Small crowds, fewer deals, no chaos, shoppers say Black Friday is nothing like it used to be this year



Reports are coming in from all over the country that the long lines, buzzing crowds, and general chaos typical of Black Friday shopping is ... nearly non-existent this year.

While people are showing up at retail stores to shop in-person in far greater numbers than last year — before COVID-19 vaccines were widely available — shoppers and local news outlets posting to social media reported shorter lines and less chaos this Friday.

Goood #BlackFriday morning, Orlando! The shopping here began just a few ago, at 5! Not a huge crowd, counted 31 in line just moments before open. @MyNews13pic.twitter.com/ZVzvvtJyfx
— Ashleigh Mills (@Ashleigh Mills) 1637922072

Popular big box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, which are offering large sales and Black Friday deals today, are seeing moderate crowds, but nothing like the stampedes featured in viral videos in years past.

Black Friday shopping lines are forming outside many stores in Baton Rouge. We\u2019re live at Best Buy where doors just opened at 5 a.m.pic.twitter.com/WRaNih7Wrq
— Cali Hubbard (@Cali Hubbard) 1637925300
Happy #BlackFriday from @Walmart in Elk Grove! Here\u2019s what it looked like right when the doors opened at 5am. No campers this year but one of the first people in line told me he got here at 1am! He said this line was nothing compared to the past 12 years. @ABC10pic.twitter.com/hi8iohkFxY
— Lena Howland (@Lena Howland) 1637934362

Shoppers that spoke to Insider said they were able to get in and out of retail stores quickly, with one claiming they found what they wanted and were out in under 10 minutes. Another man said there were about 100 people in line at a Walmart store in Harrisonville, Missouri and that he was able to get in and out in about 40 minutes.

Right side of Walmart, long line. Left side of Walmart, I stroll up and the gentlemen unlocks the door. I casually walk in, walked to the deals table\u2026 got the super duper cheap air pods. Paid. Walked out. Everyone was super nice. Zero chaos
— Geoff (@Geoff) 1637926621

"It's so empty and bare, which is kind of nice. There's not crazy people, although we did just see a lady with a stroller full of bags and no child," said Tabitha Turner, a shopper who spoke to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about her experience at the North East Mall in Hurst, Texas.

"The crowds are much easier. Lines are simple, which is not quite as fun. I always enjoyed the people fighting over parking spaces and yelling at people for the last toy … We're missing the hustle and bustle of all the crazy people … It was a blast and it was fun to have to deal with all the craziness."

Customers in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania shared similar stories with WOLF-TV.

"Very calm. There is no traffic even. Which is amazing cause usually you see a lot of that, but no traffic. Like I said 2 minutes in line at Walmart, but I was right in the store able to get everything, no chaos," said Tina Merrifield of Jessup.

Some shoppers expressed disappointment with the quality of the deals this year, or with the unavailability of certain items because of ongoing supply chain issues. Many retailers warned customers in recent weeks to get their shopping done early because popular items would not be available. In one video, a worker at Best Buy told those waiting in line to buy the Playtation 5 early; Friday morning the store was out-of-stock.

"Black Friday is a total bust," complained Vince Langman of Chicago on Twitter. "The deals suck and there's literally more workers at Target than shoppers."

Wow Black Friday is a total bust \nThe deals suck and there's literally more workers at Target than shoppers \nNot one person in linepic.twitter.com/D9EIZI4C1n
— Vince Langman (@Vince Langman) 1637940259

While there may be fewer discounts this year, other shoppers were happy to miss the typical Black Friday crowds.

"I don't want to get mixed up in any of that chaos," said Hannah Smith, of Iowa, while shopping on Thursday.

Video shows brave 9-year-old girl fight thug robbing her mother: 'I fought back. I had to save my mom.'



A 9-year-old girl was awarded by police for her heroic actions to protect her mother during a robbery in Florida.

Danielle Mobley and her daughter Journee Nelson were grocery shopping in West Palm Beach on Nov. 2. That's when surveillance video captured the moment that the mother was attacked by a thug trying to steal her purse.

"We struggled over the purse. He pushed me down to the ground," Danielle Mobley told WSVN-TV.

The suspect reportedly told Mobley to let go of her purse otherwise, "You're going to make me pop you," while reaching for his waistband.

Instead of being petrified by fear, the young girl ran to try to save her mother from the attack. Journee punched the violent robber.

"We walked out the store and then I took a little glance at him and then I looked back at the car and then I opened my door. And then, next thing I know, I saw him running towards my mom," Journee said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"I fought back. I had to save my mom," Journee said.

Journee punched the thug in the face, and he pushed the girl to the ground.

He fled the crime scene, and the brave 9-year-old girl ran after the man for five blocks before he got away.

WOW. A 9-year-old girl ran to her mom's defense this month when a man attempted a daytime robbery along Broadway Ave. @WestPalmPD will recognize the child today for her bravery. A man was later charged with robbery and battery causing great bodily harm. \n@WPTV @FOX29WFLXpic.twitter.com/hOqQfbqr07
— Ashleigh Walters (@Ashleigh Walters) 1637237876

The thief stole Mobley's purse, which contained a cellphone, several bank cards, a Coach wallet, cash, and her concealed carry permit.

However, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Demetrius Jackson and arrested two days after the robbery. He was charged with robbery and battery.

On Thursday, the West Palm Beach Police Department honored the pint-sized hero with a medal and certificate.

"I bet he was shocked when she kicked him right in the face because he definitely could tell on the video that he was not expecting that, and her actions were perfect timing in this particular situation, and I think she hit him pretty hard," said West Palm Beach Police Department Chief Frank Adderley.

The chief warned, "I wouldn't recommend that you confront an individual like that but in the heat of the moment things happen."

Chief Adderley honored a 9-year old child today for bravery as she ran to her mother\u2019s defense to fend off a brazen robber. An #arrest was swiftly made in this case. \n\nThe West Palm Beach Police Foundation presented the child with a token of appreciation.pic.twitter.com/r9tz8PoacW
— West Palm Beach PD (@West Palm Beach PD) 1637273889

The mother commended her daughter, "I'm very proud of her that was her initial reaction. I wish we, sometimes, things could be a little different because she is still dealing with this mentally."