Contradictions abound around Las Vegas Valley in day after Christmas shopping

By Jeff Pope

Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 | 2 p.m.

Shoppers returned to the stores today around the Las Vegas Valley to exchange unwanted gifts and hunt for bargains offered by retailers desperate to unload holiday merchandise and boost their sales.

Some shoppers at Galleria at Sunset in Henderson, like Molly McCready and her sister, Miranda Tyson, were picking up a few things that Santa forgot.

McCready found deals at Toys R Us for her three young children on board games as well as other toys that were marked down on already-discounted prices.

She pushed her son Michael in a stroller and said he was too young to know if Santa brought them or not.

“I’ll keep a few things for birthdays and give them a treat every now and then,” McCready said.

As for Tyson, she cashed in some gift cards on items for herself but declined to say specifically what she bought.

“There were a few things I wanted and now I’m giving myself a happy Christmas, a late Christmas, but a happy one,” she said.

Galleria and other malls and retailers opened at 6 a.m., with some offering deals up to 80-percent off on toys, electronics and clothing.

J.C. Penney opened at 5:30 a.m. — the earliest post-Christmas opening in its history — and offered more door-busting sale items than it had ever before on Dec. 26. The chain also offered wake-up calls to customers who signed up online.

But not every place was hopping. Town Square was a delight for shoppers who hate the rush of crowds just before Christmas. Workers restocking shelves outnumbered shoppers in most stores.

Julianne Evans, 23, found bargains on clothes and stocking stuffers for her family in Chicago. She said her job prevented her from being with her family on Christmas, but she would be joining them on Dec. 30.

The delay paid off as she found deals on all of her gifts without any hassle.

“It’s the perfect day to shop. I’ll have to make this a tradition from now on,” she said.

Edwin Pak, 28, and Jasina Monroe, 26, also took advantage of deals at Town Square. They said they usually don’t shop on Dec. 26, but needed decorations for their new home in the Silverado area.

But they would definitely make a habit of shopping the day after Christmas from now on.

“Why pay full price if you don’t have to,” Pak said, as he stood among five full bags of clothes, bedding and knick-knacks.

Monroe added, “We didn’t have a lot of money to spend and I don’t think we did spend a lot even though we got all this stuff.”

The scene at the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip was more chaotic as hundreds of shoppers turned up causing traffic tie-ups on both Las Vegas Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road. One shopper said the number of people easily trumped the patrons that showed up on Black Friday.

Several store managers deferred questions to their corporate offices, which were unreachable today.

With customers looking to save more money than spend it this year because of the economic downturn, steep discounts may not be enough to save what’s looking to be a miserable holiday season.

Nearly 70-percent of shoppers were at least 90-percent done buying gifts before Christmas this year, the highest level since 2002, according to America’s Research Group.

“With recessionary cutbacks top of mind, American consumers are flocking to Wal-Mart for discounts and their wide range of merchandise,” said C. Britt Beemer, CEO of America’s Research Group, in a statement.

Beemer expects retail sales to drop 3.5 percent this year and said the final week of December accounts for about 14-percent of Christmas sales.

Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or [email protected]