Orange County Register

Several hundred people wait in line outside the Forever 21 in the Irvine Spectrum Center. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

All morning, visit the Irvine Retail blog for updates on the madness that is Black Friday, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year. Will big sales result in money saved for consumers?

Foot traffic looked pretty sparse by 8 a.m. at the Irvine Spectrum Center, so shoppers had plenty of room to hang and swing bulky bags from their arms.

The logo of Old Navy, offering deep discounts throughout the weekend, was omnipresent. Shoppers also flooded in and out of Urban Outfitters, which offered 50 percent off anything already on sale before 10 a.m.

At Forever 21, some shoppers seem poised to find — and yell at — a manager. Acting on information they said they read on the retailer’s Web site and in the Orange County Register, they arrived as early as 4 a.m., thinking the doors would open by 6.

Then came 6. Still closed.

Then came 7. Nada.

Then a security officer let those toward front of the line know that deadbolts wouldn’t be loosened until 9. Shoppers reported feeling kinda gypped, they said.

“It was really dark and cold when we arrived,” said Leslie Stuart, standing next to her seated daughter and her daughter’s friend. “Now I’m gonna be overdressed.”

When Forever 21 opened at 9, Stuart and a group of girls and ladies harangued a manager, who calmly defended himself, calling the whole thing a misunderstanding.

No matter the retail reality, everyone inside before 11:59 a.m. got a free “Eco Tote bag,” made from an unknown environmentally friendly fabric.

Scratch cards distributed at the door also gave shoppers — angry and cool — a few extra shots at free things: $300 Forever 21 bucks for one lucky person and smaller gift card denominations for others.

Outside, leaning against a wall, single father Greg Basko waited for his two daughters to finish rummaging the store for Christmas clothes. He pointed to a group of girls who exited the store with nothing, calling it a missed opportunity for the retailer.

“That $20, $40, $60 that they could’ve made… Multiply that by 100. That’s $60,000,” said Basko, of Aliso Viejo. “$60,000 would make or break a store. That’s a mortgage.”

This year — like every year — he needs to keep a close eye on his own finances too, he said.

“When Christmas comes, I still have to pay my bills, my rent. Nothing changes,” said Basko, of Aliso Viejo. “When you’re employed, it’s either feast or famine.”

Comment below with your tips and pointers for avoiding long lines and finding the best deals.

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