Those Who Embrace Last-Minute Shopping

For some, it’s as much a Christmas tradition as eggnog and decorating the tree.

Today across Atlanta the annual last-minute rush to the mall was in full effect.

At Lenox Mall in Buckhead, middle-age husbands made up a big portion of last-minute Christmas shoppers.

“I came here to get my wife a Christmas present. I enjoy shopping on the last day,” said Myron Freeman of southwest Atlanta. Rather than simple procrastination, he has a system and he does it every year.

“You get the best deals at the last minute…It’s very conscious, very calculated.”

For some of these men, the afternoon before Christmas doesn’t even qualify as last minute.

“As my son told me this morning, it’s not the last minute with you until 11:59,” said Gene Mills of Marietta, who was there to get his wife a bracelet.

In the event the trip proves unsuccessful, Mills says it’s not the end of the world.

“If I can’t find just exactly what I want, I tell my wife I’m still looking and she’ll say okay,” said Mills. “She’s a great lady. That’s why I’m looking for some nice jewelry for her.”

The other demographic group that maybe competed in numbers? College students.

Ally and Kate are both from Buckhead. 

“I don’t really Christmas shop until a week or two before Christmas. It’s the dad and brothers which are the hardest to shop for.”  

“I had exams, then I took off…I procrastinate pretty much.”

Still, they say last minute shopping can be rewarding. Like finishing a term paper the night before it’s due.

“We’re not very good at planning."

“We know how to procrastinate and pull it off at the last second."

“It makes the achievement better.”

According to the National Retail Federation, ten percent of Christmas shoppers wait until the last day to buy their presents.