TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bargain hunters turn out early in Brandon

Staff photo by KEVIN BRADY

Brandon's Best Buy saw hundreds of customers line up before the store opened at 5 a.m.

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEVIN BRADY and LAURA FRAZIER

kbrady@tbo.com

Published: November 27, 2009

The bargain hunters were out early this morning in Brandon hoping to save on everything from TVs to vacuums. Here are a few vignettes from those who braved the chilly weather to get their hands on those special deals.

5:45 IS EARLY ENOUGH

The sun hadn't yet warmed the horizon but John Morgan didn't' mind when he showed up at Brandon's Best Buy at 5:45 a.m. He was the last in a line that stretched out the front door of the store and around the building with at least 100 people in front of him. He was looking to save more than $200 on a new LCD TV as well as a few other gifts. Surveying the line ahead of him Morgan wasn't too bothered. "I'm just not that ambitious to start getting in line that early," he said.

HAVE TEEPEE, WILL SHOP

Complete with teepee, a painted face and feathers in his hair, Charlie Sammons cut a striking figure outside Brandon's Best Buy store early Friday morning. Among the first in line at the popular electronics retailer, Sammons pitched his tent at 10 a.m. Tuesday. By 5:30 a.m. he was wheeling out a cart full of computers and assorted electronics. "It was a cold night but we all had fun. I saved between $500 and $600."

SHOPPING INCENTIVE

Shawn Tucker, the store manager at Brandon's K-Mart, was already at work at midnight getting his store ready for the Black Friday onslaught. The store hands out tickets for the hot-ticket items to those customers who line up early to avoid a mad rush once the doors open. "But I have to say it's been a really good crowd. They all seem in good spirits," Tucker said. "I guess it's the Christmas season."
One of those providing a few laughs in line was Steven Strickland. He joined the line at K-Mart at about 1:30 a.m. with a special incentive to shop. "I came home from work one day and all my stuff was gone. My apartment was emptied so there are a few things I need."

OVERNIGHT CAMPERS WARMED UP TO SAVINGS

Saving a couple of hundred dollars certainly takes the chill out of the morning air for some people. Long before the sun came up, Crystal Leach and her family braved 49 degree temperatures outside K-Mart on State Road 60 in Brandon so they could be sure to get their hands on a 32-inch HD TV.
"We'll be saving about $150 on the TV and lots more on bikes, digital cameras and an easy-bake oven. The ovens are sold out everywhere else," said Leach who was first in line at K-Mart. She arrived at the store at 9:30 p.m. Thursday night with a chair and blanket handy.

TVS, ELECTRONICS ARE HOT TICKETS

Turning up early at Best Buy paid off for Robin Callaghan. "I saved about $500 to $600 today," she said as she rolled out a cart filled with computer accessories. She also bought a TV on sale.

EARLY BIRDS GET THE DEALS

Victor Acevedo and his son were already at the doors of Brandon's Home Depot by 6 a.m. this morning. A video audio specialist, he had his eye on deals on a vacuum cleaner – marked down by $80 – and a cordless drill.

"THEY CHEATED"

Billie and Kelly Treece figured a 5 a.m. start on Black Friday would surely help them snare a coveted Christmas gift for Jack, their 2-year-old son.

But, four hours and four stores later, the couple conceded the Disney tricycle they were looking for was nowhere to be found.

"We were at Walmart at 5 a.m.," Kelly Treece said. "It was insane."

Billie Treece was surprised to learn that swarms of shoppers stormed the 24-hour Walmart Supercenter on Causeway Blvd. hours before a 5 a.m. sale was set to start.

"When we walked in at 5 a.m., tons of people were already coming out with TVs and two and three baskets full of stuff," she said. "They cheated."

PILGRIMAGE OF PURCHASES YIELDS BEAU COUP BARGAINS

Vicki Craig and her mother-in-law, Diana Craig, copped a car full of steals on Black Friday.

The women began their annual pilgrimage of purchases at Staples at 7 a.m., then hit Westfield Brandon mall.

"We got a two-gallon Shop-Vac for $14.99 at Sears," Vicki Craig said.

Her accomplice, Diana Craig, whispered, "They usually sell for about $80."

By 11 a.m., the shopping partners had made several trips out to their car to deposit the spoils and free up their hands for another haul.

Their favorite find? A USB turntable purchased at Radio Shack for $80.

"You use it to convert record albums to digital files on your computer," said Vicki Craig. "Then you can burn CDs or put them on an Mp3 player.

Her mother-in-law hinted at who might find the turntable under the tree.

With a bashful smile, she said, "I have a lot of old records."

Kevin Brady can be reached at (813) 545-8731.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT