Black Friday lines form at GameStops across Central Coast
SAND CITY, Calif. (KION) Stores all over the Central Coast remain closed for Thanksgiving, with many big name stores not opening up early as they usually do before Black Friday. But that isn't stopping some dedicated shoppers from coming out and camping out on Thursday.
A number of gamers pitched their positions at the front doors of GameStops in Salinas and Sand City on Thursday, some as early as 10 a.m. The kicker: GameStop doesn't even open until 7 a.m. on Friday.
"Yesterday, I just had a baby.. newborn. Today, my wife got discharged. I've been waiting for the PS5 countless nights, running on two hours sleep for weeks, working hard. My wife cut me slack today, she was like go get your system," said Javier Zavala, a Salinas resident who was camping out at the GameStop in Sand City with friends.
The big ticket items they and others are waiting for: the Sony Playstation 5 and the new Xbox Series X gaming consoles.
"Hopefully we get it, we're first in line. Third person, third person," said Zavala.
"You know, I got my fingers crossed. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I'm good with it either way. I'm just out here to hang out and support," said Zachary Thompson, a Salinas resident who also intends to camp out at the GameStop in Salinas overnight.
While most other big box stores at Harden Ranch in Salinas are closed and parking lots empty, the GameStop there also already saw some lines forming. Thompson plans to wait at least 16 hours in his spot in line until the gaming store opens at 7 a.m, all for a new PS5.
"Yeah, I kind of think it's worth it. They're not going to have anymore for two months after this so might as well get it now while I still can," said Thompson.
But it is not a done deal for these gamers. They tell KION GameStop has at least a minimum two of both the PS5 and the new Xbox. These gamers are banking that there are more, hopefully.
"If you go anywhere online, all you're going to find is a bunch of scalpers on eBay asking like ridiculous prices like $1600 for a console that's usually like $500," said Andrew Cronin, a Salinas resident.
Everyone came prepared for the overnight haul: blankets, jackets, charging station and entertainment devices. Zavala was not concerned about the COVID-19 curfew that took effect over the weekend.
"We're not going to get a ticket today. So hopefully that curfew won't hit us, but we'll be all right," said Zavala.
Stores like Target also open at 7 a.m. on Black Friday. But many shops have had Black Friday deals all month long to limit the number of people in their store at one time.
