Hot toys, cheap prices lure shoppers

The scene at Toys R Us was surreal at 11:30 p.m. Thanksgiving night, with at least 1,000 people waiting for the doors to open at midnight.

The parking lot was full of cars, and shoppers quickly took over the lots at Commonwealth Pharmacy, Piedmont Medical Center and Ryan’s Buffet to get in a line that wrapped from the door all the way up one lane to Piedmont Drive and back down another lane to the store — and still, more shoppers were arriving.

About halfway through the line, Tammy Wooding waited. She had a list of items she was interested in, including an iPod touch and an Xbox 360 game system.

“I just hope we get something on the list,” Wooding said.

Zhu Zhu Pets were what hundreds of the people on line wanted. One of this year’s hottest toys, the little electronic hamsters — and accessories — have been hard to find this season. The critters retail for about $10, but demand has caused the price to skyrocket online.

Near the front of the line, Deborah Kelly, of Roxboro, N.C., said she had been in line since 6:30 p.m.

“They’re going for as much as $200 online,” Kelly said. “They’re only $9.99 here, but they only have 100 of them.”

Holding their places at the front of the line, the Larry and Laura Land, of Providence, N.C., and their son, Jordan, were determined to get some of the scarce toy.

“I’ve got two girls that want them,” Larry Land said.

At 12:10 a.m., Katie Dickerson and Mean Long exited the store, each holding a bag containing a Zhu Zhu Pet.

“Yay!” Dickerson said in delight. “No one in Danville has these!”

The Land family was right behind them, with Zhu Zhus, Crayola art sets and Spy Gear.

Bevin Lovelace, of Danville, wouldn’t say what she purchased for fear her children would find out, but did say she was pleased.

“I’ve been here since 9:15 p.m., in the rain, freezing cold and wind,” Lovelace said. “But I got what I needed and I’m excited.”

At 3 a.m., there were some familiar faces at the front of a long line at Old Navy.

Laura Land again took a position at the door, waiting to buy a Rock Band Guitar. Her husband and son were staked out at Target, also first on line.

“Last year was the first time we did Black Friday, and we didn’t get all we wanted,” Laura Land said. “We had a plan this time. After Target, we’re done. We’ll go home, sleep, then put the tree up.”

At Target, Rosalind Berger and Tony Gunter, of Danville, waited to buy themselves a new 32-inch television and a camcorder, and planned to look at pajama sets, cookware and coffee makers for gifts.

Comfortably sitting in a chair at the front of the line, Lori Daniels, of Milton, N.C., said Black Friday shopping was a lot like hunting.

“You don’t know if you’ll get the prize buck, but you go,” Daniels said, laughing.

The chairs a half-dozen or so people were using were compliments of Carrie Hopkins, of Ridgeway. She and her husband pulled all the chairs they had in their vehicle out to share with others on line. He waited in the car for 4:45 p.m. to arrive, when he would fold and pack up the chairs, so the shoppers could be free to run when the doors open.

“That’s his job today,” Hopkins laughed.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet was a little calmer when its doors opened at 6 a.m. — but the people in line were just as determined to get what they wanted: an Optimus Prime Transformer.

Shakira Cole said her 5-year-old wanted one, and she was glad to get it.

“This is success for the first time today,” Cole said. “I went to Toys R Us and didn’t even try to get in.”

Another woman, who wouldn’t give her name, said the $19.99 price for the Transformer made it possible for her to get it for her 8-year-old.

“He’s been asking for it for a year and a half,” she said. “It sells for $60, so this makes it reasonable.”