Black Friday deals start Christmas shopping off with a bang
Black Friday deals start Christmas shopping off with a bang - Department stores were buzzing this morning in Houston for Black Friday as shoppers looking to capitalize on sales and longer hours. Numerous stores, including Target, opened their doors earlier on Black Friday to woo more shoppers to their doors during the sluggish economy.
According to the Associated Press, a record number of people – an estimated 152 million people — nationwide are expected to take advantage of Black Friday deals that has become the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.
“It’s the literal, physical and emotional start to a very big period for us,” said Mike Vitelli, Best Buy’s president.
For Tito Melendez, Black Friday shopping has just become a family tradition.
Melendez and his aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers and his fiancée – 17 people in total – were camping outside of a Best Buy in The Woodlands.
Melendez, who admits his sanity is barely hanging by a thread, had been sleeping in a tent pitched on cold concrete since Wednesday morning.
“We’ve been doing it for seven years,” Melendez said. “It’s a tradition. All the kids save their money throughout the year so they can get their own gadgets.”
And he wasn’t the only one.
Further down the line, perched in lawn chairs, are Gina Torres and Courtney Ladd. The friends arrived earlier in the afternoon. “Those people are crazy,” Torres said of the folks who have been camping out all night.
“Our plan is to divide and conquer,” Torres said. “We’ll just see what we can get. We’re not gonna stress about it.”
Stores have used all their gimmicks to lure customers to stores early on Friday morning for deals. As The Associated Press reported, some stores began offering to match the prices of competitors and rolling out layaway programs. Others like Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Target and Kohl’s opened at midnight.
The Gap and Toys R Us even opened stores on Thanksgiving, and there were plenty of shoppers waiting for those doors to open.
In The Woodlands, a line at least as long as a football field has formed outside Toys R Us on Friday.
Paula Dise proudly waved her golden ticket, which is actually a white piece of paper that says she will soon be the owner of a Slyvania Android Tablet, on sale for half price at $74.99.
Chris and Jennifer Brown already had a full cart as they waited in line. Nestled inside, their 2-year-old daughter Emma, clad in snuggly pajamas. Chris and Jennifer are revved up for just one thing, a Barbie Mustang, on sale for $199 instead of the usual $350.
But others had lists much longer than one item.
Cindy Luna has a long wish list. On it, a swing set, scooter, Pokemon cards and Legos.
“I’m very worried they’re going to run out of stuff by the time I get to the door,” Luna said.
They didn’t, and Luna got everything she wanted, spending $600 but saving $200.
Only a handful of shoppers strolled calmly through the Kohl’s in Missouri City at 6 a.m. This year, Kohl’s jumped on the midnight-opening bandwagon and had almost 300 people at the door before opening, an employee said.
But at 6 a.m., the store was curiously quiet.
“It’s the lull in between the storm,” said store manager Janet Yanko, who said the midnight checkout lines spanned the entire length of the store.
Tia Benson, who tag-teamed with daughter Chloe, said she was hoping to stock up on Christmas gifts and a few items she’d been holding out on for the past couple weeks. Benson said this year a higher income will allow her to spend more on Black Friday sales, evident by the contrast of her full shopping cart to her meager 5 item list.
“Ya, I found a few more items than I was looking for,” she said with a guilty smile on her face, “but it’s worth it.”
Veteran Black Friday shopper Jacob Skariea was confused and worried as he walked into the subdued store at 6 a.m., his after Thanksgiving routine for the past 5 years.
“The crowd was really small so I thought maybe the sale was not happening,” he said. His fears soon abated as he reached the kitchen appliance aisle, where all 10 items he had been hoping for, awaited him with discounted prices. “I like it better this way,” he said, “no crowds, no long lines.”
At the Outlets at Conroe, it was a different story.
Joshua Reece and his wife Elizabeth wait to get into Carter’s, a children’s clothing store. “Let the spending begin,” Joshua said.
The couple scooped up 22 outfits for their 10-month-old son and 2-year-old daughter. The total came to $897.15, but with Black Friday savings and frequent-shopper discounts, the Reece’s only paid $199.01. That’s a savings of $698.15.
Back in The Woodlands at Macy’s, C.J. Hovanec made her midnight purchase – a triple slow cooker buffet server for $19.99. She saved $50.
“You want one? They have more in there,” Hovanec said. “Hey, look at that lady. She has, like, 19 microwaves.”
That lady did indeed have 19 microwaves – and a vacuum cleaner.
“I’m going to put this in the car,” said Hovanec, pointing to her slow cooker. “And then I’m going back in. People are pushing and shoving in there, but you just hold your breath and go for it.”
Back at Best Buy, the wait is finally over for Melendez. He and his fiancée Wendy Coreas got their TV’s, printers and laptops.
“This,” said Melendez, high-fiving Coreas, “has been totally worth it.”
via: chron
