Once Thanksgiving rolls around, time is of the essence as Black Friday is the following day, with minor to major discounts storewide at the local malls.
“Walking into each store is practically a free-for-all. Stores look as if they are in complete chaos, with each shopper ready to put up a fight for the last sweater,” Britney Venegas, computer science major, 18, said.
Shoppers are well aware that they must wake up bright and early to score the best deal. Not only that, but they must also be aware of the hundreds of others who are out there with the same goal.
“Being a student, it really doesn’t hurt to save a few bucks on things you plan to buy sooner or later,” Victor Ramirez, undeclared major, 20, said.
Most bargain hunters choose to go to the mall, where there are many deals to be found.
“When I hear Black Friday, the first place I think of is the mall. The mall has everything in one place,” Venegas said. “There’s no point in waiting in one long line and having no other stores nearby.”
Popular stores at local malls on Black Friday include Nordstroms, Macy’s, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21, among others.
The prices are heavily discounted, but it takes a patient person to stand in line.
“If there was something I really wanted and it was discounted, I think I would wait, but sometimes those lines can look intimidating and make me think twice,” Ramirez, said.
These days good bargains are hard to come by, that’s why the Friday after Thanksgiving leave businesses and shoppers the opportunity for a win-win situation.
“Businesses definitely thrive off the people who spend all their money thinking they’ve got a really good price,” Mario Hernandez, film major, 21, said.
Most businesses participate by giving discounts varying from 10 to 50 percent off merchandise.
“Some people really go all out buying expensive plasma TV’s when they really don’t need it. They are just buying it because it was a good deal,” Venegas said.
For Venegas, standing in line for such a bargain can really make people impatient and may not be worth it sometimes,
“My worst experience on Black Friday was when I found the clothes I wanted and waited all the way through the line and when it was my turn I realized I had left my wallet,” Venegas said. “I can’t even explain to you what I felt when that happened.”
For the best deals, make sure to wake up bright and early, save money and head out for the mall to cash in.
“It’s important to know though, that each store may say they are having a sale but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are getting a good deal,” Hernandez said.