KYW Newsradio Team Coverage
Malls and stores throughout the Delaware Valley were flooded by bargain hunters before dawn on Friday morning.
LISTEN to the BLACK FRIDAY PODCAST | More KYW Black Friday Coverage: Deals & Doorbusters
KYW's Al Novack reports that Walmart on Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia opened earlier this year and Walmart stores nationwide instituted some other new regulations to prevent injuries after last year's deadly stampede incident in New York.
This year, there was a corralling system outside to organize the line of shoppers, separate lines for shopping carts and lines to park your car. Once inside the store, Walmart employees handed out numbered tickets -- much like the deli counter at your local grocery store -- for certain high-demand items. And, of course, there were more lines.
The big question of the day, were there good bargains?
"I got something for my nieces and nephews. They have laptops, flat screen TVs, everything. I'm looking for something for the wife. This is just the beginning, man."
If Walmart was any indicator, this should be a good holiday season for the stores as customers here were walking out with shopping carts loaded to the top.
KYW's Brad Segall reports that parking spots were at a premium at suburban malls where shoppers waited for the doors to open early to take advantage of Black Friday bargains.
The signs in the store windows at the Willow Grove Mall tell the story. 25, 50, even 70-percent off as retailers offer deep discounts in an effort to kick-start the holiday shopping season. Shoppers were waiting when the mall opened its doors at five in the morning.
Vashti Gray, her hands full of bags, got to the mall around six o’clock and says this is the first time she’s been up that early for Black Friday. She had a battle plan ready to go:
“Make a list the night before -- I made my list last night -- decided what I wanted and we got here about six and have been going to the stores we need to go to.”
Many retailers offered door-buster sales for just a few hours bringing the shoppers out even earlier. The best bargains, they say, are on electronics,clothing and shoes. Store owners say they’ll gauge how the shopping season is going before deciding whether to slash prices even further.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
