Black Friday Looking Like Record Breaker-- Reports from Across the U.S.A.

First-Hand Report ^ | 28 November 2003 | Vigilanteman

[Vigilanteman]

Sorry for the vanity, but this is an important first-hand report thread. As you all know, the day after Thanksgiving is considered a leading indicator for consumer spending and economic recovery. Did you all enjoy Tom Thumb Daschle's long face on the night of the 200 election returns? Would you like to see James Carville with a trash can over his head again? Can somebody post these pictures?

Seriously, this is a first-hand report thread from cities across the U.S.A. Please post the name of your area and the look at stores from your trips to the shopping center or those from your hen/rooster and chicks. It will be very helpful knowing how things are looking nationwide before the pundits take to the evening airwaves telling us about the sputtering recovery.

Last year, we went to the Westmoreland Mall, one of the largest in suburban Pittsburgh. Crowds were well below expectations and people were leaving with one or two shopping bags. We decided to go to a different venue this year because expectations (borne out so far) is that the malls are packed.

We headed for Kohl's Department Store on the Irwin Exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Mall opening was 5:30 a.m. We arrived at 5:45 a.m. The parking lot was 3/4th full! We parked in the back and could not get a shopping cart. While the girls went to do their shopping, Dad, who has little interest in the activity, went over to the exit door to see if a shopping cart could be had. People were lined up to take the carts as customers paid and went out. Almost every cart was full! After 15 minutes, I finally got my turn at a cart. The girls took about one hour to get what they needed and met Dad back at the customer service department (the only place in the store with available seating).

Not wanting to go through the long lines in the front of the store, I talked the lady at the department into ringing us up there. There was no line at the time, but when we were done, the line was as long in the rear as those in the front.

On the way home, we stopped by Eat'N'Park for breakfast then on to Target-- just after 8 a.m. and Lowes. Same story-- packed parking lots and no carts at Target. Lowes was not running big sales promotions and had carts, but plenty of shoppers. Pittsburgh has had a rough year economically with an idiot for a mayor. As the major city, the effects are felt even in the suburbs an hour away. So if my experience is typical of the region, we are in for a blockbuster shopping season. This may, indeed, be an indication of economic recovery.

[over3Owithabrain]

Report from Atlanta 'burbs:

Heavy shopping volume (including my wife & her mom while I work heh heh); mall lots filling up

[umgud]

"Black Friday" is an apt description of a war zone.

[Erik Latranyi]

Retailers were predicting this for a while, saying that this might be a record-setting holiday shopping season.

The media naysayers (listen to CNN) will not get their way.

[OpusatFR]

CNN will be deeply saddened by these hugh numbers.

[backhoe]

Well, what I noted was a surge in customers starting about a week ago- i.e., about a week early. Coastal Georgia.

[zook]

Went out myself this morning. Bought a bunch of CD's and DVD's at Circuit City.

[freeangel]

Perhaps the reference is to the Dems feeling about the spending frenzy at the end of today and what it means for them and their penchant for economic doom and gloom stories.

[Mad Dawgg]

"CNN will be deeply saddened by these hugh numbers."

Damn, this is series!

I am going to take a shower now,(I'm series) please keep me updated!

[coder2]

Our local Wal-Mart was opening at 6 a.m. Heard from a person who drives by there to come to work that long lines had already formed at 4 a.m. just to get in. Parking lot was jammed full.

Glad it wasn't me !!!

[Trust but Verify]

Thanks for starting this thread. I have two reports from family members in the field.

Daughter at Best Buy in Milwaukee suburb says the line to get in the store at 6AM opening was SEVERAL BLOCKS LONG! She had to park 4 blocks away. She said she had to stifle laughter at the sight of people grabbing merchandise as if they were on Supermarket Sweep! She was there for DVD's and CD's, but others had high-end items as well as the doorbuster items like DVD players for $19-99 after rebates. Some people had a half-dozen of those.

Second report from sister at a Kohl's store south of Milwaukee, Parking lot 1/2 full at 5AM waiting for 530 opening. People fighting over shopping carts, getting dirty looks when she took two. She and her son left with over $700 in merchandise including two Kitchen Aid stand mixers.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to join the madness.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Best Buy and Wal-Mart parking lots packed this morning in West Lebanon, NH. Wal-Mart is slashing prices from 6-11. DVD/CD/mp3 combo players for $30. Lots of things 50-66% off. I think it may be a nationwide promotion. CNBC had a report on packed toy stores in NJ, too.

[dasboot]

Top story on local news show this morning in Southeast New England: Long lines outside the stores; video of lines of people--wrapped around the entrances for blocks.

[rovenstinez]

Does ON LINE purchasing count? Then I'm in.

[GraniteStateConservative]

"Why make that money if you don't spend it," says the wife, eh?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Wal-Mart discounted DVD/CD/mp3 combo players to $30 and people were putting 10 of them in their carts at a time.

[The South Texan]

And all through the land, the Democrats and Tom Daschile are deeply saddened.

[FreedomPoster]

Visiting the folks in heartland small-town flyover country, in Elizabethtown KY. Had to go to Target this AM to pick up something to fix something for Mom, otherwise I wouldn't have been there. Parking lot nearly totally full, and the place was a madhouse, lots of full carts inside.

[John Jorsett]

[FreedomPoster]

>>Does ON LINE purchasing count? Then I'm in.

That brings up an interesting question - do the retail tracking figures include on-line purchases? My wife's online shopping has increased substantially in the last couple of years. My sister-in-law is doing nicely with 4thebeach.com, a web site she started selling "beachy" stuff. People are buying online.