Home Depot Ad

[chopnhack]

The BORG ad may or may not be available early this year! It will depend on the courage of some websites to test the giant:

http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/ho...friday-ad.html

[unknown poster]

I probably won't visit HD for BF this year if they want to act like this. I don't think I went there last year so this isn't a big deal.

[eezlock]

home despot ad

I have never been to a black Friday sale at home despot and don't plan to either. After the way they have treated me and my account with them....
I would not care if they closed their doors! I do all my home improvement
shopping with Lowe's from now on!

[dbhost]

I have been less and less impressed with Home Depot over the last several years, and this just pushes that button a little harder than I like... If it weren't for the fact that they are the SOLE retailer of Ryobi and Ridgid here in the U.S. I would go strictly with Lowes...

[Bruce Cohen]

hey,

I once worked there, you think I'd go there voluntarily.

Bruce

[LinuxRandal]

hey,

I once worked there, you think I'd go there voluntarily.

Bruce

So were you the only one scheduled whatever day you worked, or did you learn to hide?

[cabinetman]

I can think of many reasons to avoid both HD and Lowes. I'm not of mind to stand in line to get a rain check. Some deals could be pretty good. As for the ads, that's what they do.
.

[woodturner]

I would not care if they closed their doors! I do all my home improvement shopping with Lowe's from now on!

I much prefer HD, due to the lower pricing, better quality products, and better customer care. However, based on discussions with others, it appears these issues vary a lot by the particular store location, and in some areas it appears Lowes may be doing a better job.

I find many of Lowes practices, such as repricing lumber daily, to be borderline unethical. In addition, their advertising focus is to women. Nothing wrong with that, I just prefer not to shop at a store that caters to only one gender of customer.

Regarding the ad, the ads that are posted on Black Friday sites are all stolen and posted illegally. Generally they come from employees of printing houses who, in spite of having signed a confidentiality agreement, steal the ads. In the past, many stores have opted not to aggressively enforce the legal restrictions, though Lowes, Sears, Walmart, and ToysRUs are among the ones that have enforce their copyrights in the past. Most stores appear to have decided to enforce the law this year, and that is a good thing for the consumer.

If an ad is posted early, it causes HUGE losses for the store. Often their vendor agreements are based on confidentiality, and there have been cases where vendors refused to source product because of leaked ads. In the "bigger picture", it costs us, the consumer, money.

[Cochese]

Some of the 'leaks' aren't actually leaks at all. It benefits the stores to have your customers be able to plan to be there, agreements with the manufacturers or not. I like what Lowe's is doing with a preview this Friday. You get your ad out early, more people are going to show up...especially if there are deals to be had.

I view Black Friday embargoes just like I do screening embargoes - usually, the ones who are most apt to prevent people from seeing what's out there have the least reason for you to give them your money.

[unknown poster]

I think it benefits consumers to have the ads in advance so that they can compare deals between stores and find the best deals. It seems to me that HD doesnt want to participate in black Friday this year. This is probably because thier deals are once again mediocre and they don't want to get crossed off shopper's lists of where to go on BF.

[woodturner]

It seems to me that HD doesnt want to participate in black Friday this year.

I would think they want to keep their ads secret so to increase participation in BF. HD usually has had great BF deals in the past - no one else has offered a $100 shopvac for $20, for example - and I assume they will have good deals this year as well.

If the ads are kept secret, consumers have to wait until thanksgiving to see the ads and plan their shopping trips. That limits the ability to create shopping cartels and other "cheats" that put the individual customer at a disadvantage.

[Cochese]

I would think they want to keep their ads secret so to increase participation in BF. HD usually has had great BF deals in the past - no one else has offered a $100 shopvac for $20, for example - and I assume they will have good deals this year as well.

If the ads are kept secret, consumers have to wait until thanksgiving to see the ads and plan their shopping trips. That limits the ability to create shopping cartels and other "cheats" that put the individual customer at a disadvantage.

Putting an embargo does the exact opposite. Having the information available out so you can plan where you are going to go early gives the consumer the power.

[woodturner]

Putting an embargo does the exact opposite. Having the information available out so you can plan where you are going to go early gives the consumer the power.

One would expect that to be the case, but the studies say otherwise. Companies like HD follow the recommendations of their marketing people, who rely on those who study and research marketing to figure these things out.

I'm always amazed at how well they can predict the behavior of consumers. If HD is successful in keeping their ad secret, they can expect a 4% to 9% increase in sales - and the increase in their sales is taking away sales from their competitors, so for HD it is a win-win.

[Cubsfan]

I think one of the big reasons is so they can't be undercut. If their ad shows up now, then lowes can easily match/beat all of their deals in their ad.

[LCHIEN]

I think one of the big reasons is so they can't be undercut. If their ad shows up now, then lowes can easily match/beat all of their deals in their ad.

that's a good point.
The ads do come out at least the day before so you can still do your planning.