friday 2011

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. 25 marks one of the busiest shopping days of the year—Black Friday. The day often brings out the best and worst in shoppers. Some shoppers have been known to wait in line for hours before doors open; blistering cold weather has proved no match for the avid Black Friday deal-hunter. Black Friday Cheat Sheet CBSNews highlights some of the deals from these retailers below.  Best Buy  Macy's  Toys R Us The toy giant plans to open its doors earlier than competitors, at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving. Target All Black Friday deals start at midnight on Thanksgiving. Sam's Club These prices will be valid for members in stores November 25 starting at 5 a.m. Wal-Mart  Starting at 10 p.m.  Starting at midnight: Starting at…

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POLL: Target Opens at Midnight Black Friday -- Will You Go?

More than 90,000 people have signed a petition asking Target to open later. Would you go at midnight to shop?

Target's decision to open its doors at midnight on Thanksgiving has drawn plenty of attention this week.  As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., almost 91,000 people have signed a petition at Change.org asking Target not to open at midnight on Thanksgiving as planned. The petition asks that Target open instead at 5 a.m. Friday to allow workers to spend more time with their families.  Anthony Hardwick, an Omaha-based employee, started the petition.  "With the midnight opening, employees like myself will have to leave for work right in the middle of Thanksgiving Dinner," Hardwick said in a statement. "We don't mind hard work, but cutting into our holidays is a step too far." Target employees have been asked to arrive at the store no later than 11 p.m. …

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Police Blotter: Black Friday Thievery

Woodridge police reports, Nov. 24-26.

Tennis Shoes Stolen Jeremy Blizzard, 20, of the 2700 block of Jonquil in Woodridge, was arrested around 12 p.m. and charged with retail theft after he removed a pair of tennis shoes from Kohl's, 1001 75th St., police said. Electronics Stolen Janet Rodriguez, 27, from the 5600 block of Catalpa in Chicago, was arrested around 12 p.m. and charged with retail theft after she removed several electronic items from Target, 2333 63rd St., police said. Tires Damaged Someone damaged the front and back passenger side tires of a parked vehicle between 9 p.m. on Nov. 26 and 2 a.m. on Nov. 28 in the 3400 block of 83rd Street, police said. Gasoline Stolen Someone pumped 17 gallons of gas and left without paying for the purchase around 9:20 a.m. at …

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Shoppers Forego Sleep for Doorbusters

Some shoppers said they didn't go to bed Thursday night so they could take advantage of deals early Friday morning.

Shoppers stayed up late or woke up early to take advantage of Black Friday deals Friday morning. Woodridge Patch stopped by Best Buy, Target and JCPenney to check in with shoppers and the stores. The most die-hard Black Friday shoppers? Two young men spent four hours outside Sports Authority sleeping in cardboard boxes they pulled from a dumpster, just so they could be among the first 85 people in the store to receive a gift card worth between $10 and $500. Each received a $10 gift card, and both said it was worth the wait. The two, who declined to give their names, first went to Walmart at midnight to start shopping and then to Target to score some movies on sale. Time: 7:15 a.m. Watching customers come through the doors at 5 a.m. was …

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