There are an abundance of choices to be made today.
Whipped cream on the pie again? Ham or turkey sandwich? Get up at 2 a.m. and go shopping?
Those who chose to shop planned their strategies on Thanksgiving after scanning newspaper advertisements about route opportunities. They decided to go after computers, slippers or skateboards.
Tracy Williams, who lives in Edmonds, has been on the Black Friday shopping hunt for years. Wal-Mart was opening at midnight, but seasoned shoppers know that the store’s door busters can’t be rung up until 5 a.m.
She planned to start her day at midnight at Old Navy, where she aimed to get winter coats for $15, fleece for $5 and kid’s jeans for $10. The mother of four hoped to be at the right spot in Wal-Mart at 5 a.m. to buy a 32-inch flat-screen television for $198.
This is a shopper who knows the drill. She was almost the first in line at Wal-Mart a couple of years ago, made it inside in a flash, then purchased a $99 Power Wheels ride-on electric car her son had put at the top of his Santa list.
“Wal-Mart is a cool place to go,” she said. “When the doors open, the staff is lined up clapping as you go in.”
People in the early lines are pros, said Williams, 28. They bring lawn chairs, blankets and hot coffee.
She wanted to be at JCPenney for the 4 a.m. free snow globes, but it was not on her route.
Christine Awad Schmalz, of Mukilteo, is a super planner. She’s prepared from doing lots of window shopping and knows what she’ll go after early this morning.
“The prices are great and I plan to take full advantage of shopping local retailers this year,” she said. “Hint to shoppers: If you don’t like crowds, go shopping after 7 p.m. on Black Friday.”
One former Black Friday shopper chose to give up the chase this year.
Jean Look-Krischano, of Everett, was tempted to go out after reading ads in the Sunday Herald. Then she remembered what happened a couple of years ago.
“We knew exactly what we wanted to get at the fantastic sale prices,” she said. “The plan called for me to rush to the flatware department, my husband to the bedding department. We cased the place a few days earlier so it wouldn’t be necessary to lose time seeking directions.”
All for naught.
She slept through her 4 a.m. alarm.
Getting a late start at 8 a.m., she spent more than two hours fighting her way to Alderwood mall, then finding a place to park.
“I was astounded that in the course of just a few hours, the shelves with our gift list items were already empty.”
Julie DeNoma in Edmonds has a sound reason for avoiding Black Friday crowds.
“All the stores have been having great sales for over a month,” DeNoma said. “You won’t see me camping overnight at Best Buy.”
Stephen Abraham in Lynnwood is also choosing to avoid crowds today. He said he’ll stay home and follow his own tradition — putting up Christmas lights.
Michelle McGee, who lives in Lake Stevens, plans to get up early today to take her 16-year-old daughter, Jessica, to work at 6:30 a.m.
Jessica works at Seattle Premium Outlets. Michelle McGee said she would read newspaper advertisements Thursday before she ate her turkey dinner, then decide what stores to hit after dropping her daughter at work.
Lindsay Williams of Edmonds, who is four months pregnant, is choosing to stay in bed.
“I am protecting myself from the overcaffeinated and sale-addicted,” Lindsay Williams said. She’s giving her sister the job this year.
“There is always one crazy person in the family willing to lose a limb over 30 percent off,” she said.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
