Shoppers joust for deals as malls become battlegrounds for bargains - Calgary Herald

EDMONTON - West Edmonton Mall was a battleground for bargains on Monday, with thousands of shoppers clambering to find Boxing Day deals.

Competition was so fierce that Ashley Pennell and Alexa Ames practised defensive shopping in the lineups and crowds that saw shoppers packed shoulder to shoulder in parts of the mall.

“We were walking around with our elbows out because people are so rude,� said Pennell, 19.

“We got a little feisty,� admitted Ames, 20.

Much of the congestion was due to the sheer number of shoppers. Sherri Clegg, media and public relations co-ordinator for West Edmonton Mall, estimated that by 5 p.m., about 180,000 people had visited the mall on Dec. 26.

“There are definitely as many, if not more, people in the mall this year compared to last year,� Clegg said.

Free shuttle service to the mall and a $ 5,000 shopping giveaway encouraged shoppers to choose West Edmonton Mall, Clegg said. The opening of several new stores over the last year also brought out shoppers.

“People certainly want those brands,� Clegg said.

While the mall officially opened at 8 a.m., some stores opened early for keen shoppers. Forever 21 rolled open their gates at 6 a.m., while a large crowd queued up in front of H&M, eagerly awaiting their 7 a.m. opening and hoping to get a scratch-and-save card worth up to $ 300.

The lineups to get into certain stores were still dozens deep by early afternoon Monday. Victoria’s Secret, Lacoste and PUSCH all had shoppers waiting patiently to enter.

Pennell and Ames, who came in from Whitecourt to shop for the day, waited in several lines, including a 10-to-15-minute wait to check out the deals in lululemon.

Inside, the shoppers were “like vultures,� Pennell said. But there were deals to be found in the chaos. Ames picked up a workout top and some shorts from lululemon for $ 60.

Jessica Massia also spent some time in line on Boxing Day, when she and her shopping-mates waited for about an hour and a half to pay at Victoria’s Secret.

“For me it was worth it. For others, not so much,� Massia, 15, said with a laugh.

But shopping on Boxing Day is a holiday tradition for Massia and her best friend, Candace Job, 15.

Job uses the money she gets from her family for Christmas to fund the adventure.

“They’re like, ‘Here’s all this money. You can go blow it all the day after, or you can save it for later. You decide.’ I always decide this,� Job said, surrounded by an array of brightly coloured bags of all shapes and sizes.

This year, Massia and Job were joined by Jordyn Lynde, Massia’s cousin who was visiting from Bowmanville, Ont.

“I don’t get to shop a lot,� said Lynde, 17. “This is the biggest mall I’ve ever been in.�

Sitting on the mall’s cool tile floor and organizing their purchases, the three teens agreed Boxing Day had been a success.

Another visitor who enjoyed the mall’s Boxing Day deals was George Kidd, who was visiting from Ft. McMurray. He had finished his shopping on Monday afternoon and was spending some quality time with his grandkids while his wife and daughter continued scouring Eddie Bauer for deals.

Braving the crowds was worth the deals for Kidd, who said the toughest part of the day had been getting into the mall in the first place.

“Finding a parking space was challenging to the patience,� he said.

Kidd’s grandson Brett was looking forward to the end of shopping, however.

“I’m ready to leave,� said the seven-year-old.

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Read More @ Source