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 Shoppers wait for the doors to open at midnight at the the Toys 'R' Us in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon) [Click to enlarge] |
Poole, who was with some family members, arrived at the toy store shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. By midnight the line stretched from in front of Toys R Us and adjoining stores and around the parking lot, ending near the stop light at Silver Springs Road and William Street.
Management handed out tickets to the first 100 households in line who wanted the opportunity to purchase the Zhu Zhu hamsters, a small interactive toy hamster that has become one of the most sought-after gift items this holiday shopping season.
"Knowing that I'm getting one of the hottest items of the year is pretty cool," Poole said. "It's like I have to scream woo-hoo!"
Like others who braved the freezing temperatures and long lines, Poole said Black Friday has become a tradition for her family.
"We get in the car and arrive early at the stores we want to shop at," she said. "It's become a fun outing for us."
While Poole arrived early Thursday evening at Toys R Us, another store had shoppers in line by 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. Customers pitched tents and settled into lawn chairs at Best Buy in hopes of having the opportunity to purchase computers, televisions, video game systems and movies at significant savings.
Best Buy employees handed out tickets at 3 a.m. today for certain items and by 5 a.m. the first customer entered the store.
Justin Day, who arrived in line around 5 p.m. Thursday with some friends, had a ticket to purchase a LCD HDTV.
"This is quite an upgrade, considering my other television was a standard one I got at a garage sale," Day said. "Christmas Eve will be my 16th birthday, so I'm making this a great one."
The National Retail Federation expects 134 million people to shop today through Sunday, an increase of 6 million shoppers from 2008. About 29 percent of those were expected to shop between 4 and 6 a.m. today, the federation said.
With unemployment at 10.2 percent and consumers with jobs watching every penny, shoppers like Jessie Davis said they took advantage of blockbuster deals to save as much money as possible on Christmas gifts.
"In the past I would never have dreamed of coming into all this madness so soon," said Davis, who had a shopping cart full of DVDs, Barbie Jeep and Robo Jam video game. "This year it's more about stretching every dollar."
Look for more later at semissourian.com and in Sunday's Southeast Missourian.
388-3628
Pertinent addresses:
3026 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO
210 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO
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IS IT THAT SERIOUS!!!!!!!!!! I don't think so. I would rather keep my sanity! Yes, I have kids and I went online and got the zhu zhu pets. I had to pay dearly though but I am not out in the weather in a crowd of people losing my mind!
Mawmaw,
I agree, wonder how many of the children are still playing with their gotta have Christmas toys from past years. I just hope know one got trampled to death like last year.
That's just crazy, and so NOT what the holidays are all about! I think the term "Black Friday" is a marketing, corporate term created in alignment with these "tickets" and low prices to fill a "self-fulfilling" prophecy, and people just fall into the trap by the masses. Unreal. Sheesh...
"Black Friday crowds turn out early"
"Sales in fireworks see increase in July"
Along with other huge corporations, Toys are Us devastate our country's economy with their off-shore tax dodge scheme.
Hey, I commend any and all off-shore tax dodging schemes.
And I hate black Friday. Like Mawmaw, I'll shop online until those irritating people from the irritating commercials come to my house--is that the COC? I lose track with all of the obnoxious commericals for local businesses... I think I'll just turn back to Sirius 20.
When I was young, and dumb back in 1972... I made the mistake of going to Kmart to put something on lay-away for my mom for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I stood in line at the lay-away for three, and a half hours. I have NEVER gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving since. I avoid any shopping on black friday....unless it is on line ;-]
It isn't right! People spending money instead of giving it to others to spend. This is just wrong. There is some crack head that needs it more than you. Or even better you could give it to the Obama administration so they can blow it on a real neat heath care plan that will ruin the economy of America. Where is your hearts folks! I am sick of people using their money on what they wish. I think the government should take all of your money away because they can spend it more wiser than you. It just isn't fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW YOU POSTER PEOPLE ARE ATE UP!!!!!!! This is america if you wanna stand in line and have fun LIKE IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE FOLKS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE DOING live and let live WOW!
What's really odd is that Black Friday has become as much a ritual as Thanksgiving itself or even the 4th of July. It's become a celebration of consumerism and it shows us just how strong the desire is to own more "stuff".
Congratulations to eveyone who got a deal, and a tip of the hat to the stores and credit card companies for another successful mind control exercise.
I see Sniffles is at it again. It's a wonder he can sleep at night with liberals hiding under every rock in his yard. Geez man, get a life.