On Nov. 23, one of the biggest shopping events in the U.S. will be here: Black Friday. With the exception of retail workers, many people take the day off on Black Friday to do their Christmas shopping.
In previous years, stores would open between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. For the last 2 years most stores have opened at 12 a.m. Many shoppers choose to go hours before to be the first in line.
“I go around 8 p.m. right after my Thanksgiving dinner,” said Lizzy Tapia, a Black Friday shopper from Fresno. “I want to be the first to run in the store.”
The weather is not the best to be waiting outside the stores for hours before they open, so many people go well-prepared and take their hot drinks. Vendors also go around selling hot beverages to costumers who are out waiting in the cold for stores to open. With the lines to get into the store being so long, shoppers wait for hours to pay for their items.
Many stores have their ads days before Black Friday. This can help shoppers get a better idea of what they want, so they don’t have to waste their time looking for sales when stores are overcrowded on Black Friday.
Some shoppers carefully take the time to pick and choose where they want to go first since the lines for popular stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us go for blocks around the store.
Stores also have pre-sales before Black Friday. This allows shoppers to see what they want before Black Friday and helps them decide if the savings are worth standing in the long lines.
Some stores like to trick people and only mark down items a few dollars less on Black Friday. That is when the shopper needs to consider if losing sleep and standing in those long lines is worth the time.
“Last year I went to Walmart to buy a toaster which was on sale for $15,” said Diane Salcido, a Black Friday shopper “Then I went two days later and found it for $20. I waited in line for two hours just to save $5 dollars.”
“If you do plan on doing Black Friday shopping consider taking a shopping partner,” said Krstle Gonzales, a faithful Balck Friday shopper. “Last year as I looked for the items I had gone shopping for my sister stood in line for me.”
