When Black Friday comes, where should you stand down by the door?

by Mike Orren

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We try to dig up some of the best deals and local treasures. Be sure to add others you find in the comments section.

After the traditional holiday gorge followed by the traditional Cowboys game, it's time to prepare for Black Friday -- where you struggle past the wee hours of your turkey-tryptophan hangover to line up to buy one of a very few lightly-stocked insanely low-priced items in the midst of other higher-margin products in an effort to maximize what you can stuff under your Christmas tree.

That's what you get from the big box stores like Wal-Mart and BestBuy as they try to capitalize on what used to be the day retailers went into the black, but is now the last-ditch effort to make the retail year not-as-horrible. You can find those sales just about anywhere -- and I've listed some resources in a sidebar. But what we mainly want to focus on is our local merchants who are bringing the best deals and whose success will most bolster our local economy, while making your holiday special.

In general, retailers are cutting prices much more dramatically this year and are extending sales throughout the weekend in order to drive the highest sales possible. Some stores are open on Thanksgiving and opening as early as midnight Friday. In turn, it's estimated that 6 million more Americans will join the Black Friday-Sunday fray this year.

Retailers are pulling out all the stops -- lots of easy credit with no interest until the end of the Mayan calendar. Another popular tactic is a free gift card with a certain level of purchase. Pretty much all the national retailers have some version of that. One of the better ones is at Neiman Marcus, which is a $50 card with any $100 purchase. An interesting variant is from Old Navy, which is giving away a $50 copy of Lego RockBand with any $20 purchase -- a great deal for people like me who need new jeans and don't want to shell out for the kiddie version of the game just to get the songs. As part of the promo, they're also going to have playable versions of the game in all the stores.

Here are the highlights (and a couple lowlights) we've found among local retailers and the very, very best of the national. Please let us know about others in the comments:

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If you're looking for deals, why not start places where the prices are already low (hence sales mean even deeper discounts). The Outlets at Hillsboro are opening at 10 p.m. Thursday with sales and entertainment. Allen Premium Outlets opens midnight Friday, as does Grapevine Mills.

Centre at Mockingbird Station is offering its streetwear at deep discounts: 10% off everything; 50% off a second item; 50% off eyewear; and a free tee with every $150 spent.

Also at Mockingbird Station, Oscar Fierro is offering 50% off everything.

Most hyper-disclaimed offer: Academy Sports and Outdoors: Take an additional 50% off. Limited to stock on hand. Style selection varies by store. .88 [price] endings only. (All items in the full-page ad end in ".99".)

Proof that online is taking over: I remember when Newegg was a well-kept geek secret. Now they're running an ad insert in the paper.

Doug & Lynda's Ski Shop in McKinney is offering many items at 50% off, plus a free lift ticket with any $300 purchase.

Chintziest special with major advertising: With a $50 gift card at BJ's BrewHouse, you get a retail value $2.99 advertising pint glass free. This deal had its own newspaper insert.

Needless Necessities at Knox/Henderson is apparently in some danger of going out of business, and is trying to ring in big holiday sales with a 35% off coupon.

British Emporium is throwing free entertainment in with all purchases, with tickets to Theatre Britain's 2009 Pantomime "Puss In Boots," Level Ground Arts 2009 Performances, Christmas Movies at The Palace Theatre Grapevine, and train tickets on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. To sweeten the deal they're also putting free Chocolate Flakes, Crunchies, Maltesers, Biscuits, Great Tea and other British treats in every bag.

If you'd like to mix some charity with your consumerism, Tom's Shoes at Parker Square is offering 30% off, plus it will donate a pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair sold.

You can stay out of the mall craziness and find unique local stuff at the Holiday Bazaar sponsored by Pinkston Harris realtors. Featured are Elizabeth Carlock jewelry, Paper Matters stationary, Merry Maps custom maps, and Fortune Denim jeans.

Probably the best deal I've found is 75% discounts at LoveSac Alternative Furniture.

The Dallas Mavericks are offering buy-one-get-one-free single game tickets from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, plus a player photo and a locker room tour for those who spend at least $100. The merch stores at Northpark, Willow Bend, and the AAC are giving get free tickets to select upcoming games with $75 and higher purchases.

The Granada Theater is running a Black Friday sale on its website through Monday, with ticket discounts from 10-50% with the password "BLACKFRI."

If that's not enough music for you, Good Records is offering 20% off everything all day long, plus a free T-shirt with every $100 purchase.

Or if making music is more your thing, Music in Motion's Warehouse store in Plano has a big sale with an extra 15% off, refreshments, and a free gift (with coupon).

A big trend this year is the sale that peaks at an early hour and declines as the day goes on. Ashley Furniture is the poster child, starting its pricing at 52% off everything in the store, ramping down to 48% for the layabeds.

Perhaps the most specialized deal I've seen is at Thomas Sewing Center and Quilting Outlet, where they're offering $1,200-$2,000 off a very, very high end sewing machine. Again, the price goes up as the day goes on.

Local jewelry-making star Elizabeth Showers is kicking off a big sale on her vintage collection.

Sports Authority has a Thanksgiving-day only sale with 25% off everything.

On the higher end, Stanley Korshak is offering 30% off (almost) any one item.

What's the best deal you've found? Share in the comments below.

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