Honest Ed's lineups intrigue young sleuth.

August 19, 2005 2:52 PM

Torontonians: why do people line up outside Honest Ed's up to an hour before the doors open? Is there some sort of early-bird special on porcelain Jesus figurines?
posted by krunk to Shopping (12 answers total)

They have various specials depending on the time of the year. For instance, at Thanksgiving they have $1 turkeys.

Now, if this is going on every day, I don't know the answer. But, if it's only sometimes then it's no doubt one of their special sales.
posted by dobbs at 3:01 PM on August 19, 2005

Response by poster: It's every day. I walk past it on the way to work, and people are there at 9am. I mean, I like 99 cent pringles as much as the next guy, but...
posted by krunk at 3:18 PM on August 19, 2005

Do they sell breakfast?
posted by Jairus at 3:37 PM on August 19, 2005

The stuff on sale goes fast (I mean really fast), so people line up early. Hence the words "door crasher".

Also, they often have advertised sales on things other than the cheapest items, like small appliances, electronics, things like that. Imagine wal-mart, but without the huge quantities.
posted by loquax at 3:37 PM on August 19, 2005

Honest Ed's is a bargain store with limited supplies of the cheapest stuff. People who need very low prices (at the cost of quality) may be the same people who have no work and can afford (or can't afford not) to stand in line early to get the back-to-school specials for their families: 2.99 jeans, 2.99 girl's 2-piece top and pants set, 0.99 pack of notebook paper, etc.
posted by pracowity at 3:39 PM on August 19, 2005

Best answer: They have weekly sales flyers, and a different door crasher special every day. They're not all $1 turkey level stuff, but there is always one.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:55 PM on August 19, 2005

Oh, they're there for more than an hour before the store opens. I was out with my camera once in the summer of 2002 (korean football fans having made it impossible to sleep), and there was a line at 5:30am.
posted by scruss at 7:34 PM on August 19, 2005

Response by poster: Wow, I've never seen them out that early. I live a block away (on Palmerston) and on the rare days that I make it out my door before 9am, there isn't usually a line.

I enjoy that Honest Ed's website is the perfect match for the store. Now if only it was impossible to get out of the website once you actually found something you were looking for.

That said, I'm proud that I know my way around Ed's, and can confidently tell you that if you ever need an umbrella, head straight to the electronics department. Seriously.
posted by krunk at 7:50 PM on August 19, 2005

And cheap-ass, nice quality feather pillows.
posted by dreamsign at 10:37 PM on August 19, 2005

Palmerston! I live on Palmerston!

Did you know that if you walk north, past bloor for 15 minutes Palmerston ends at the railway corridor just above St. Claire? I basically leads you right up there next to the tracks.

Best. Street. Ever.
posted by slipperywhenwet at 11:31 PM on August 19, 2005

Response by poster: I'm right at the southwest corner of Palmerston and Bloor. Indeed, the best street ever. I enjoy Palmerston Square, too; it seems like its own little enclave from civilization.
posted by krunk at 7:38 AM on August 20, 2005

Palmerston reprazent! I lived last year at Palmerston and Dupont. I always wondered this about the lines at Ed's. Thanks for asking and answering.
posted by gleuschk at 11:40 AM on August 20, 2005