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Low Temperatures Don't Keep Shoppers From Low Prices

TBO.com photo by KEVIN BRADY

Robby Contorno, left standing, and Robert travis, both 19, emerge from their tent outside Best Buy this morning. Having survived a frigid night, the first early bird shoppers started to stir from their tents at 7:30 a.m.

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By KEVIN BRADY | TBO.com

Published: November 27, 2008

Updated: 11/28/2008 02:09 am

BRANDON - Chilly temperatures didn't deter bargain hunters outside the Brandon Best Buy on Thursday when shoppers came early, saw the deals and conquered the cold.

About 15 early birds eyeing deals on everything from TVs to GPS units camped outside the electronics retailer overnight in tents, enduring temperatures in the low 40s. And they didn't seem to mind at all.

"I was a toasty little burrito all night," said Rick Rehart, 49, of Riverview, as he nursed a hot coffee at 7 a.m.

Rehart set up his tent at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, earning him the No. 42 spot in the line. "I am from Oregon and I love camping, so I know how to stay warm," he said.

Rehart has been camping outside Brandon's Best Buy for Black Friday sales for four years and tries to come earlier each year. "There are great deals to be had if you are among the first in line.

"By tonight there will be a couple of hundred people here, but if they think they will get any of the 'doorbuster' deals they are nuts. It's not going to happen."

Rehart was hoping to save between $100 and $200 when the doors open at 5 a.m. Friday.

And while most people don't see the ads for Black Friday deals until a day or two before the sales, Rehart and his fellow bargain hunters knew all about those $300 laptops and $500 high-definition TV sales weeks ago.

"All those Black Friday deals are leaked on the Internet," he said. "I just Google 'Black Friday' and I can find them. The Best Buy deals were online two weeks ago."

His wife doesn't quite get his obsession with getting the deals, he said.

"She thinks I'm nuts and she's probably right," Rehart said. "But it's not just the deals. It's the thrill and fun. It's being able to be the one that gets those great deals."

Robby Contorno and Robert Travis, both 19, were first in line at the store.

"It was nice and warm in our tent," said Contorno who staked out his spot at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Bargain laptops and TVs are on top of the list for both.

Others in line were relying on friends and family members for their turkey.

"They will be coming at around 6 p.m. (Thursday night) with leftovers and we will all have a barbecue around the same time," said Adrian Smude, 25, of Plant City.

Smude and his neighbors planned to work off those meals in the store parking lot Thursday tonight.

"After dinner, we have our own version of the Olympics," Smude said. "We will play dodge ball and have wheelbarrow races. We want to make the waiting fun, too."

Rehart said he wouldn't be missing his Thanksgiving dinner. "My nephew is coming to relieve me for a few hours so I can go home at eat."

TBO community producer Kevin Brady can be reached at (813) 545-8731.

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