At about 10:30 or so Thursday night, I opened an e‑mail from the good folks at Wal-Mart.
I don’t remember the specifics, on account of all the turkey I consumed at my in-laws in New Hartford.
I think the Black Friday deal was $10 for a 72-inch television. Or something like that.
The deal was set to go live at 12 a.m.
I wanted that television, but I get annoyed when there are more than three people in the Valley Indy office, let alone a Derby Wal-Mart stuffed with Black Friday-savvy shoppers.
So, at about 11 p.m., I posed the question the the Valley Indy Facebook readers: “Anyone out there at the Derby or Shelton Wal-Mart? If so, what’s it like?”
Here are the responses:
Robert Coughlin: “Walmart in Shelton crazy.”
Julie Caciopoli-Gamble: “My daughters just got back from Shelton, they said it was CRAZY and I saw someone posted earlier that Derby looks like it’s being looted.”
Stacy Neu: “Insane!!!”
Evelyn Browning: “We just went by there can’t even get in the parking lot people are walking from all directions.”
Jake DeGennaro: “Parking lot at Shelton was closed as of 10:15…witnessed two fights.”
Thomas Rak, Jr.: “Milford Walmart had a taser incident.”
Heather Barrett: “Yeah, I was just at Milford Walmart very close to the taser incident… It was over a Wii game… Craziness!”
Stephanie Hopwood: “Derby was crazy, check out was long. People are waiting in line for ticket items for 12 but tickets still available. Parking lot full.”
Deb Schmidt Lilly: “I drove by Derby and it was packed!”
Steve Horen: “Shelton is a mad house , cops blocking the parking lot , i got there at 9:10 and it was already packed and it was about 30 times worse when I left , cars parked everywhere around bridgeport ave near walmart.”
Jennifer Goodman: “I think I parked in orangewood haha in derby! Crazy! Lines are ridic!”
Nancie Gray: “I was at Milford it was insane especially near the $1.96 DVDs.”
Alas, the giamungo television eluded me for another year, as I woke up at about 1 a.m. with a bag of Ruffles on my chest.
Congrats to the Valley shoppers who were able to snag good deals. You are much braver than I.