by Robin Fiedler
Kmart is promoting “Better Than Black Friday” sales every Friday leading up to the big Friday after Thanksgiving, calling it “Blue Friday.” Kmart renamed Black Friday to fit its Blue Light special tradition, which will happen at various times during the day on Black Friday. 
Two unique deals are that Kmart now accepts PayPal and offers unemployed shoppers 20% discounts off Kmart own-brand grocery and drugstore items. Layaway online or in-store for up to 8 weeks has been resurrected and, there’s free shipping for toy orders over $49 and other orders over $29.
The official Kmart’s Black Friday ad has not been released, but shoppers can see current sales ads and circulars at Kmart: Weekly Circulars. Kmart is one of the few retailers open Thanksgiving Day from 7am to 9pm.
Throughout the month of December, Kmart has a “Christmas Countdown” contest. Entering the contest seems a bit complicated, or at least cumbersome. The official description goes like this:
“ENTER THE $50,000 DRAWING: Submit up to 10 Christmas Codes a day for sweepstakes entries! Find Christmas Codes*:
- On every receipt your 19-digit receipt number is your code, plus in-store radio and signs
- In weekly circulars
• Emails from Kmart
COLLECT & WIN: Everyday you play, you’ll get a Collect & Win game piece. Fill up an entire week on the Countdown Calendar to win a $100 gift card from Kmart or Disney!”
In its Nov. 3, 2009 press release “Kmart Makes Holiday Shopping Easier, More Convenient and More Affordable for Customers,” Kmart offers a general statement about “Better than Black Friday” doorbusters and lists four specific deals for Fridays in November deals.
“…Kmart has great “Better than Black Friday” doorbusters now! From great prices and selection on toys, like Kmart’s Fab 15 toys, video games and electronics - Kmart is the kids headquarters this year.
“Better than Black Friday” doorbusters include a wide range of products from home electronics and the latest fashions, to home appliances and tools. A sample of Kmart’s “Better than Black Friday” doorbusters include (while supplies last):
- $15 Protégé Boys Basketball Shoes
- 50 percent off Little Letters Learning Laptop
- $6.99 Men’s Basic Editions Jeans
- 25 to 33 percent off General Electric Trees”
From an online perspective, I take issue with the convenience. The Kmart website has so much going on with so many different deals, discounts, sales and qualifying requirements that it’s overwhelming. The worst issue was that its search website tool didn’t work, and I tried on several different days. That frustration led to being forced to browse its website to find product information through a maze of compartmental divisions.
Shopping online is supposed to be convenient, not like a fantasy adventure video game with maps, clues, and levels to master so that I can free the princess from her boxed retail prison.
Resources
“Kmart Makes Holiday Shopping Easier, More Convenient and More Affordable for Customers.” Kmart 3 Nov. 2009. http://www.searsholdings.com/pubrel/kmart/11032009.pdf
COUPON TIME
Our Black Friday deals page helps you find your way to the best sales ever! And you don’t have to wait for the newspaper to find these sales.