Early morning deals are worth effort, bargain hunters say

As the tough economic times continue, the Zion Grove woman said it was worth waking up early and waiting outside on the cold rainy morning to take advantage of early bird specials to save money on Black Friday, one of the busiest days of the holiday shopping season.

She was looking for a guitar on sale for $79.99 for a Christmas present for her granddaughter. Her visit to Best Buy in the Arena Hub followed a trip to Walmart, where televisions and laptops on sale sold out.

"I'm looking for lots of sales now," Singley said. "I'm paying with cash more now instead of credit cards too because it alleviates the charge on the credit cards. I'm also cutting back on spending. The economy is just too much."

As the recession lingers, Frank Makaravage of Wilkes-Barre said he is also trying to save money. He and his nephew Pat Belusko of Hanover Township were the first in line at Best Buy at 3:15 a.m. As Makaravage waited for the store to open at 5 a.m, he said the sales on laptops and camcorders drew them there.

"If there wasn't this sale and I wasn't saving this much money, I wouldn't have been here at 3:15 a.m.," Makaravage said. "I cut back on a lot. I have a 3-year-old daughter who loves everything under the sun, so every extra penny I get I save."

Retailers throughout the area said consumers are looking for value when they shop for the holidays.

"They are looking for deals, but I'm not sure I would say they are cutting back," Best Buy manager Dennis Parry said while looking at the long line that stretched outside his store. "If you take a look, everyone has to go shopping somewhere to take care of people for the holiday. I haven't seen them slow down yet."

Hundreds of people lined up at Target in Wilkes-Barre Township before 5 a.m. looking to take advantage of bargains.

After the crowd rushed through the doors, Pittston Township resident Tracy Shupp loaded her cart with two 32-inch-screen televisions for $246 as Christmas presents for her children, a deal she called "excellent." This year, she is cutting back on spending, she said.

"I'm definitely looking for sales and they always get one big gift a year and then small ones," Shupp said. "The Christmas list is definitely shorter."

Target manager Brad Meyer said for consumers, value is the "key to the game this year."

"We want to make sure the guests are getting value in everything they buy, especially the entertainment, electronics, toys and small appliances that seem to be driving our business right now," Meyer said.

Brian Cann, manager of Boscov's in Wilkes-Barre, concurred shoppers are looking for value, adding, "I think they're looking to get the quality of merchandise at the best price they can get it for."

Layaway, which allows customer to pay in installments, also is becoming popular, he said.

"It's a sale for us and it gives the customer the opportunity to see how they're going to be financially for the season," he said. "Hopefully, we don't get too many canceled, but it gives them the chance to make a couple payments as they go along until they're ready to pick it up for Christmas."

Plymouth resident Simone Lochtkaemper, who eyed a sale on coats at Boscov's early Friday morning, likes to use the layaway plan at Boscov's. She also is budgeting more now and paying with cash instead of credit cards.

"It's easier paying with cash because you know you have a certain limit whereas if you used a credit card, you might not pay attention to the price and just wait for the bill later," she said.

Although frugality is holding back consumer spending, Toys "R" Us spokesman Bob Friedland said he knows parents will continue to shop in Toys "R" Us stores throughout the holiday season.

"One of the things we always notice is that the last place parents will cut back on is on toys for their kids for Christmas," Friedland said.

Last month, Toys "R" Us introduced layaway to help parents pay for the toys over time this holiday season, which has been popular, Friedland said.

"Parents like paying in installments and they can keep the toy out of their house so the kids can't discover it," he said.

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115

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