Hamilton's Black Friday shopping survival guide

It's Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and many Hamiltonians are out already looking for a deal either in the city or across the border.

Wherever you're shopping, here's some facts about the big day.

Who you're up against

A Bank of Montreal report released this week suggests 47 per cent of Canadians will go shopping for Black Friday deals.

Many Canadians head across the border to the U.S. to take advantage of Black Friday offers. This year, more Canadian stores are offering sales.

But it's undeniable, this is a day America does best. Last year in the U.S. more than 89 million people went shopping on Black Friday, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). That's a staggering number, even when you factor in the millions who skipped the stores in favour of online shopping.

Other interesting stats from the NRF survey?

• Total spending reached an estimated $59 Billion.
• Over the course of the entire U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, a record 247 million went shopping at stores and online.
• And people didn't just buy Christmas gifts. The survey found 8 of 10 reported searching for deals on normal household items or "self gifts."

Canadian malls going black

Lime Ridge, on the Mountain, opened at 7 a.m. on Black Friday for what it called a "shopping event."

Nicole Young, of mall-operator Cadillac-Fairview, said all the stores will be open early and the "majority" will have major deals — from 50 per cent off to door-crasher specials. As a bonus the first 100 shoppers will get a $10 gift card to use at the mall.

Get the deal you came for

There are deals. But there's other stuff in the store, too. The La Senza in Jackson Square has had Black Friday deals on since Wednesday. Lynda Dupuis said some people come in to look at the discounted products, but leave with something else entirely. 

The allure of Black Friday is a powerful thing, Dupuis said. Her store has been doing special sales on the day since an American company took ownership of La Senza a few years ago. 

Dupuis said while she doesn't go shopping herself — she's too busy working retail — the idea is interesting to her. "It would be kind of fun to experience," she said. 

Survive.... seriously

A record number of shoppers went shopping on Black Friday last year.

Black Friday has a somewhat dark history, highlighted by the trampling death of a Wal-Mart employee in 2008. A quick scan of YouTube will give you a sense of the crowds and the conflicts that can break out over everything from coveted parking spots to discounted X-Boxes.

Now is probably a good time to remind you it's not worth getting hurt for a $10 slow-cooker.

Can you get there from here?

If you really, really feel the need to head across for the experience, you won't be alone. The website ezbordercrossing.com says 7 million Canadians cross into the U.S to shop over the U.S Thanksgiving weekend.

It's main advice is be prepared for the border crossing:  Generally speaking, wait times are lower in the morning and build. Don't mix your border crossing with regular commuter flows, and understand the rules of crossing- both ways.

Before you hit a two hour line up, make sure you have a lot of gas and you've visited a restroom recently. And it notes that waits of two hours or more will happen at times during the week.

One thing to note: The Leafs play in Buffalo Friday night and that will add to congestion at the Peace Bridge.

 You can check out a full range of border tips along with updated information about crossing wait times at the website 

Maybe just skip it

Katie Jension tweeted her top Black Friday shopping tip to CBC Hamilton. "Meditate on everything you already have. No returns or exchanges needed," she wrote.

Yes, it is possible to skip Black Friday. Especially when you know companies will be putting everything on sale again on Boxing Day.

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