Shoppers say Sunday sales just as worthwhile, but less stressful
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The early bird may have elbowed his way to the worm Friday morning, but plenty of patient shoppers were out getting their holiday deals amid much thinner crowds on Sunday, Nov. 30.
A daylong drizzle left plenty of parking spots at area malls as the year's busiest shopping weekend drew to a close.
After buying a few items at Kohl's in the Beavercreek Town Centre, Amy Ford of Kettering said Sunday shopping was just as productive as when she went out on Friday - without the hassle.
"I got mobbed at Wal-Mart on Friday, then I went back yesterday and the deals were still there," Ford said. "So there was no sense getting mobbed."
Asked whether he went shopping on Black Friday, Michael Pullen of Dayton left little doubt about his feelings.
"Noooo, we're not crazy," Pullen said of himself and Art Jones of Waynesville. "We shop at TJ Maxx and these stores religiously, and we haven't seen any difference (in deals). Most people come out thinking it's a sale when it's actually not. They might mark it down, but they marked it up first."
Jones said people might avoid big-ticket items and do more shopping at discount stores, but he didn't think people would stop buying.
"If you watch the financial news, everybody's screaming recesssion," Jones said. "But if you look at Black Friday, you'd never think there was anything wrong."
According to national retail analysts, Jones was right on point. Research firm ShopperTrak RCT said Friday sales rose 3 percent over last year.
But with the economy struggling, many remained pessimistic. While Friday sales were up, most analysts said sales were down Saturday, with buyers choosing items in cheaper price ranges. And ComScore, an Internet research company, reported that the fast-growing online shopping market was up just 2 percent over last year for Thursday and Friday.
No matter how bad the economy, local shoppers' theme seemed to be, "If you discount it, we will come."
Nicole LaCroix, a Fairborn mother of three, said she shopped briefly Friday, and it depended on the store whether it was worthwhile.
"Certain sales were about the same as they are right now," she said. "But other sales — and I think it's strictly because of the economy — you just absolutely can't pass them up."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com. This story contains information from the Associated Press.
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