Last-Minute Christmas Shoppers Scramble For Gifts

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Stores across the region were packed Monday as thousands tried to check off everyone on their holiday lists.

'Twas the night before Christmas and people were scrambling as plenty allowed Dec. 24, to creep up on them, and so they had few gifts to show for it.

"I get things done faster when I do it last minute, because I know I gotta get it now," said one last-minute shopper.

Many had plenty of excuses or a couple last minute gets, like Sheila Jones, who sat down to take a break at Arden Mall.

"I just didn't have the gumption to get up and go, but today you have to do it," she said.

Jones literally started her holiday shopping Monday, for everyone.

"My great nieces and nephews, my nieces and nephews, my son, mother, father, my aunt, everybody," she said.

While lugging it all had tired her out, this was only a break, because time was ticking.

"It's either today or nothing; or someone is going to be disappointed or upset with me," Jones said.

Soon, she was back at it. Victor loza was in a similar boat navigating the sea of eleventh-hour shoppers.

"I'll take my time next year," said Ioza of his last-minute shopping experience.

He, like others, was seeing that much of the merchandise was pretty well depleted. It's no surprise considering 160,000 shoppers hit up Arden Fair this past weekend.

"From Black Friday all the way to December 31, probably a million people, over a million people," Steve Reed said of how many people visit the mall.

So, shoppers like Jones will take what they can get.

"I'm done with the clothes, and now it's off to Toys 'R' Us," she said.

Shoppers were locked out of Arden Fair Mall when it closed at 6 p.m., but for those needing to get that last minute Christmas gift, there were some stores open well into Christmas Eve.

Toys 'R' Us, which closed at 10 p.m., knows last minute shopping can be tradition for many, extending its hours for the procrastinators of procrastinators, and that's good thing because sometimes the last minute gift can make Christmas extra merry.

If you were one of those last minute shoppers, you are not alone. Arden Fair Mall had 40,000 shoppers Monday, all waiting till the very end to put presents under the tree.

Shoppers were locked out of Arden Fair Mall when it closed at 6 p.m., but for those needing to get that last minute Christmas gift, there were some stores open well into Christmas Eve.

Toys 'R' Us, which closed at 10 p.m., knows last minute shopping can be tradition for many, extending its hours for the procrastinators of procrastinators, and that's good thing because sometimes the last minute gift can make Christmas extra merry.

If you were one of those last minute shoppers, you are not alone. Arden Fair Mall had 40,000 shoppers Monday, all waiting till the very end to put presents under the tree.