Atlanta

Shoppers race to stores for major Black Friday sales

By Matt Johnson, WSB-TV, Darryn Moore, WSB-TV, Steve Gehlbach, WSB-TV, and Kelly Sundstrom, For the AJC
By Matt Johnson, WSB-TV, Darryn Moore, WSB-TV, Steve Gehlbach, WSB-TV, and Kelly Sundstrom, For the AJC

ATLANTA — While shoppers raced to the stores to get their hands on some deep discounts Thanksgiving Day, experts say Black Friday is still the biggest shopping day of the year.

A number of retailers brought deals to customers early with some opening Thursday evening, including Target, which opened at 5.

Not all major retailers are following suit. More than 70 retailers have confirmed they will buck the recent trend of starting Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving Thursday, according to a list compiled and updated regularly by BestBlackFriday.com.

Most metro Atlanta malls and stores will open at 6 a.m. Friday morning.

[RELATED: What hours are metro Atlanta malls, stores open for Black Friday 2018?]

Channel 2's Darryn Moore was at Academy Sports in Kennesaw, which were one of the stores that stayed closed Thanksgiving.

Workers told Moore that their customers were loading up on basketball goals, trampolines and athletic wear.

Shoppers aren't just hitting the national retailers and department stores.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach spoke with people who waited for local businesses to open, including Lizard Thicket in Cobb County. Some customers arrived at the store at 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.

The boutique handed out free swag bags filled with gifts and coupons to the first 100 customers.

"They sell out quickly," shopper Hannah Ross told Gehlbach.

THANKSGIVING RUSH

Channel 2's Matt Johnson spoke with shoppers on Thursday who wanted to get a ahead start.

Perry Mattis left a Cobb County Target feeling victorious with two new TVs.

"My wife and I, and her friend, we came with a gameplan, It was divide and conquer and we got what we wanted," he said.

Mattis is one of hundreds of people who went in and out of the store on Cobb Parkway. A long line around the building started to form with people who didn't mind getting there before the doors opened at five.

"I picked 2 o'clock, it was like three hours. I have a little baby at home and I want to get him some nice gifts," he said.

Inside the store, we saw game consoles on sale for $100 off and an electronics department flooded with customers.

Dollhouses, hoverboards and air fryers are a few more of the top sellers of the night.

After some waited in line for hours, most people say they they didn't waste any time once they got inside.

"I was out here in and out, like 30 minutes. It was quick," said Austin Pack.

TRENDING STORIES: 

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

Save a fortune and make a few dreams come true this holiday season with these top Black Friday deals:

Target

See the Target Black Friday ad

The top Target deal:

Additional deals:

Here are more Target sales to snag on Black Friday.

Macy's

Opens 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, open on Black Friday

See the Macy's Black Friday ad

The top Macy's deal:

Additional deals:

Check out the other Black Friday deals at Macy's.

Kohl's

Opens 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, open Black Friday

See the Kohl's Black Friday ad

The top Kohl's deal:

  • Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera with Wi-Fi connectivity + $120 Kohl's Cash: $399.99, reg. $749.99

Additional deals:

  • Powerbeats Wireless earphones + $45 Kohl's Cash: $149.99, reg. $199.99

  • Fitbit Ionic smartwatch + $60 Kohl's Cash: $199.99, reg. $269.99

  • Nintendo Switch bundle + $90 Kohl's Cash: $329.99, reg. $359.99

  • 1/4-carat T.W. diamond bracelet: $69.99, reg. $305

  • Samsung 58-inch 4K smart TV + $165 Kohl's Cash: $549.99, reg. $899.99

  • Nest Hello video doorbell + $45 Kohl's Cash: $179.99, reg. $229.99

Here are other Kohl's deals to look out for on Black Friday.

Costco

Closed Thanksgiving Day, opens 9 a.m. on Black Friday

See the Costco Black Friday ad

The top Costco deal:

  • LG 22-Cubic-Foot Counter Depth 4-Door French Door InstaView Refrigerator: $1,300 off

Additional deals:

Here are the Costco deals you can jump on right now.

Dell

Opens 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, open Black Friday

See the Dell Black Friday ad

The top Dell deal:

  • Sony 65-inch 4K Smart HDR Ultra HDTV: $999.99, reg. $1799.99

Additional deals:

Save on these Dell deals this Black Friday.

BLACK FRIDAY TIPS

Get the most out of your Black Friday shopping with these top tips:

Don't forget your coupons.

Most retail stores allow you to use manufacturer's and store coupons on top of event discounts during Black Friday, which can help you save even more money on your total purchase. Websites like MyCouponsoffers the most popular and verified downloadable and printable coupons you can use this Black Friday, so make sure to prepare your coupon stash ahead of time.

Find a babysitter.

No matter how well-behaved your children may be, Black Friday crowds can transform any child into a screaming mess. From long, tedious lines to sensory overload, bringing baby along on your Black Friday shopping trip is a mistake you won't make twice. Shop the smart and effective way by scheduling a babysitter ahead of time. Although your little ones might really want to come along, they'll just feel miserable in the store.

Make a gameplan.

Showing up at a Black Friday sale on a whim might seem like a good idea, but you'll get the best deals and discounts by planning your trip in advance. To get the most for your money, research which stores have the best deals for the items on your list, what time each store opens its doors and where to find the top doorbusters before they're all gone.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bags)

Want to know the biggest secret to a successful Black Friday trip? Skip the cart! If weaving through Black Friday crowds with a giant shopping cart seems impossible, it really is. Kick that cart to the curb and reduce stress and irritation this year by using your own shopping bags instead.

Cox Media Group

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