Don't the stores seem less crowded than in previous years?

[Planogirl]

I always go out during the holiday madness even if I don't need anything. I'm a weirdo who enjoys all of the craziness.

I don't think that it's nearly as crowded as it's been in the past. I can find parking places and short lines and I can even get something at Starbuck's in under a half hour.

Has this been your experience too? It's kind of strange.

 

[stinkerbelle]

umm...have ya been to wal-mart?



With the exception of Wal-Mart...I really haven't found the stores OVERLY crowded either.

A lot of "stupid people" wandering around making life difficult for others...but really, shopping was painless for me this year.

 

[Maleficent13]

I totally agree with you. I was at the main mall here last Sunday afternoon and it was practically deserted. And I went to Target at lunch today and there were checkers just standing there waiting for people.

It's kind of weird.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would agree. I have tried to stay away from stores as much as possible, but the times I have gone, they don't seem too bad.

I think more people are doing Internet and catalog shopping. To me, it's just easier, you can find exactly what you need, get it shipped right to the person's house.

 

[transparant]

Not here. I stood in line today for a half hour to purchase things at Kohls. Target was a nightmare - and Toys R Us had literally NO parking spots.

 

[Patty3]

In my area, the stores that I have been to are pretty crowded.

 

[ducklite]

Very much so. I was in Milennia Mall here in Orlando Saturday before last and it wasn't any more busy than a typical Saturday--same thing with Florida Mall.

I was in Target last night and even that wasn't bad--mostly bargain hunters!

Anne

 

[Chris2597]

The stores in San Antonio havent been very crowded....not compared to previous years....The highway traffic is horrible...though....We were in a major traffic jam on the way to eat dinner at restuarant that is in a major shopping area....I thought we would wait for a table for at least an hour...happily we walked right in and got a table...

 

[Planogirl]

I didn't think about Internet shopping! I wonder if that's making a big difference?

It's odd though. We went out last night to tour a neighborhood that's very popular for its lights. It's usually extremely crowded this close to Christmas but it was relatively quiet. The weather is nice here too so I don't know what's going on.

 

[Christine]

I think the malls here have been awful. My parents and some co-workers have been to Tyson's Corner Mall and apparently it is horrendous.

Potomac Mills mall near my house looked like a weekend shopping day last night. I heard you couldn't even get a parking space this past weekend.

On the other hand, Target has been most pleasant at all times. Kohl's was a bit dicey last weekend. Their lines are so long. There didn't seem to be a lot of people in the store, but their checkers are just very slow.

 

[KarenC]

I was at Target in the Chicago suburbs on Saturday morning and it was deserted. I had more trouble avoiding clerks stocking shelves than other shoppers. Yesterday I went to State Street at lunch. The sidewalk and the stores were jammed. I guess it depends where you shop whether you run into crowds or not.

 

[Cyndirella]

I have done all of my shopping in the past two days and was pleasantly surprised by the crowds (or lack of, I guess I should say!) The only place I had to wait in line for a while was Toys R Us. Yesterday in Walmart I didn't have to wait at all - just walked right up to an open register.

 

[Snowysmom]

The people trying to get to the mall in my town have traffic backed up onto the highway. It is crazy busy! My son works at the mall but luckily I go in the back way to drop him off so it isn't quite as bad. Stores here seem just as crowded.

 

[chrissyk]

I didn't think about Internet shopping! I wonder if that's making a big difference?

It's odd though. We went out last night to tour a neighborhood that's very popular for its lights. It's usually extremely crowded this close to Christmas but it was relatively quiet. The weather is nice here too so I don't know what's going on.

I can say for sure that I don't shop at the mall or the B+M stores at all anymore (except for the grocery store and the hardware store). I find internet shopping much cheaper and easier. Hence, I have no idea if the stores are less crowded...I'd assume that I'm not the only one who did all of my XMas shopping online, though. I'm sure that online shopping has made a dent in the traffic at B+M stores. With so many websites offering free or cheap shipping, discount coupon codes, rebates through ebates, upromise, etc., it really does pay to shop online these days rather than to hassle with the stores.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Macy's and Fayette Mall in lexington were beyond capacity at 1 yesterday-people were jumping the curb and parking on grass. Some were parking in a lot at target across a 5 lane road and walking across. Other than black Friday-Target has not been busy at all.

This is the 3rd time this month the mall parking lot has been beyond capacity with people parking across the street and hiking.

My local shopping area in georgetown (Kohls, Walmart, Lowes, Kmart) has been busy but not out of hand.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Actually a lot of retail stores aren't doing as good as they thought this year. They aren't making the money like they have in the past. My brother works for Target and he said it has been actually pretty dead lately. I know the store I used to work for hasn't been looking very crowded either. I went to two malls about two weekends ago and one was dead and the other crowded. I think internet shopping isn't much of a help. I know I bought most of my gifts off the internet because there were some great deals. Also it seems that a lot of stores aren't as decorated as they usually are. Maybe things like that aren't putting people in the holiday spirit like it used to.

 

[Chicago526]

I was at Target today in Schaumburg IL (Higgins and Meacham) and the store was very busy, but check-out lines were just fine, almost all the lanes were open.

I was at Woodfield Mall Tuesday afternoon and I couldn't find parking! And this was the middle of a work day!!!

So I'd say around here, crowds are about the same as usual.

 

[pfishgirl]

I noticed this as well.. 2 days ago got a parking space at the mall with no trouble at all.. Then today went to the Outlet center and moved my car 3 times for different sections of the "mall" and found spots right in front of the stores I needed..

So does this mean people are shopping less in person?? Online shopping seems to be the craze... or are we all spending less $$

 

[LEO_Magic]

Well here in Miami is crazy! I went to the mall & didn't find parking. I was driving around for 45mins & everyone else fighting over sales. I couldn't take it, so I left !

 

[Planogirl]

You know, I just thought of something. You would think that the last minute shoppers would still be going to the malls because they tend to wait too late to do much online shopping. But they're just not out there, at least not here.

There might just be some good sales after Christmas.