The most wonderful time of the year begins in the dark morning hours of Black Friday. Millions upon millions of people flock to stores across the country to snatch the best deals of the year.
This year, the Blueprint sent two journalists to uncover the truth behind Black Friday from the very center of the bloody battlefield. The only problem was the battlefield was non-existent. Walking into the Northshore mall in Peabody, MA you’d think it was an average afternoon in the middle of the week. A few casual shoppers strolled around the mall, no crazy bargain ladys, no vicious moms looking for the last Barbie doll, none of the stereotypes that come to mind when you think Black Friday.
Despite this lack of presence the well advertised deals were hot and ready to be taken advantage of. A employee of JC Penny, who requested to remain anonymous, said that the store had been relatively consistent with an average number of customers since they had opened at 12.
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Several other Swampscott High School students also went to the Northshore mall in the wee hours of the morning to catch some of the years best deals. Senior, Kelsey Lombard, said “I woke up at 3 AM and went up to the Northshore mall with some of my girl friends, we went to all of our favorite stores & there weren't too many people!”
Senior, Deanna Mazina, also mentioned the lack of people as well as the great deals, “I got some really great deals and the lines weren’t bad because went at a good time.”
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When we returned later in the afternoon, the mall was much more significantly crowded. People crowded into the stores flocking for the deals, but many of the best deals ended at 6 or 7. Lombard noted this as well, “Most of the good sales ended at like 6 or 7, and that's around when the mall started to get crowded.”
Next year it’s bound to be the same, people thinking they will miss the morning rush by heading towards the mall in the afternoon, but they are only losing out on great deals and a morning lull. If you’re interested in getting some of the best deals of the year head to your local mall at about 3 and as Lombard concluded, you’ll have “a very successful day!”
