By Tanner Hunt
If you suffered through yet another Best Buy rush or Wal-Mart stampede last Friday, consider a more communal approach next November.
Vanessa Bonilla, who has managed the local Savers Thrift Store for six years, was expecting a few dozen people waiting outside last Friday morning. The store offered 75 percent off before noon and 50 percent off the rest of the day.
Bonilla says she prefers working in resale over retail because it’s a way to give back to the community and build true connections with customers.
People who have moved away drop by the store when they visit Lubbock. Cancer patients have stopped by to say they are okay, Bonilla said.
“They come and look for us and give us treats,” she said.
Photo by Nicole Crites/The Hub@TTU
Ralph’s Records, which sells used CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, cassettes and video games, has also been running Black Friday specials every year, said Doug Stapp, a store employee for 20 years.
He said the deals last all day and vary depending on the product. The regulars usually arrive first thing in the morning.
“Oh, it’s a huge turnout,” Stapp said.
Bigger resale chains are, by contrast, moving away from the late-November discount tradition. Goodwill used to offer Black Friday deals, but its only promotion this year was for new merchandise from major retailers.
Dianna Cathy, a local manager for seven years, said Goodwill customers are not likely to bothered by the lack of extra discounts. When asked whether she’d like to offer even better deals, she smiled and said: “I just agree with corporate.”
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