Nov 27, 2009 11:39 pm US/Eastern
Recession Weary Shoppers Hop On Black Friday Deals
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Shoppers line up outside of a Miami Brands Mart store to await the promised deals when the store opened at 12:01 a.m. Friday
CBS
Crowds turning out for Black Friday shopping at Sawgrass Mills Mall were so much, that the mall opened relief parking lots to accommodate them, but store owners are hoping the large turnout equates to large sales in this time of recession. The same sentiment was felt at shopping centers throughout South Florida.
Shoppers across South Florida braved the cool weather Friday morning in hopes of landing the perfect deal as retailers opened their doors as early as 12:01 a.m. for Black Friday sales. Some stores went a step further and opened Thursday morning.
The term Black Friday came from the business world. The huge sales offered on the day after Thanksgiving typically helped bring profits from the red into the black for the year. Since it's always on a Friday, the term Black Friday was coined.
At Sawgrass Mills store owners such as Yniv Sananes were hoping for the best. He runs The Shop, a high-end clothing boutique.
"They're spending but they're spending less," said Sananes. "I actually anticipate it to be one of the worst years ever. We've been in retailers for 12 years, and I don't think in my 12 years of retail that I've ever seen the country in this state."
Among the national retailers Wal-Mart leads the way. Its stores, usually open 24 hours, did not close before the Black Friday sales this year in order to avoid a huge crush of shoppers at the start. Last year, a greeter was killed when he was trampled by crowds at one Wal-Mart.
Most other retailers opened between 3 and 7 a.m. in standalone locations. Stores in malls waited for the mall to open at 8 a.m. There are still deals to be had and the
CBS4.com Black Friday shopping section lists major retailers' websites and Black Friday ads with maps to their locations.
Shoppers were ready to start saving.
"This is something you plan for every year," said Anita Barclay, lined up outside of a BrandsMart store that opened at Midnight. "It's like a marathon."
"Everything's half off with the Black Friday, so that's why you've got to come early, be in line and shop smart," said shopper Kellsey Raphael.
Not everything is that good a deal, but retailers are working hard to cut prices for one simple reason; they need the customers to avoid a repeat of last year's dismal holiday season, one so bad it was the last straw for troubled retailers like Circuit City.
Although South Florida stores are marking down everything from high-definition TVs to socks and diapers, Tracy Mullion, president of The National Retail Federation, says people are still "very nervous about the future."
The trade group expects Black Friday crowds to be bigger this year, an estimated 144 million shoppers, but retail consultant Walter Loeb says spending for the weekend will be, at best, unchanged from last year.
Most retailers are simply hoping it won't be down as much as last tear. Even when retailers have officially waited until Friday to open, many are not waiting one second more.
When checking ads, most shoppers know that to get the best deals, you have to be there early before they are snapped up. But as early scan of retailers ads show many are offering great deals, but in mouse-print warn that there may be only a few of the items available. For example, the Thanksgiving-day ad from K-Mart warned some items had a minimum of 4 or 8 in stock for the biggest sales grabbers.
If you do plan to shop, experts have a few tips for you:
1. Check Out the Ads:
The Miami Herald and the Florida Sun-Sentinel are stuffed with ads. Carry them with you when you go out, and use them to pap your trip. It will also help you organize your day to maximize savings, since many stores offer special discounts that are time specific.
2 Send ads to your Smartphone.
By going to cbs4.com/holidays, you can get access to electronic versions of the ads that you can send directly to your phone, so you can read them without having to carry all that paper. Some retailers and websites have also created phone apps to help organize Black Friday deals, and you can use the mapping software on your phone to help you get to the malls.
3. Research Now.
ICheck the ads and the websites Today, and check the reviews of the products that interest you. A bad product is a bad deal no matter how cheap it it is
4. Compare Prices:
Sometimes multiple retailers will offer the same item at different prices, especially on Black Friday. Take into account extras like gift cards, 'bonus bucks', etc. Look CAREFULLY for indications a store may only have a few of each item; it might be worth it to pay a few bucks more to buy at a store where more items are in stock and you have less chance of being disappointed.
5. Look for Early Bird Shopper Discounts:
Some of the best deals are available only to the earliest of early-birds. Retailers know if they get you early, you may spend more money with them.
6. Ask for Gift Receipts:
These carry return information without the price, in case your recipient isn't thrilled with your bargain and wants to return it. Since many retailers begin permanently slashing prices as soon as Black Friday is over, the difference between what you pay for a gift during December and what it sells for in January can be significant. Including a gift-receipt should help insure a hassle-free return experience for gift recipients.
7. Pace yourself.
Get plenty of sleep the night before. Don't have a huge breakfast before going out. Carry water. Take breaks. Don't overdo!
CBS4's Tim Kephart contributed to this report
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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