Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Business

Crowds of Shoppers Rush Into Retailers Nationwide as Black Friday 2012 Begins

Nov. 23, 2012 7:37am Christopher Santarelli

Scene from Walmart this Black Friday Morning 2012 (Matthew Staver/Bloomberg Via Getty)

(AP) This year’s Black Friday shoppers were split into two distinct groups: those who wanted to fall into a turkey-induced slumber and those who’d rather shop instead.

Stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving that’s named Black Friday because it’s traditionally when retailers turn a profit for the year. But after testing how shoppers would respond to earlier hours last year, stores such as Target and Toys R Us this year opened as early as Thanksgiving evening. That led shoppers on a mission to find the best Black Friday deals to ask a difficult question: Deal with the crowds now or later?

About 11,000 shoppers were in lines wrapped around Macy’s flagship store in New York City’s Herald Square when it opened at midnight on Black Friday. Joan Riedewald, a private aide for the elderly, and her four children ages six to 18, where among them. By the time they showed up at the department store, Riedewalde had already spent about $100 at Toys R Us, which opened at 8 p.m., and planned to spend another $500 at Macy’s before heading to Old Navy.

“I only shop for sales,” she said.

Image from Instagram user dgtllyf from Lake Oswego, OR “long lines before doors open at midnight #kohls #blackfriday”

A few hours later at about 3:30 a.m. at a nearby Toys R Us in New York’s Times Square, the scene was a bit calmer. Elizabeth Garcia, 17, a sales rep from the city’s Bronx borough, was shopping for toys for her three children ages three, five and seven. She said she specifically decided on the later shopping start to avoid the crowds on Thanksgiving. She believes that was the best decision: Last year, she almost got into a fight over a Tinker Bell couch. But this year was much calmer.

“This year I wasn’t about to kill people,” Garcia said.

“Midnight. Black Friday Begins! @ Best Buy ” ( @aberland /Twitter)

It is unclear how many shoppers were drawn to the earlier openings versus the traditional Black Friday hours. But according to an International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs survey of 1,000 consumers conducted this month, about 17 percent planned to shop at stores that opened on Thanksgiving, up from 16 percent last year when retailers were testing the earlier hours. Meanwhile, 33 percent intended to shop on Black Friday, down one percentage point from last year. Overall, it’s estimated that sales on Black Friday will be up 3.8 percent to $11.4 billion this year.

The earlier hours are an effort by stores to make shopping as convenient as possible for Americans, who they fear won’t spend freely during the two-month holiday season in November and December because of economic uncertainty. Many shoppers are worried about high unemployment and a package of tax increases and spending cuts known as the “fiscal cliff” that will take effect in January unless Congress passes a budget deal by then. At the same time, Americans have grown more comfortable shopping on websites that offer cheap prices and the convenience of being able to buy something from smartphones, laptops and tablet computers from just about anywhere.

Tweeted by CNBC Contributor Stacey Widlitz 9pm Thursday “150 people in line at $BBY. Everyone thinks getting the $180 40′ inch. Limited quantities people” (Twitter/ @StaceyRetail )

That’s put added pressure on brick-and-mortar stores, which can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue during the holiday shopping season, to give consumers a compelling reason to leave their homes. That’s becoming more difficult: the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, estimates that overall sales in November and December will rise 4.1 percent this year to $586.1 billion, or about flat with last year’s growth. But the online part of that is expected to rise 15 percent to $68.4 billion, according to Forrester Research.

As a result, brick-and-mortar retailers have been trying everything they can to lure consumers into stores. Some stores tested the earlier hours last year, but this year more retailers opened their doors late on Thanksgiving or at midnight on Black Friday. In addition to expanding their hours, many also are offering free layaways and shipping, matching the cheaper prices of online rivals and updating their mobile shopping apps with more information.

Tweeted by Dallas Morning News Retail Reporter Maria Halkias “Walmart in Dallas at 10:25 pm (Twitter/ @MariaHalkias )

“Every retailer wants to beat everyone else,” said C. Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, a research firm based in Charleston, S.C. “Shoppers love it.”

Indeed, some holiday shoppers seemed to find stores’ earlier hours appealing. “I ate my turkey dinner and came right here,” said Rasheed Ali, a 23-year-old student in New York City who bought a 50-inch Westinghouse TV for $349 and a Singer sewing machine for $50 at a Target in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood that opened at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. “Then I’m going home and eating more.”

Carey Maguire, 33, and her sister Caitlyn Maguire, 21, showed up at the same Target about two hours before it opened. Their goal was to buy several Nook tablet computers, which were on sale for $49. But while waiting in line they were also using their iPhone to do some online buying at rival stores.

“If you’re going to spend, I want to make it worth it,” said Caitlyn Maguire, a college student.

By the afternoon on Thanksgiving, there were 11 shoppers in a four-tent encampment outside a Best Buy store near Ann Arbor, Mich., that opened at midnight. The purpose of their wait? A $179 40-inch Toshiba LCD television is worth missing Thanksgiving dinner at home.

Jackie Berg, 26, of Ann Arbor, arrived first with her stepson and a friend Wednesday afternoon, seeking three of the televisions. The deal makes the TVs $240 less than their normal price, so Berg says that she’ll save more than $700.

“We’ll miss the actual being there with family, but we’ll have the rest of the weekend for that,” she said.

Video discovered on Youtube by BusinessInsider of hecklers launching verbal attacks at Best Buy consumers as the store opens on Black Friday in Oceanside,CA:

UPDATE 10:15 a.m. CBS News reports crowds this year have been a bit more calm than in years past:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (43)

Southernsoul
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 2:51pm
wow, who would ever think that a population tight on extra cash to spend would rush out to buy deeply price reduced things? Missed that one.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RightWingLeftyGolfer
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:33am
You racist, capitalist Pigs, you can’t say “Black Friday” any longer. It is decreeded that is “Friday of Color”.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Abigail Adams
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 7:26pm
It’s easy to judge something you’ve never participated in.
I’ve done Black Friday for 12 years. I don’t use credit cards. I research ahead of time to make sure the items on my list are truly a good deal and not some cheap piece of crap that is going to fall apart quickly and disappoint whomever receives it.
I’ve never, ever experienced anything like they show on the news. Instead, I spend my time waiting and chatting with mostly good-natured strangers.
That being said, I almost didn’t go to the earlier hours this year. I felt that it would fill the malls with people too lazy to do the work of getting up super early and strategize for deals.
Unfortunately I was right. The mall was filled with larges groups of teenagers, who had an unsurprisingly small number of bags with them.
The mall I was at seemed to encourage this. They hired a radio station to DJ in the middle of the mall, and the music was extremely loud dance music. No Christmas music, just dance music to attract the teens to hang out in party mode.
That’s not Christmas shopping. Even the 14 year old I chatted with thought it was pathetic.
I will not join those Thanksgiving Day shoppers next year. Black Friday begins on Friday

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Scooby_Do
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 7:43am
  The Back Friday shoppers are probably the reason our entie society has broken down in ignorance. Read fresh political commenatry at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
flatbroke
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 3:44pm
I have absolutely nothin against Capitalism, its worked for me, but where are these peoples brains? shop all year, bargains are all year long, you just have to look for them, and silver coins are awesome, and still cheaper that a flatscreen you dont need.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
longknifed
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 3:11pm
Nothing says Christmas like pagan idolatry. Reminds me of a Viking raid. When the dust settles they give their fallen comrades a Nordic funeral in a shopping cart.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
OKC08GT500
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 3:09pm
A 50 inch TV won’t do these bozos much good after the economic collapse. They should have spent their money on food, water, medical supplies and ammo.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Keatonc333
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 4:16pm
  you are insane!
  
  Report this comment
EnglishPlease
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 2:36pm
There is not amount of stuff on this planet that is worth all that craziness. If we could see the future and knew our time of death I bet most of those people would be home with the ones who mean the most to them. Why are we standing in lines to buy stuff we can’t afford?? Save your money so you don’t have to stand n the welfare line later. How many TV’s can one person watch at a time. When I was growing up I was lucky to have one and it was black and white.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- rickc34
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 2:43pm
  Most will pay with credit card then not pay and wait until it goes to collections and pay only a percentage of what they spent. This sort of dishonest behavior goes on every year. I have a friend that works for a collection company.
  
  Report this comment
TooManycats
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 2:14pm
If you don’t have time to decide if you need something, or who it might be for, then you are bound to waste more money than you saved, even if you do manage to get an iPad for $1. If you spend $500 more on junk just because it was on sale, not only have you spent more than you would on a regularly priced iPad, you’ve just enslaved yourself to more junk. Maintaining junk causes a lot of stress and both physical and mental exhaustion. I would know, I used to be a bargain hunter. I never did Black Friday, but I did plenty of shopping. Yes, I found good deals. It was fine when I was able to turn a profit on it, and only bought what I could sell or needed. I have since donated everything our family has no use for, and plan out shopping e trips before heading out. I take plenty of time at the store making sure the items will be used. I guess I can understand the rush people get from this, but it’s an illusion. It’s their mistake to make. I just make sure that I am stocked up on necessities so I don’t have any reason to leave the house today. Wonder how many of these people we will see on Hoarders.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jungle J
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:32am
the whites have regressed due to inbreeding.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- mastice
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:52am
  Wow, what in the heck does that have to do with anything? Did you even look at the pictures in this article? (I see just as many “non-whites” as I do “whites”)
  
  Report this comment
- longknifed
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 2:07pm
  Actually you coloreds are the ones that really LOVE family.
  
  Report this comment
RodT82721
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:19am
Another example of an ill-education in public schools, our “Black Friday” participants.

The media hypes the idea, and those to stupid to understand the economics of their day to day existence, find nothing wrong with joining the other idiots standing inline in the cold, and very early morning, to spend money they don’t have on things they don’t need, and usually to give to someone that doesn’t want or need it. In the hopes of being loved for their effort.

This newer means of enticing the “shoppers” would never had worked when I was growing up. Most people were smart enough to realize that the media are just looking to generate an event, to stay on the air.
I wonder how all these enlightened shoppers, with their smart phones are not smart enough to stay in bed until breakfast and then shop on line. Let FedEx or UPS bring your lot to your door.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Tigress1
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:19am
After wasting an hour last night looking at the ads, I came to the conclusion that all of it was just a bunch of junk.

I’d love to ask all those people buying the TVs: “Are you really going to give that TV to someone else, or are you buying it for yourself?”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
fjsanchez
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:19am
Americans buying a lot of Chinese stuff. A great way to send money out of the country.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Individualism
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:18am
Cyber Monday is where its at.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
scrudge
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:54am
Ah Yes…. even more ANIMALS shopping

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RJJinGadsden
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:52am
Just call these Blue Light Sales. Usually the parking lots are full of flashing blue lights.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
taintso
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:42am
And we get to watch the videos of people getting trampled, kinda like Rome, let the games begin.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
taintso
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:32am
Looks like the “Bargain Voters” who chose the inflated bargain over quality, too bad there isn’t an exchange line.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
artistskeptic
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:09am
Really play with the idiots, take a truck to the Best Buy parking lot, 15 minutes after the doors open load the line of camping gear and chairs and head to Goodwill. The idiot who saved $50 on a purchase and lost a $300 tent should be real proud of his/her effort.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- taintso
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:46am
  But just think how much China like the boost in their economy, how many goods sold were made in the USA? They ought to to call it Yellow Friday.
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:04am
  Debt friday. Freebee Friday. Golden glove friday. Black soul friday. China friday. Pay later friday. Flatscreen friday. Elmos friday.
  
  Report this comment
gb123
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 9:36am
“Elizabeth Garcia, 17, a sales rep from the city’s Bronx borough, was shopping for toys for her three children ages three, five and seven” Thing are really getting depraved. This would mean being pregnant at 9.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- AmericanStrega
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 1:51pm
  I just said the exact same thing to my husband. Please, someone tell me her age was a type-o!
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 9:15am
These lines are nothing just people in line wanting stuff they don’t need,wait until you see the lines for food.I give it a year maybe two and then you’ll see the real deal.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- BoyScout_Mom
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 12:22pm
  Eerily looks like the line to the Dept of Homeland Surrender Internment Camp to me.
  
  Report this comment
kcares
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:53am
These are the people that voted for this president. I too would rather be sitting in my housecoat and ordering online. I’ve also learned that “less is more”. We don’t need all the stuff. It has lead to class envy, jealousy and caring more about stuff than people.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- TellMeTrue
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:02am
  I agree. My family is really cutting back this year. Thank God my children can see what is going on and are preparing for tougher times. My co-workers have agreed on not exchanging gifts as well. It IS about being with your family, celebrating what Christmas is REALLY about…not stuff.
  
  Report this comment
Hoax And Chains
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:46am
All of the good little cattle out for the materialistic holiday. In a time of financial hardship, materialism still reigns as the only outlet the nice sheeple know. Meanwhile, in some other countries these same lines are seen on a frequent basis as people line up in anticipation of the grocery shelves being filled once again. Every year, we become more materialistic and the “Christmas” decorations come out in stores ever earlier. Many places even offered earlier “black Friday” specials ON Thanksgiving day. Sometimes, I can see why other nations have zero respect for America.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
soybomb315_II
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:00am
nation of sheep

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Gonzo
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 7:52am
I can understane the women who do this, they enjoy bargain hunting and shopping. It’s the guys in these lines I can’t understand. I would rather smash my thumb with a hammer than go out into that mess today.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- booger71
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 7:57am
  Gonzo, they probably have no choice.
  
  Report this comment
- msconstrue
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:20am
  gonzo, thats a blanket statement!! i am a female and would rather have my thumb smashed twice with a hammer than go out into that mess!!!!! LOL
  
  i will shop from my kitchen armed with computer, credit card,cup of coffee and a piece of pumkin pie!!!!…clever girl!
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:31am
  My apologies Ms. You are a clever girl! My wife enjoys teaming up with her sisters when thay are in town for Black Friday. It’s a bonding thing for them. She won’t bother if they are not in town.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 8:51am
  Gonzo, your post was not a blanket statement. It is indeed understandable to see a women doing this but what kind of guy would be willing to waste his time to get a ‘deal’? IMO, no self-respecting guy
  
  Report this comment
- flipper1073
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 9:23am
  I work for a major retailer an had to work last Night.
  It was complete Chaos.
  An Rude, Selfcentered People Make it Worse.
  What I would Ask is for People to Remember
  “The Reason for the Season”
  It Ain’t about the STUFF.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:35am
  GONZO, I know what you mean. In almost thirty years of marriage this is the first Black Friday that I am aware of that she has not gotten involved with these annual contact sports. Must not have found anything of interest in the sales fliers.
  
  Report this comment
- adouglass1
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 2:06am
  I agree I can’t think of one reason I would go out in the middle of that to get some junk. I don’t even like shopping regularly lol. My wife does but I think she would go out and be right back. We have never Black Fridayed lol and will never if I have my say the real sales will be in two weeks or so anyways. I also am just saving money for more weapons ammo. Going to buy my 8 year old son a bow/arrow to start him off. This crap looks like episodes of The Walking Dead.
  
  Report this comment
Gary_K
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 7:44am
Two words can describe these people…idiot sheep.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.