This is how they do it…
Still looking for the people!!! I walked up to Michael’s at 5:55, figuring my other counterparts around the nation had covered Circuit City in general. I waited until the sales woman unlocked the door, she looked surprised to see me. An elderly couple got out of their car and walked in behind me.
(As you can see, I took the picture while still walking!)
Since I was there anyway, I got the lights we needed for the porch. Once I had them in my basket I looked around to see if any other shoppers were in the store. I heard someone chatting on their cell phone.
Her name is Kelly, she was talking to someone about the things she wanted from JCPenney’s. I don’t even know where the nearest Penney’s is! Once she hung up the phone I asked her about her shopping plans.
Apparently, Kelly, along with her mom and three sisters are spread out around the city each in a different store getting the things on everyones’ lists. Kelly was at Michaels’, her mom was at Penney’s (in the Valley), one sister is at Target, another was at Fry’s Electronics and I didn’t find out about the third one.
They each report in and buy for the others. She went back to filling her basket with ornaments and chatting on the phone. I made my purchase, $15, at 6:15 and for the record, not only was that the first sale of the day, they had to go through the whole routine of opening the register to make the sale to me.
I spoke briefly with the manager who said they didn’t expect it to get too busy until 8 or 9. There were definitely other shoppers in the store by the time I left but everything was very calm and quiet. I drove past Circuit City on my way to the Promenade. It looked busier and there was no parking left on the street.
I am thinking, I were doing a REAL Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza at these nationwide chains, it would be worth the drive to Santa Monica to avoid the FRENZY…
Hey, Starbucks is open…