My Black Friday Outerwear Hunt: A CNFans Spreadsheet Diary
November 24th, 11:47 PM - The Night Before
I can't sleep. Tomorrow is Black Friday, and I've spent the last three hours with my laptop burning my thighs, scrolling through CNFans spreadsheets like they're ancient scrolls containing the secrets to affordable winter survival. My current coat situation is dire—two years of wear have left my puffer looking more deflated than puffy, and the zipper gives up halfway through like it's personally exhausted by winter.
Here's what I've learned tonight: Black Friday for CNFans isn't like your typical mall madness. There are no doorbusters at 5 AM, no wrestling matches over discounted items. Instead, it's a quieter, more strategic game. The spreadsheets don't change much in terms of layout, but certain sellers drop prices or offer bundle deals that make the math suddenly work in your favor.
The Spreadsheet Strategy I'm Using
After four hours of research (yes, I'm that person), I've developed what I'm calling my "Three-Tier Outerwear System." It sounds fancy, but really it's just common sense wrapped in organizational anxiety.
Tier One: The Heavy Hitter
This is the serious winter coat— you look like you're prepared for an Arctic expedition to grab coffee. I've bookmarked three options in CNFans spreadsheet: a long puffer that hits mid-thigh, a wool-coat that looks suspiciously expensive for the price, and a technical jacket with moreockets than I have things to put in them.
My strategy here is to wait until exactly when some sellers refresh their pricing. I've noticed patterns from last year's threadserwear vendors drop prices by 10-15% right at the start of Black Friday weekend. It advertised loudly, you just have to know where to look in the spreadsheet columns.
Tier Two: The Versatile Middle I'm probably going to spend most of my budget—a quality fleece or lighteruffer that works for those weird November days when it's 45 degrees and you can't figure out if hot or cold. The CNFans spreadsheet has an entire section dedicated to mid-weight options, and I've color-coded my in my own tracking sheet (yes, I made a spreadsheet to track the sprea, don't judge me).Tier Three: The Layering Pieces
Hoodies, zip layers—the unsung heroes of winter dressing. These are usually the best deals on Black Friday because want to move volume. I'm targeting at least two quality hoodies an a quilted liner jacket that can slip under my heavier coat truly brutal days.
November 25th, 9:23 AM - Black Friday Morning Reality
I over much for my midnight price-check strategy. But honestly? I'm not even stresse That's the beauty of CNFans shopping—there's no artificial scarcity, no countdown timers making you panicbuy. The spreadsheet is still there, calm and organized, waiting for me to make rational decisions.
First discovery the morning: that wool-blend overcoat I wanted? The price actually went slightly. I dig into the seller's history in the community forums an known for quality but never discount. Lesson learned—not everyoneates in Black Friday, and that's okay. I remove it from my list and refocus.
After six hours of intermittent browsing (broken up by actual Black obligations), here's what ended up in my cart:
- A long black puffer coat - The oned been eyeing dropped 12% in price, and the seller threw in free domestic product photos showed detailed stitching, and the weight specifications suggeste down filling. At 950g, it should be substantial without being unwable.
- Two fleece jackets - One in navy, one in forest green. These weredled by the seller—buy two, get a small discount on shipping consolidation. The reviews indsheet comments section were consistently positive about sizing accuracy.
- A technical win an impulse add, but the price was too good. Water-resistant, packable, and itd that specific detail I love—interior pockets that actually zip. I've too many things to fake interior pockets.
- Three heavyweight hoodies - Different sellers, different. One oversized fit, one standard, one cropped (taking a risk on that one). The total for all three was less than one designer hoodie at retail and the fabric weight specs (400-480gs'd actually keep me warm.
November 25th, 7:15 PM - Post-Purchase Reflection
cart is submitted, and now comes the waiting game. Total damage? About60% of what I would've spent buying similar items domestically, even with Black at regular stores. The CNFans spreadsheet made it possible to compare across multiple, check community feedback, and make informed decisions without the pressure of limited-time offers.
What I Learned This Black for outerwear through CNFans during Black Friday requires a different mindset than traditional retail therapy. Here my honest takeaways:Patience Pays Off (But Not Always)
Some prices dropped throughout the day, others stayed static. I learned to set a maximum price I was willing to pay and stick to it. If an item didn't hit that threshold, I moved on. There's always another coat, another seller, another season.
Community Knowledge Is Everything
The comments sections in the spreadsheet, the forum threads, the Discord discussions—these are where the real deals hide. Someone always knows which seller is reliable, which measurements run small, which photos are accurate versus aspirational. I spent as much time reading reviews as I did looking at products.
Specifications Over Aesthetics
This was hard for me. I'm a visual person—I want the coat that looks cool. But I forced myself to prioritize fill weight, fabric composition, and construction details over pure aesthetics. A beautiful coat that doesn't keep you warm is just an expensive mistake. The CNFans spreadsheet provides these specs upfront, which removes some of the guesswork.
The Waiting Game Begins
Now I wait. Shipping timelines during Black Friday can extend a bit—more orders, more processing time. But I've learned from previous purchases that patience is part of the process. I'll track my orders, stay in communication with my agent, and in a few weeks, I'll have a completely refreshed outerwear collection for a fraction of retail cost.
Final Thoughts at Midnight
My Black Friday is over, but I don't feel the usual post-shopping guilt or buyer's remorse. Maybe it's because I spent hours researching, comparing, and making deliberate choices. Maybe it's because the prices were reasonable enough that I'm not panicking about my bank account. Or maybe it's because shopping through CNFans spreadsheets feels less like consumption and more like curation—building a wardrobe intentionally rather than impulsively grabbing whatever is marked down.
Tomorrow I'll probably second-guess the cropped hoodie. Next week I'll obsessively check tracking numbers. But tonight, I'm satisfied. I played the Black Friday game on my own terms, armed with spreadsheets and community knowledge, and I think I won.
Now, if only I could fall asleep this easily when I'm not shopping...