December 5, 2006

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

With the holiday season upon us, how far along are you with your holiday shopping? Did you shop on Black Friday? Do you plan on braving the long lines in stores this year or will you purchase some items online?
(Asked at the Nob Hill at Kirkwood Plaza)

“I haven’t done any shopping yet, it just snuck up on me. I’ve just been too busy. I didn’t go out on Black Friday, my wife and I have 2 ½ -year old twins and they keep us really busy. I’m also a procrastinator. I’ll start shopping about two weeks before Christmas. I’ll do mine on the Internet—I’m on my computer 90 percent of the day—my wife will go to the stores.”

Jay Dance, 37
Campbell / Electronic Arts


“I started shopping last July. Whenever I go into a store, I’m looking for things. No, I didn’t go shopping on Black Friday because I was working. I will do my shopping in the malls because I seem to find what I want there. If you go on the Internet, you don’t always get to see what’s in stock.”

Emily DeGuc, 17
Campbell / Senior at Prospect High School


“I’m about halfway finished. We started back in August, as we see things we pick them up. I was actually in Disneyworld on Black Friday, and we did buy some Christmas presents. There were no lines on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), but there were lines on Friday. We do most of our shopping in the malls. I like to look for the stuff online, but I like to see what I’m buying.”

Dale Merrithew, 59
Campbell / IT Specialist


“Yes, I’ve started shopping. But no, I didn’t go out on Black Friday. It’s just too hectic; there are too many people. You wait in line for hours. I won’t do it. I will never do it. I do my shopping in the malls. Since my husband and I are retired, we can go at off times, stroll around and take our time. That let’s us enjoy the season.”

Marie Ford, 57
Campbell/San Jose border
Retired


“I do my shopping all through the year because I don’t like to be stressed out. No, I’ve never been shopping on Black Friday. I do about half my shopping on line. It’s simple and less stressful and you get good buys."

Toni Grace, 58
Campbell
Social worker


“I have done some shopping, but just a little bit. I went out for a couple of hours on Black Friday and it was terrible. I do about 20 percent of my shopping on line. There are certain things you can only get on line or they are too hard to find in stores or it will take forever.”

Diane Carter, 40
Campbell
Medical assistant


"I’ve done some shopping, but I didn’t go out on Black Friday. I avoided it on purpose. I prefer to go to stores because you get to feel and touch it. You can put it in your hand, so that you know exactly what you are getting.”

David Vieira, 43
Campbell
Personal assistant


"I haven’t done any. I actually came down with a cold, and finals are coming up. As soon as I get done with finals, I’ll take control of it. I went out on Black Wednesday [the day before Thanksgiving] and it was pretty rough. I had to work on Black Friday. I’ll do most of my shopping at the mall. I’m not big on buying things online. I know what I want, and I can get it all in one mall. It’s much faster that way."

Jennifer Fabrizio, 19
Los Gatos
Sophomore at San Jose State and waitress