Black Friday Comes Early For Local Shoppers
By Hadas Kuznits, David Spunt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Thousands of eager shoppers left home and hit the stores Thanksgiving Day to find deals before the Black Friday rush.
In Philadelphia, folks tell KYW Newsradio they are thankful they were able to get a jump start on the action:
"To beat Black Friday, to not deal with that nonsense. Too many people -- and then, I learned if you go shopping earlier, you get more toys."
"I'm shopping on Thanksgiving. It's so beautiful in here right now."
"Might as well get it early. Early bird catches the worm!"
"Because there are just so many sales going on right now."
CBS3 Eyewitness News caught up with shoppers at the Cherry Hill Mall Thursday and the Best Buy a few miles away.
"You get to walk off your turkey dinner and see what's out there and on sale and if you can get a good deal, you get it," said shopper Shannon Tartamosa.
Some economic analysts say the lower gas prices translate to more spending this season, but many still wonder if opening Thanksgiving day is too early.
"I think the earlier the better. You don't get all the frantic people at the doors, tearing down doors," said Mathis Kleckley.
Those who worked in the stores on Thanksgiving say plenty of shoppers showed up.
"I was hoping it wouldn't be so busy, but it was so busy when I came in, I was like 'oh my gosh!' I was hoping people would be at church or having dinner or something, but nope."
That's Ashley, an Aramingo Avenue Kmart employee.
"It's so many people are in here today, surprisingly so many people," she tells KYW Newsradio.
Her coworker, Joanne, was also on the clock Thursday, straightening up the store and ringing up customers.
"It's messy," she says. "People are just throwing things everywhere, clothes are everywhere, no hangers on anything, just toys everywhere scattered all about, price tags all over the ground. It's just crazy."
Joanne says the store was surprisingly busy:
"I'd say that most people are here in toys. Not in seasonal anymore where the decorations are, but toys is definitely the big thing right now."
In New Jersey, State Senator Richard Codey wants to make it illegal for stores in the Garden State to open before 9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. He said in a statement early open times only hurt employees:
"Thanksgiving is the one day they get to spend with their families. Companies should put their workers' needs over their own profits at least for a day."
For the complete 2014 Holiday Mall hours, CLICK HERE.
