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CNN Live At Daybreak

Holiday Shopping: Bargain Hunters

Aired November 28, 2003 - 06:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally kick off to the holiday shopping season. Diehard shoppers are probably already in the stores looking for some early bird specials.
CNN's Jason Carroll is joining us from Macy's in New York.

Jason, any good deals out there?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am sure there are lots of good deals for anyone who would want to like get up this early in the morning to head out there in search of them. If you want to look for them, they are here.

And in fact, this morning here at Macy's, the doors opened at 6:00 a.m. But already, people were lined up even an hour before that trying to get inside. Stores, again, opening at about 6:00 a.m. You saw that here at Macy's. Same thing happening at places like Sears and JCPenny's, Toys 'R' Us. It's happening all over the country, these early bird specials.

This is the day that some call Black Friday. Others are simply calling it Bargain Friday. It is the day that millions of people go through this ritual of getting up early in the morning to head out and find the bargains.

Spoke to two people this morning. Spoke to a woman by the name of Christina (ph) and Grace (ph) from Hoboken, New Jersey. And I asked them, I said what is the theory behind all of this to have to get up so early to find these bargains? You are going to find bargains throughout the holiday season. And they said look, it's about getting a jump on the rest. So that's really what it's all about for these people who have this obsession with coming out this early in the morning to get their bargains.

The National Retail Federation projects that holiday sales are going to be up by like 5.7 percent. But then you have other experts who say look, you are not going to find the kind of bargains that you have seen in years past. But I think when it -- when it comes to the people that, at least some of the folks that I talked to, it's all about the whole process. And it's not just about finding bargains, it's about getting up early and it's about the hunt as well. I think that's sort of the philosophy about -- behind getting up this early to head out to some of these stores and find the bargains on Bargain Friday -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: I think -- it's all right, you got up really early this morning, Jason, you can call me anything you want. You know it is a game. That's what it is. You want to go out there and hunt for a bargain, right?

CARROLL: I think so. It's about the hunt. It's about, you know, getting up and getting out the papers and clipping the coupons and trying to take place in these early bird specials. And it's really about that hunt, coming out here and seeing what the next person is getting and -- but also in talking to some people, it's really about getting ahead of the crowds.

CALLAWAY: Yes.

CARROLL: It's not that crowded here yet, but it's about getting the jump on the rest of the people going out there.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thank you, Jason, have fun out there.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





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Aired November 28, 2003 - 06:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally kick off to the holiday shopping season. Diehard shoppers are probably already in the stores looking for some early bird specials.
CNN's Jason Carroll is joining us from Macy's in New York.

Jason, any good deals out there?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am sure there are lots of good deals for anyone who would want to like get up this early in the morning to head out there in search of them. If you want to look for them, they are here.

And in fact, this morning here at Macy's, the doors opened at 6:00 a.m. But already, people were lined up even an hour before that trying to get inside. Stores, again, opening at about 6:00 a.m. You saw that here at Macy's. Same thing happening at places like Sears and JCPenny's, Toys 'R' Us. It's happening all over the country, these early bird specials.

This is the day that some call Black Friday. Others are simply calling it Bargain Friday. It is the day that millions of people go through this ritual of getting up early in the morning to head out and find the bargains.

Spoke to two people this morning. Spoke to a woman by the name of Christina (ph) and Grace (ph) from Hoboken, New Jersey. And I asked them, I said what is the theory behind all of this to have to get up so early to find these bargains? You are going to find bargains throughout the holiday season. And they said look, it's about getting a jump on the rest. So that's really what it's all about for these people who have this obsession with coming out this early in the morning to get their bargains.

The National Retail Federation projects that holiday sales are going to be up by like 5.7 percent. But then you have other experts who say look, you are not going to find the kind of bargains that you have seen in years past. But I think when it -- when it comes to the people that, at least some of the folks that I talked to, it's all about the whole process. And it's not just about finding bargains, it's about getting up early and it's about the hunt as well. I think that's sort of the philosophy about -- behind getting up this early to head out to some of these stores and find the bargains on Bargain Friday -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: I think -- it's all right, you got up really early this morning, Jason, you can call me anything you want. You know it is a game. That's what it is. You want to go out there and hunt for a bargain, right?

CARROLL: I think so. It's about the hunt. It's about, you know, getting up and getting out the papers and clipping the coupons and trying to take place in these early bird specials. And it's really about that hunt, coming out here and seeing what the next person is getting and -- but also in talking to some people, it's really about getting ahead of the crowds.

CALLAWAY: Yes.

CARROLL: It's not that crowded here yet, but it's about getting the jump on the rest of the people going out there.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thank you, Jason, have fun out there.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





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