We don’t normally cover Black Friday sales, because there are just so many of them, and every consumer out there has different shopping priorities.
But our friends at Mile High on the Cheap (check them out when you visit Denver or Boulder!) told us about this one, and it seemed like it’s worth sharing.
On Thanksgiving Day (or early Black Friday) you can shop at Macy’s and get more than a dozen “Doorbuster” items for FREE. What’s the catch? The items are only available in-store and you must mail in a rebate form or forms to be refunded your purchase amount.
Laura at Mile High on the Cheap did this last year and this is what she says:
Macy’s stores open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving and stay open through 2 a.m. on Friday, before re-opening at 6 a.m. You don’t have to be the first person in the door, but the earlier you can go, the greater the chance all the “free” items will still be available. You MUST complete your purchases by 1 p.m. on Friday, because after 1 p.m. the discount prices go up.
Each item must be picked up in its designated department. That means, you’ll find watches or earrings in fine jewelry, household appliances in cookware, pillows in bedding and so on. Some items are on display, others are behind the counter and you must ask a sales rep to get it for you (think anything in jewelry).
All of these Doorbuster items are heavily discounted by up to 50% off regular retail, so you are shelling out less money upfront, while you wait several weeks for your rebate money.
Here’s how it works:
You can only purchase one of each rebate item. When you pay for each item at the register, you’ll receive a rebate form. (Make sure you get it!) Then, when you get home you have to fill out the form, attach the original receipt(s) and mail it to a designated address. Depending on what you buy, you may have to send each form to a different address.
If you jump through all these hoops, in about 6 to 8 weeks you’ll receive VISA gift cards for the amount of your purchase (not including sales tax). Essentially you are getting the items for free, with the exception of sales tax.
You can see images of the items by going to the Macy’s Black Friday website under Free In-Store Offers (scroll all the way to the bottom). We’ve also pasted a screenshot from the website below, all the way at the bottom of this post.
Here are the FREE (after Mail-in Rebate) items for 2019:
- Bella 1.5 quart slow cooker — $10 (reg. $29.99)
- Select men’s Levi’s t-shirts — $10 (reg. $24.50)
- Rihanna Reb’l Fleur 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum — $10 (reg. $20, a $40 value)
- Select freshwater pearl studs or ruby pendant — $10 (reg. $30)
- Select men’s and women’s fashion watches — $20 (reg. $40)
- Isaac Mizrahi Loves Sesame Street plush — $10 (reg. $30)
- Select plush throws — $10 (reg. $30)
- Select Stearns & Foster pillows — $10 (reg. $40)
- Select Mohawk bath rugs — $10 (reg. $40)
- Select Luminarc 4-piece glassware sets — $10 (reg. $25)
- Select Sedona 2-piece frying pan set — $10 (reg. $49.99)
- Select men’s Club Room t-shirts — $10 (reg. $30)
- Select women’s casual styles — $10 (reg. $19.99 to $34.50)
Macy’s will also carry a variety of small kitchen appliances that you can buy for $19.99 and receive a $12 mail-in rebate, making your purchase price $7.99 each.
Of course, like all the department stores, Macy’s will have a ton of Doorbusters and special deals throughout Black Friday, but we think the FREE after-rebate is worth sharing. Good luck!
Here’s the fine print from the Macy’s website:
In-store only. Rebate is a mail-in offer; allow 6-8 weeks for mailing; in CT and RI, and in Dade and Broward Counties, FL, rebate is given at the register. Regular Sales Tax will apply. Limited quantities. Offers valid in the continental U.S. only.
You’ll find Macy’s at many Atlanta area malls — we’re not going to list them all, because you know where they are!
