Bargain hunters flood stores

Retail district packed by 10 a.m.

Bargain-hungry shoppers tore through the streets of Vancouver Tuesday in search of cheaper gadgets and discounted duds.

The retail hub of Robson Street was packed by 10 a.m. as discount hunters milled in and out of stores -- or wedged into lines -- looking to spend Christmas cash on marked-down mittens or less-pricey pants.

Since the early bird gets the cheapest gizmo, so to speak, gadget-minded shoppers began waiting the night before.

At Best Buy on Cambie Street, customers began lining up at about 9 p.m. Christmas night. At Future Shop's West Broadway store, the line began forming at about midnight. Both locations opened at 6 a.m. to crowds of about 200 people, and both outlets consider Boxing Day their busiest day of the year.

"People like the experience of being the first person in," said Cheryl Grant of Future Shop. She compared the Boxing Day phenomenon with crowds for premier screenings of movies or concert tickets. "There's great deals but there's also the fun and anticipation of the day."

Across the country, almost six million shoppers were expected to spend about $1.9 billion on Boxing Day on items such as big-screen television sets and clothing. The average Canadian was expected to spend $328, and men said they expected to spend more than women, at $414 versus $222, according to a survey by Maritz Research, conducted on behalf of Visa Canada.

Even with the lines and crammed sidewalks, shopping is a fun activity, said Susan Su, 24, an enthusiastic Boxing Day shopper from Langley who was busy by 9:30 a.m., along with buddies Emma Chen, 23 and Jenny Jin, 24.

"We're just looking around," said Su, waiting in a 20-minute line outside the retail chain French Connection. "It's also about spending the day with friends and hanging out."

At the same time, she acknowledged, it is easy to be swept into the promise of discounts and savings and buy something you don't need, or to spend too much money.

"I really didn't plan to buy anything," she said. "When you get in, you grab a lot of stuff, but just think before you buy it."

The sight of a line sparks peoples' interest in a store, said Mike Macquisten, 23, walking past a queue of about 20 people on his way out of 'The Boardroom' on West Fourth Avenue.

"It's like a nightclub. People think there must be a reason for lining up," said Macquisten, who works as a bartender. "It almost makes people think there's a good thing inside, or a deal."

Macquisten said he doesn't usually take part in Boxing Day shopping, which puts him in the minority, along with an estimated 27 per cent of Canadians who choose to avoid the shops. This year, he said, he made an exception so he could buy his girlfriend a belated Christmas gift, a hot pink snowboard and bindings.

The potential savings are worth the wait, said Adam Lore, 15, who spent 10 minutes in line to enter the A/X Armani Exchange store on Robson Street. "I shop to see the sales," he said. "I want cheaper clothes."

That's also why Yasu Kimura, 28, of Langley found himself in a line outside Zara. "I'm just out to see if there are any good deals," Kimura said, shrugging. "I guess there's stuff I kind of wanted to buy but it's a little too much for me. If it's a little cheaper I'll pick it up."

Crossing the intersection of Robson and Hornby Street, John Gibson, 27, pauses to re-adjust his five bags. "Some stores have been really good," he said, pointing out the three pairs of work shoes he found on sale. "You know you'll get a good deal. You eye what you want and hope they'll be on sale."

Other people -- such as a truck driver who flipped the bird to a crowd of pedestrians at Burrard and Robson, or the weary barristas doling out endless caffeinated motivation -- seemed a little less thrilled with the sale-thirsty crowds.

For all those who worked at the malls yesterday, hats off to you

I've worked my fair share of retail boxing days and know that anxious feeling in your stomach as you watch the sky go dark when the shoppers hoard in.....

i worked on boxing day, it wasn't really that. had lots of fun iwth my coworkers!! ehhehehe. Only the first few hours seemed to go on FOREVER, but we had food for us at the back..so it was cool.

do you guys get paid 1.5 pay for boxing day? coz i don't, and people say that i should. 0.o

yes you really should be paid time and a half on boxing day as it is a national holiday. you should check with your supervisor, and if they say no, then i would check the employee manual. and if it still says no, then i would file a complaint to the union, if you are apart of one. or refer your employer to the federal website that outlines employee regulations stating that boxing day is in fact a holiday.

boxing day is not a stat holiday.

New Years Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
B.C. Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day

are the only stat hoidays.

boxing day is in fact a statuatory holiday in terms of federal jurisdiction, and in the province of ontario.

This is BC is it not? unless canido is from Ontario? and since i don't think canido's job is not a federal job it doens't apply. If it is then my mistake.

please refer to the bc employment standards if your from bc.

sorry benson but no, this is not BC for everyone on this website

please read what i wrote instead of reading what you wish to read. I said that if she is from ontario then i apologize for the mistake.

it was refered as a question thus the question mark.

hey canido, my friend worked on boxing day at Banana Republic & she got paid time and a half. you should seriously check with your employer!!!! do u mind me asking which company u worked for?

My manager said boxing day isn't a holiday...
it's only a statuatory holiday @_@ I guess I'm not getting paid 1.5 = =;;
even tho it's mandatory to work on boxing day...

i work @ guess and yes, i am live in BC. sucks...

hey canido! which guess u work at?

wow, i'm surprised GUESS is so mean to their staff!!!! cause if you're full-time staff then you should totally get the 1.5 pay. did you check with your other coworkers too to make sure they didn't get a different kinda treatment. anyhoo, good luck canido!!! *fight for your rights*