SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds of Black Friday shoppers waited in line outside Best Buy at the Maine Mall in South Portland on Thursday night, waiting to pour through the doors when they parted at the stroke of midnight.
The mall itself also opened at midnight but the mallside entrance to Best Buy was not scheduled to open until 3 a.m. So shoppers queued up in the cold outside for their chance to snatch up deals on televisions, iPods and computers from the national big box retailer.
Voucher tickets were handed out to the first few dozen people in line, guaranteeing them a chance to buy more popular items like televisions before 3 a.m. Scattered line-cutting and voucher-selling was reported by others in line, but the mood was mostly cheerful. South Portland Police Department officers, mall security and Best Buy security were all on hand to keep the peace. Shoppers were let into the store in groups of about 50 persons at a time to keep up with fire codes and to prevent scrums and scuffles.
The Maine Mall will be open through 10 p.m. Friday.
I did not go shopping last night or this morning nor will I at all this Black Friday. I am promoting SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! to ensure that my money is going back into my community. I hope that many others join me!
Voucher selling? That’s a whole new low huh?
I went one time to the overnight shopping. By the time I got into the store, the TV’s that were on sale were gone. They only have like 6 or 7 per store of each sale item and I didn’t realize that before I went…I will never, never, ever, ever go again…really not worth the trouble!
They only sold vouchers this year? I’ve seen years (reported in news) where people sold their place in line. I’ve never participated in BF and never will.
What the hell is wrong with people? Police to prevent “scrums and scuffles?” what a lack of respect.
Interviewer Q: Why are you standiing in line, in the cold at 3am?
Respondent A: Becuase the television told us to.
Interviewer Q: Do you think that Christmas has become too commercialized?
Resondent A: Oh yeah abosolutley.
Interviewer Q: So why are you here?
Respondent A: Becuase the television told us to.
Black Friday: Where people get suckered into great deals retailers can’t have any other time of the year, and by the time they get in the store, the item they want is gone anyways.
Zombies, Must Shop, Must Shop, Must Shop. Fill your house with crap. The retailers did a good job this year in telling Zombies that they, Must Shop, Must Shop, Must Shop… there really is an ap for that, LOL!!!
Yep. And it’s the same message they play every year….. to the same crowd. The rest of us are home tucked in our warm beds digesting that late night piece of pie.
The good news. The state of Maine prevents us from opening on Thanksgiving, so we have to let you stay home with your family. The bad news. You have to come in at midnight to keep your minimum wage job.
I shop; therefore, I am…Now pathetic.
Best Buy did not open until 3 am? What a lazy bunch? Am waiting for the time this will backfire and people will get a life – meaning, they will not see spending money on demand as either necessary or entertaining. I need a few gifts, and am making them. They are one-of-a-kind and much more personal. The rest of the world must be getting a big laugh out of all the idiocy around buybuybuy.
I’m with you. I’ll bet most people can’t name two presents they got on Christmas by the following July.
Black Friday… a generally nasty event attended by crazy people.
Drink the Koolaide,Sheeple,thats right,drink up!
Black Friday comes to Freeport!
http://arouda.blogspot.com/2012/11/hand-warmers-for-hubby.html
Mindless consumer sheep… First they all line up at the polls, now they all line up to shop… The very epitome of what is wrong with this country. Anybody that is ‘proud to be an American’ these days has got something seriously wrong with them. This country is F*****D!
BK is a rip off an people fall for it .
Gimmee , gimmee, gimmee…
The sound lemmings make as they go over the cliff.
There are several reasons why I don’t shop on Black Friday. First, there is more hype than the amount of merchadise at the advertised prices. Second, I would rather pay off my mortgage than fill my house with more gadgets, goodies, and bling.
And, we in BANGOR need to know about Black Friday in South Portland? Why? No stores open in BANGOR?