Shopping early - extreme version
<p>Close to 100 anxious shoppers braved the elements Thursday evening and lined up at Target in Coeur d'Alene. Discounted electronics, such as televisions, motivated many to wait upwards of 18 hours in line.</p>
<p>Shoppers funnel into Best Buy in Coeur d’Alene Thursday night as they watch those who were before them in line exit with goods in hand. Discounts on electronics, oftentime “ticketed” and sold on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraged many to cut their turkey day short and brave the crowds.</p>
<p>Shoppers funnel into Best Buy in Coeur d'Alene Thursday night as they watch those who were before them in line exit with goods in hands. Discounts on electronics, oftentime "ticketed" and sold on a first come first serve basis, encouraged many to cut their turkey day short and brave the elements.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Tammi Garrett and Don Downey of Post Falls left their dirty Thanksgiving dishes on the counter, grabbed a bottle of apple cider and rushed over to Target in Coeur d'Alene Thursday evening.
Although they arrived with more than an hour to spare, the duo found themselves at the back of a line that was swelling to more than a hundred people before doors opened at 6 p.m. Garrett and Downey normally do their shopping on Black Friday, but told The Press the deals on Thursday night were just too good to pass up.
"We wanted to come tonight for a TV," Downey said. "We're going to get other stuff as well, just have to keep it generic because we don't want to give away what gifts we're buying."
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, used to launch the holiday season, but the competition to grab customers first is keen. Stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more were open Thursday evening in what they hope becomes a holiday tradition as they try to fight off competition from online juggernaut Amazon.
"I get that it's basic business and economics that makes them open up today," Downey said. "But I'm not a big fan of it. I'm not a big fan of them opening up on Thanksgiving."
"And yet here we are," Garrett said.
The weekend is crucial to set the tone for the holiday season. Around 137 million people plan to or are considering doing their shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. That includes online and store shopping.
The NRF, the nation's largest retail group, expects holiday sales to rise 3.6 percent for November and December, better than the 3 percent growth seen for those months last year. That excludes car sales, gas and restaurant supplies. But it includes online spending and other non-store sales such as catalog shopping.
Parking lots at retailers throughout Coeur d'Alene were packed Thursday night, with customers anxiously waiting in line to purchase heavily discounted goods. While some shoppers waited in line for an hour or two, others like Keteyian Martinez of Post Falls didn’t want to risk not getting one of the "ticketed" items that are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Minutes from being allowed into Target to purchase a 60-inch Samsung television, Martinez stood proudly at the front of the line. He had stood in the spot for almost 18 hours, but said he knew he had an advantage being first and would not leave empty handed because of it.
"I shouldn't have been waiting this long, but I have been," Martinez said. "I want that TV, man."
After a two-hour drive from Bonners Ferry on Wednesday night, Amanda Dowell arrived at Target and took her place behind Martinez. Dowell was after two of the ticketed televisions, and told The Press she also planned to do the entirety of her Christmas shopping for friends and family on Thanksgiving night.
"We're having Thanksgiving next weekend," Dowell said. "It's going to be more of a 'Friendsgiving' because I invited a bunch of people, basically all the people I am thankful for."
When asked what advice they would give to people who might brave the elements next year to stand in line, Dowell's son, Christian, was the first to reply.
"Don't do it," Christian said while laughing.
Dowell told The Press since Target requires shoppers to wait in line outdoors, unlike some retail outlets like Walmart that stage their customers indoors, bringing plenty of warm clothes and blankets is extremely important. Chairs, and even a portable heater, were also highly recommended.
"Just plan ahead," Dowell said. "And bring a buddy."
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.