Stalking the doorbuster: Your plan for bagging the Black Friday deal

If you've been reading these Black Friday blog posts on Productopia, you know that we don't think too highly of Black Friday deals in general. You just need to pick through the circulars so carefully to find the real values. Stores tend to reserve their best prices for their "doorbuster" deals, and the most tempting of those are often subject to additional restrictions, like very limited availability -- sometimes only four or five units per store. So if you have your heart set on one of those limited availability doorbusters, how can you increase your chances of snagging one?

Let's use a Kenmore washer/dryer pair from Sears as our example. When Sears stores open at 4:00 a.m. Black Friday, you'll be able to pick up the Kenmore 40272 front-loading washer and/or Kenmore 80272 electric dryer for $469.99 each. Right now, both models go for $752.79 each on the Sears website. There aren't any user reviews for these appliances, but the washer was chosen as a Best Buy by one pretty famous product review magazine (we think you know which one).

Behold: Your step-by-step game plan for snatching a Black Friday doorbuster.

• Note ALL the fine print. Scrutinize that store circular like it's the Rosetta Stone. For the Sears washer/dryer in question, stores open at 4:00 a.m. The tiny print says that there are just six models available at each store. The price goes up to $499 each after 1:00 p.m., but that's only if there are any of them left.

• Check out the product BEFORE Black Friday. On Black Friday itself, you'll be sleep deprived and weary from waiting in line, not exactly the best time to make a sound product decision. So head to the store a day or two ahead of time. Check out the product thoroughly and talk to the salesperson. Make sure this is an item you actually want. Read reviews online if there are any available. And don't forget to check out similar products -- are there competitive models that might be better overall, even if they cost a bit more?

• Scope out the store. Before Black Friday, find out where the model is in the store. When they store opens, you'll be able to make a beeline for that product rather than wandering around looking for the right department.

• Chat up the salespeople. Find out whatever you can that could give you an edge. Chat with the salesperson and see if you can't meet who will be working in that department on the day of the sale. Find out where in the department the product will be. Ask if there have been many other people in the store checking out the same model, which could give you an idea how much competition you're going to have.

• Pick your line time. If you want to land a doorbuster, you're going to have to wait. Picking a time to start standing in line is the toughest part. Try talking to store employees; try to find out what time people starting lining up last year. At some stores, you'll find the line started four or five hours before the store's opening in prior years, but at other locations, it might be just two hours.

• Execute the plan. When the store opens, make tracks for the item you want. Score! Or not....

• Find other store locations. Before Black Friday, map out other store locations. So if you miss snagging the doorbuster, hightail it to another store. You might get lucky.

• Don't sweat it if it doesn't pan out. Those doorbuster deals end in disappointment for most people; six models just isn't a lot of inventory for one store. And for many items, the circulars don't even give a specific number, saying only "while supplies last" or "limited quanitities" or "limited to in-store stock." With that type of fine print, you're really flying blind. But if you miss the deal, check next week's circulars. Last year, we saw similar doorbuster deals offered on subsequent days and weekends leading up to Christmas.