2017 Black Friday Freebies A Comprehensive Guide To Instore Offers And Giveaways

Introduction

The 2017 Black Friday period generated a wide range of promotional giveaways that allowed shoppers to acquire items or discounts without any purchase. Sources compiled for that year present a detailed list of in‑store freebies, early‑bird door prizes, and promotional contests. While many of the specific deals have since expired, the documentation offers a clear picture of the kinds of offers that retailers used to attract foot traffic during the holiday shopping weekend. By reviewing the recorded offers, consumers can understand the structure, eligibility requirements, and timing of Black Friday freebies, even though the deals themselves are no longer active. The information presented below is drawn exclusively from the four reference collections for Black Friday 2017. No additional facts or external assumptions are included.

Overview of Black Friday Freebie Types

Black Friday freebies typically fell into several recognizable categories, each with distinct rules and redemption methods. The 2017 data highlight these categories:

• Gift‑card giveaways – Retailers offered gift cards of varying values to the first customers in line, often on a specific day of the week. The value could be fixed or a randomized amount, such as a $5 to $1,000 range.
• Scratch‑card or instant‑win cards – Some stores provided scratch cards to the first group of shoppers, with undisclosed values ranging from $15 up to $250.
• Door‑prize draws – Certain locations gave a small prize or entry into a larger drawing to early‑arriving customers, sometimes combined with a guaranteed gift card.
• Purchase‑required freebies – Some free items were contingent on a transaction, such as a $10 coupon with a purchase or a free pet accessory with a minimum spend.
• Food‑related offers – Retailers and restaurants provided complimentary beverages or meals, sometimes limited to children with a qualifying adult purchase.
• Pet‑oriented giveaways – Pet stores offered accessories for cats or dogs, typically with a purchase.
• Toy or plush giveaways – A limited quantity of plush toys was handed out to the first shoppers on the specified day.
• Sweepstakes and promotions – Retailers ran contests or instant‑win games that offered larger prizes, such as a trip for two.

Each of these categories appears in the source documentation, allowing a precise reconstruction of the 2017 Black Friday free‑offer landscape.

Gift‑Card Giveaways

Belk

Belk provided a gift‑card giveaway on Thursday, with a range of values from $5 to $1,000. The promotion was available while quantities lasted and did not require a purchase (Source 2). Additionally, the first 150 customers at Belk were eligible for a scratch‑off card valued between $15 and $250 (Source 3). The scratch‑off offer required shoppers to be among the first 150 in line.

Bon‑Ton

Bon‑Ton offered a gift card valued between $5 and $500 to the first 200 customers on Thursday (Source 2). No purchase was necessary to receive the card; it was distributed on a first‑come basis.

Boston Store

Boston Store’s free‑gift‑card promotion mirrored Bon‑Ton’s structure: the first 200 customers on Thursday received a gift card ranging from $5 to $500 (Source 2). The offer was available while supplies lasted.

Field & Stream

Field & Stream provided a gift card to the first 150 adults in line on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. Recipients also received an entry into a drawing for a $500 gift card, with drawings held live at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Black Friday (Source 3 and Source 4). This combination of an immediate card and a chance at a larger prize distinguished the offer from simple door‑prize gifts.

Fred Meyer

Fred Meyer offered a free gift card to the first 100 customers. The store opened at 5 a.m. on Friday (Source 2). The promotion targeted early shoppers and required no purchase.

Door‑Prize and Early‑Bird Offers

Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops handed out a free Santa or Snowman spinner and prize to the first 200 customers in line on Saturday and Sunday (Source 2). The item was a small themed toy and served as a goodwill gesture for those arriving early.

Cabela’s

Cabela’s provided a free prize to the first 600 customers (Source 2). The nature of the prize was not specified in the documentation, but the limited quantity indicates an early‑bird incentive.

Goody’s

Goody’s offered a $10 coupon called “Giftspiration” to the first 75 customers (Source 2). In addition, two randomly selected customers among this group received a larger gift card—either $250 or $50 (Source 2). The coupon required no purchase for issuance.

Purchase‑Required Freebies

New York & Company

On the Wednesday before Black Friday, New York & Company advertised a mystery gift card worth up to $100 for the first 100 customers. Stores opened at 10 a.m., and shoppers needed to sign up for email notifications to be alerted when the deal would be revealed on Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Source 1). The gift card was a purchase‑based incentive because the promotion targeted early‑morning shoppers who might purchase clothing.

Petco

Petco offered free cat or dog antlers with every purchase on Friday and Saturday (Source 3 and Source 4). The accessory was limited to pet owners making a transaction, and the promotion sought to drive additional sales during the weekend.

Shoe Carnival

Shoe Carnival gave the first 100 shoppers a $10 amount that could be spent on any item in the store. The store opened at 6 a.m. on Black Friday (Source 3). The $10 amount functioned as a store credit rather than a physical gift card.

Food‑Related Offers

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble provided a free coffee to shoppers before 10 a.m. on Black Friday. No purchase was required (Source 3 and Source 4). This offer served as a warm welcome for early arrivals.

TooJay’s

TooJay’s allowed children age 12 and younger to dine for free when accompanied by an adult purchasing an entrée, on Friday through Sunday. A coupon from the restaurant’s website was required, and each adult entrée allowed one free child’s meal (Source 3). The promotion encouraged family dining during the holiday weekend.

Pet‑Oriented and Plush Giveaways

Mill’s Fleet Farm

Mill’s Fleet Farm distributed a free plush owl to the first 500 customers on Friday morning. Stores opened at 6 a.m. (Source 1, Source 3, and Source 4). The plush item was a limited‑quantity gift intended to attract early shoppers.

Field & Stream

In addition to the gift‑card and drawing entry described earlier, Field & Stream also listed a door‑prize gift card for the first 150 customers on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, as noted in the Fortune article (Source 4). The combined offer of a card and entry into a larger drawing was highlighted in both sources.

Sweepstakes and Promotional Contests

Cost Plus World Market

World Market (Cost Plus) ran an instant‑win game called the “Peru Sweepstakes” from November 21 to November 22. The first 100 customers each day received an instant‑win game piece, offering a chance to win one of three trips for two to Peru (Source 1). The promotion required in‑store participation and did not involve a purchase.

AAFES Exchange

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) featured a Black Friday sweepstakes on the ActuallyFree.com listing, though detailed terms were not provided in the source excerpt (Source 1). The sweepstake likely offered a prize pool to exchange patrons.

Newegg

Newegg promoted free‑after‑rebate items during the Black Friday week, such as a gaming mouse priced at $15 with a $15 mail‑in rebate. While this is not a pure freebie, it effectively resulted in a net‑zero cost after the rebate was submitted (Source 1). Additional free‑after‑rebate deals were anticipated but not fully enumerated.

How Retailers Structured Early‑Arrival Incentives

A common thread across many offers was the reliance on first‑come, first‑served distribution, often tied to a specific store opening time or day of the week. For example:

• Belk and Bon‑Ton limited gift‑card giveaways to the first 150–200 customers on Thursday (Source 2 and Source 3).
• Fred Meyer opened at 5 a.m., and the first 100 customers received a gift card (Source 2).
• Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s set a cap of 200 and 600 customers respectively on Saturday and Sunday (Source 2).
• Mill’s Fleet Farm opened at 6 a.m. and limited the plush owl to the first 500 customers (Source 1, Source 3).

These time‑bound mechanisms encouraged shoppers to plan early arrivals, sometimes braving cold weather and crowds to secure a free item.

Purchase‑Based Freebies and Coupon Requirements

Some freebies required a transaction or the use of a coupon:

• New York & Company’s mystery gift card was tied to email sign‑up and early‑morning store arrival (Source 1).
• Petco’s antlers were handed out with every purchase on Friday and Saturday (Source 3).
• TooJay’s child‑meal offer required a coupon downloaded from the website and an accompanying adult entrée purchase (Source 3).
• Shoe Carnival’s $10 amount was given to the first 100 shoppers and could be spent in‑store (Source 3).

These conditions helped retailers ensure that free offers were tied to at least a minimal level of consumer spending.

Expiration and Availability of Offers

The documentation repeatedly notes that many of the listed deals have expired (Source 1). For instance, the ActuallyFree.com page states that many of the deals on its list have expired and links have been removed, though the page remains for reference. As the Black Friday 2017 promotions were time‑sensitive, shoppers would have needed to act within the specified window—typically Thursday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week—to claim the freebies.

Consumer Strategies Based on Source‑Confirmed Information

While the source data does not provide explicit consumer advice, the factual details reveal practical steps shoppers could have taken to maximize freebies:

1. Arrive Early – All early‑bird offers were contingent on being among the first N customers. Stores opened as early as 5 a.m., so early arrival increased the likelihood of receiving a free item.
2. Confirm Store Hours – Offers were tied to specific opening times; for example, Fred Meyer opened at 5 a.m. (Source 2) and Mill’s Fleet Farm opened at 6 a.m. (Source 1).
3. Check Day‑Specific Availability – Many promotions were limited to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday; knowing the day of the offer prevented missed opportunities.
4. Prepare Required Coupons – For offers like TooJay’s child‑meal promotion, a printable coupon from the restaurant’s website was mandatory (Source 3). Having the coupon ready saved time at the point of sale.
5. Understand Purchase Requirements – Free items such as Petco’s antlers required a transaction; shoppers needed to plan a purchase to qualify.
6. Keep Track of Entry Opportunities – Some promotions, such as Field & Stream’s entry into a $500 gift‑card drawing, were time‑specific; being present at the drawing times (e.g., 8 p.m. Thanksgiving, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Black Friday) was essential (Source 3 and Source 4).

These steps derive directly from the recorded conditions of each offer, allowing consumers to infer effective strategies without adding speculative guidance.

Limitations and Unavailable Details

The source data does not specify exact quantities for some gifts (e.g., the nature of Cabela’s free prize) or full terms for the AAFES sweepstake. Additionally, the list of free‑after‑rebate items from Newegg was partially described, with a gaming mouse noted but other items anticipated (Source 1). Because the documentation is limited, certain details remain incomplete, and no assumptions beyond the provided facts have been made.

Conclusion

The 2017 Black Friday free‑offer landscape was characterized by a mix of gift‑card giveaways, scratch‑card promotions, early‑bird door prizes, purchase‑required freebies, food‑related offers, and contests. Retailers leveraged early‑arrival incentives, limited quantities, and specific day‑of‑week windows to drive store traffic. Although the deals themselves are now expired, the documented examples illustrate the structural elements that define such promotional offers: clear eligibility criteria (e.g., first N customers, specific store opening times), optional purchase requirements, and redemption mechanics such as coupons or instant‑win games. Consumers interested in future Black Friday freebies can use the patterns observed in 2017—early arrival, verification of store hours, preparedness for coupons, and awareness of purchase conditions—to increase their chances of securing free items during subsequent holiday shopping events.

Sources

1. ActuallyFree.com – Black Friday Freebies 2017
2. MyDollarPlan – Black Friday 2017 Free Stuff
3. Inquisitr – Black Friday 2017 Best Freebies: Where to Find Top Free Stuff
4. Fortune – Black Friday 2017 Freebies