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Black Friday is known for long lines and frenzied sales frenzy as post-Thanksgiving shoppers chase the lowest prices.
But in the age of online shopping, many pre-Black Friday sales and price hikes, Secaucus stores were quiet on the unofficial first day of the holiday shopping season.
Just before noon on Black Friday, the retail district, located between Route 3 and I-95, may have made another Friday mistake. At the local Walmart, business is known for its casual pace, with a mix of carts full of groceries and home goods.
If anything screamed “Black Friday” it was the action in the electronics section of the store, where the biggest attraction seemed to be more than just flat screen televisions and gaming chairs. But a strange silence prevailed, and the lines at the cashier seemed smaller than the average busy Saturday.
Ricardo Washington of Passaic was pulling out a 70-inch TV he bought for about $470 on his first Black Friday. “I had a 42- or 37-inch, small thing for at least six, seven years,” he said as he described his new purchase.
An estimated 166.3 million people plan to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to an annual survey released Friday by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights and Analytics.
That number is nearly 8 million more than last year and the highest estimate since the NRF began tracking the data in 2017, according to a statement from the coalition.
Across I-95 where the new store is located, the store was busy, but not crowded, and a decent-sized group gathered around the gaming PCs to try them out.
Weehawken couple Sarah Jane and Ultan Byrne were there to buy a TV and wall mount. They have done several Black Fridays and noticed that the store was not as busy as in previous years. The two were once again in the spotlight as they packed their purchases into a colorful Volkswagen van.
“We were hoping for more sales, and I’m disappointed,” said Sarah Jane. But at least we didn’t have to wait (long) for the internet.”
Although inflation is at a decade high, all three say it has not played a role in their purchasing plans.
“I’m a very quiet customer, I just try to stay by myself, stay out of other people’s way because other people get upset or angry,” Washington said.
New Jersey Advance Media reporter Vashti Harris contributed to this report.
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