MODE: Retail stores are fully decorated and
shoppers are emerging en masse. I have two questions: one, now that it’s getting down
to the wire, when is the best time for those who hate holiday shopping to shop?
Mark Nobile: First of all, we’re going to
whoop Capital City’s butt with our big sandcastle — 150-ton sandcastle —
and our mounted patrol. What do you have, John? Do you have anything you can come back
with on that?
John Walters: Sure, go to Harrisburg East Mall,
play at the beach, bet on the horses … Of course, but where do YOU go holiday
shopping Mark?
MN: Well, uh, I go to Capital City Mall.
JW: … and I go to Harrisburg East Mall.
Seriously, if you REALLY don’t like Christmas shopping, when should you go? January,
probably.
MN: Well, I would say that if you really don’t
like shopping, now is definitely the time. And don’t go to Capital City Mall.
MODE: When can they avoid the crowds?
MN: We’re open some days as early as six or
seven o’clock in the morning, that’s a time for people who are absolutely crazy.
Anybody who would shop that early is nuts.
JW: Almost everyone enjoys shopping, and there are
certain times of the day when the mall is going to be more crowded than other times. If
you don’t like the crowds, then come in the off-hours, like when the mall first opens
or at the when the mall is getting ready to close.
MN: Actually, the best time to come is between five
and six at night. That’s the slowest time because everyone is going home from work.
MODE: And you’re open late, too?
JW: Oh yes, for insomniacs we’re open late,
too. For graveyard shift workers and insomniacs, we’re open.
JW: That was one question … you said you had
two.
MODE: When is the time for people who love holiday
shopping to shop?
JW: They start January 1 and just keep shopping all
year.
MN: … and certainly Black Friday is a festive
occasion for us. We all look forward to that.
MODE: So, does that mean you don’t like it?
MN: No, we actually love it. We just don’t
like all of the s**t that comes with it.
MODE: The crowds … the children?
MN: Well, you have to have that, or you’re in
trouble. I mean, that’s what you’re really looking for.
JW: I really like the fights in the parking lot for
the closest spot to the door. That’s added entertainment value.
MODE: You really see things like that??
JW and MN: Oh, sure!
JW: The other tough thing is that there are only
two horse stalls at Harrisburg East, and there’s going to be a fight over those horse
stalls.
MODE: So Black Friday is the time to go shopping?
JW: Yes, if you want to have all of the hoopla, get
up early in the morning, and go charging to fight the crowds. That’s a good day to do
it.
MODE: If shoppers really want to get wrapped up in
Black Friday, how do you keep them here, rather than going to New York or King of Prussia?
JW: With so much construction going on around here,
we’ve made arrangements for cars to strategically break down in the cattle chutes so
people can’t go.
MN: I think there are fewer people than you think
that do that, really. They have four shopping centers in the area, although John and I
would tell you there’s only two.
JW: … and we try to stay in the country, we
don’t go to those foreign places like Prussia.
MN: We have the largest Hecht’s, the only Lord
and Taylor, and the largest JC Penney in the area at Harrisburg East Mall.
JW: Sure, but I didn’t see Eddie Bauer there.
MODE: The joy of giving is what the season is all
about, but what about people who return their gifts? Is there a window or limitation as to
when customers can or should return gifts?
JW: The best way to do it is when you think
you’re going to get away with it, making sure that the person who gave you the gift
isn’t around. You want to get in as soon as possible and return that gift.
MODE: Do you get scammed by people who return items
that they didn’t buy, but shoplifted?
MN: It doesn’t happen at malls. That only
happens at Wal-Mart.
MODE: Are people as belligerent when they return as
when they shop?
JW: No, just mall managers.
MN: Seriously, the only time you have that is when
the return policy isn’t really clear. The store has it plastered all over the place,
but the customer conveniently neglects to notice it.
MODE: Surely, this makes the day after Christmas
very busy.
JW: Oh, yes. That’s why John and I take off
that day. There are people who make returns, as well as people who received gift
certificates who come in to take advantage of after-Christmas sales.
MODE: What suggestions do you have for people who
will need to make returns?
JW and MN: Get there early!
MODE: Any other words of shopping wisdom this
season?
JW: Yes, get started now if you haven’t
started shopping yet.
MN: And if you don’t start now, maybe you
should start next week, or the week after that.
JW: The other thing I would suggest is that if you
park your car in the lot, remember where your car is. People lose their cars all the time.
JW and MN: Actually, it’s not the cars
that are lost, it’s the people.
MN: We have people come in one entrance, leave from
another, and swear that their car has been stolen. Then we’ll find their car, parked
in the exact same spot — on the opposite side of the mall.
JW: … and then the person asks why you moved
their car.
MN: Also, don’t let the mayhem get to you.
There’s no way around it. Either enjoy what you’re doing and going for and
expect what you’re going to run into, or just stay home.
JW: Just go early and go with a list!
