EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Shouting, shoving, and shopping. A common occurrence on Black Fridays past in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
This scene played out the day after Thanksgiving in 2008 at Target in Wilkes-Barre Township.
"We came for the big TV here. Um, there are maybe ten left. I got elbowed in the chest for it," said Kristin Ermak.
"Well, I got the dual portable DVDs for the car. It was $88. It was a great deal," said Carina Noto.
Electronics were always a draw including when Circuit City still had a brick-and-mortar presence.
"XBOX 360. $200. It's about a $150 savings," said Dillon Andrzejewski.
Many sleep-deprived shoppers on Black Friday 2006 in Dickson City filed into long lines bundled up and looking to get their hands on what was then considered deeply discounted doorbusters.
"$479 for a 32-inch HDTV. That's a good deal," said Chris Lynch.
But spending hours in the elements elbow to elbow with so many others discouraged some shoppers like one man back then who was looking to save $100 on a printer.
"Is it worth it? Uh, I don't know now because looking at the rush here I don't think I will even be able to get in there," said Sammy Irfn.
Electronics were not all that made Black Friday so popular.
Many sought to scoop up the season's hottest toys racing from store to store and hoping not to leave disappointed.
Not everyone is a seasoned Black Friday shopper. Some are out for their first go-around.
That's me on Black Friday 2013 when an increasing number of stores kicked off the holiday shopping season the previous day on Thanksgiving.
"Last year it was like a frenzy but this year it seems a lot more calmer," said Marilyn Krawczyk.
For the most part, it has been ever since. These days, holiday sales start earlier and earlier and some of the best deals are often found later and later in the season.
But for years to come many of us will wax nostalgic of those times when we became part of those massive crowds, fueled up on caffeine the day after we filled up on turkey.
