Last Minute Christmas Shoppers Hit Stores
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - With just a few hours left to finish your Christmas shopping list, the clock is ticking away.
That means there's not a lot of time for careful thought, reported 1010 WINS' Roger Stern. Now it's look, select and pay.
"I intended to wait 'til the last minute. A lot of people aren't working today. That means school's closed, there's not as many people out in this traffic, and I know exactly what I need," one shopper at the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers told Stern.
Last Minute Shoppers Hit Stores
"I kinda do stress myself out, but now that I'm finished, I'm good," another shopper said.
"One of my least favorite things to do, all of the traffic, but it's all for a good cause to make your friends and family happy so you do what you got to do," another shopper told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
Bargain hunters have been enjoying last-minute deals.
"There's sales right before Christmas, so you know, I have to," shopper Lamis Osman told CBS2's Alex Denis. "As a college student, you can't spend that much money."
Darrel Spence calls himself a savvy saver.
"I'm a last minute shopper. But, I want to get the good deals. That's why I'm here today," he said.
Earrings, bags and shirts - shoppers were nabbing everything they need.
"I got a sweater for my sister and I got my brother Vans sneakers," said TJ Giggen, of Jersey City.
Last Minute Christmas Shoppers Hit Stores
For some, the key to last-minute shopping was arriving at stores early.
"I was able to get to the store and buy quick items, not really focus on the price, just buy and just leave," Dean from Yonkers told Stern.
Several large chains were offering discounts, Denis reported. With hours left before the big gift-giving day, JC Penney was offering 20% off entire purchases. Macy's is already offering after-Christmas prices.
"Little Ugg boots that were $40, I got them for $19," said Kayla gonzalez, of Jersey City Heights.
And don't forget about the mall kiosks.
"Then you have the carts in the middle that you can haggle and negotiate with, and I enjoy negotiating with them," said one shopper.
But not everyone cared about the deep discounts. While Veena thought about savings, her son had other things on his mind: the weather and Santa.
"I hope he comes safely because the rain might blow him away," said Dakshin Pagadala.
A little rain won't stop Santa and won't stop shoppers either.
According to one survey, about 15 percent of all shoppers wait until the last minute to buy their holiday gifts.
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