The Day-After Dash Sales, Returns And Gift Certificates Ensure Post-Christmas Bingeing

Lounging around the house in new Christmas pajamas was not the way many people spent the day after Christmas.

Decked out in new Christmas clothes - at least those not being returned - people flocked to malls and stores Tuesday to take advantage of after-Christmas sales and to return gifts.

In anticipation of the large number of people returning gifts, malls opened early and stores cut prices to entice customers.

Coeur d’Alene’s Silver Lake Mall hopped with buyers and browsers.

Brandi Herdt’s feet hurt.

By late Tuesday afternoon, all the Gottschalks’ fragrance counter manager dreamed of was a hot bubble bath and a relaxing evening with her fiance to help recover from the 10-hour marathon.

“It’s been extremely busy,” Herdt said, barely looking up from the cash register.

She had arrived at 6 a.m. to get the store ready. It was already five minutes past shift’s end.

About seven people stood in line waiting to exchange misfitting gifts.

“A lot of people don’t understand the lines,” Herdt said with a sigh. “That’s what I don’t get.”

Lisa McLuskie of Post Falls smiled at Herdt and clerk Elaine Taylor.

McLuskie lucked out and had no lines to get through before buying a Christmas tree angel and glass ornaments.

She was there for the sales.

“She got all of this for $16.80,” Taylor said about McLuskie’s bargain.

The clerk loves seeing people get a good deal.

In contrast, a few stores down in the mall, Heather Chesterton of K B Toys enjoyed the quiet.

“It was slow,” the assistant manager said. “I was surprised.”

Several people browsed the rows of dolls and trucks. Both cash register lanes were open.

Chesterton had spent most of the day selling toys to children eager to spend their Christmas cash.

The hot seller? Tekno Puppy, a robotlike, voice-activated dog that sells for $44.99.

She had handled few returns or exchanges.

Chesterton’s reasoning:

“I think a lot of them did their shopping early,” she said.

In Spokane, NorthTown Mall was prepared for the day-after-Christmas crush with people directing traffic in the crowded mall parking lot.

A lot of shoppers were using gift certificates they received as presents, said Kim Hagerty, marketing director.

“We sold a lot of gift certificates,” she said. “Kids have the week off and it looks like they are taking advantage of the time off.”

The Spokane Valley Mall expected people coming in to return gifts would leave with purchases because of the numerous sales at mall stores, said Cori Cummins, assistant marketing director.

“This is the biggest day for returns,” she said. “We expect big numbers. We also are expecting big sales.”

The story was much the same at River Park Square. With most stores slashing prices, the downtown mall found a mix of bargain hunters and people returning gifts.

“Now is a good time to shop and get some good deals,” said Marcy Latta, marketing director.