WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP – On Thanksgiving night it was the mad dash to get holiday gifts and get them cheap.
Once again, this year many stores opened the night before Black Friday, meaning people digested their turkey while standing in line.
“Ready? One, two, three! I don't want to grow up; I'm a Toys-R-Us Kid!”
With a rousing rendition of the Toys-R-Us theme song, the shopping frenzy began at the major toy retailer with an 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving Day.
Sale seekers wrapped around the store near Wilkes-Barre and waited for hours.
Some were here for Christmas gifts.
“I want the Mickey Mouse for my son because it's regularly $60, on sale for $19,” said one parent.
Others were looking for more practical items, sort of.
“I will be getting diapers, oh and free bag of $30 worth of toys, that too, that's worth it, that's worth it,” said another shopper.
As retailers across the country look to push their red margins back into the black, the Black Friday shopping madness has crept even earlier into Thanksgiving.
At K-Mart outside Wilkes-Barre, shoppers had two chances to gobble down the door busters on Thanksgiving with the store opening for a few hours during the day and then again at night. Most were here for the flat screen TV deal.
“50 inch flat screen TV for $288,” said Danielle Klinefelder from Nanticoke. “Yes it is, for an $80 TV for $288 yes.”
“I've been sitting out here since after Thanksgiving, and we're getting the big flat screen for $288. It's a good deal,” said Deidre Barber from Nanticoke.
Thomas Mascola says he shopped during the day and still snagged the first spot in line at Target with doors there opening at 9 p.m.
“I went earlier at K-Mart, I was out at 12 o'clock and then I had to go home, do some dinner with the family, clean up,” said Mascola. “And, then I came here at 3:30, started waiting, first one.”
But the trophies truly go to the die-hards outside Best Buy in Wilkes-Barre Township.
Camping out since Wednesday, they came armed with tents, generators, ways to pass the time. And they said a little moral support definitely helped.
“We got this sign here, 'Honk if you love sales.' We got so many honks because everybody loves sales,” said Steve Radzwilla from Hanover Township.