A BIG BUYING SPREE SHOPPERS HEAD OUT FOR HOLIDAY BARGAINS.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Tom Cass is an expert on what children want for Christmas.

That's because the white-bearded retired firefighter is Santa Claus at the Antelope Valley Mall, where kids tell him their lists: talking vacuum cleaners, Swan Lake Barbies, Bratz dolls, Power Rangers and Rescue Heroes.

``Some kids want motorcycles, and bicycles are still popular, but it's pretty much the same thing every year,'' said Case, taking a break Friday as shoppers swarmed through the mall. He added: ``I love doing this.''

As businesses across the United States hope for a holiday buyer season better than the last two, tens of thousands of Antelope Valley residents were trying to oblige.

Travis Hinkel, for example, began his shopping day at 6 a.m. at Best Buy in Palmdale for a Nintendo Game Cube, an expedition that the checkout line stretched into nearly two hours.

``Got that in two minutes, then got in line which was at the back of the store,'' explained Hinkel, 24, of Palmdale. ``Then we looked at the stereo department and there was like 20 people and we thought 'great' and jumped in that line.''

Unfortunately, the line didn't go to a cash register. They had to return to the original line. It was another 40 minutes before they finally checked out.

``It's a little frustrating, but then you get the products that you want without any problems,'' his mother, Nancy Hinkel, said of post-Thanksgiving shopping.

Palmdale residents Pam Dease and her daughter Taelor, 10, waited in line with about 100 people for the Palmdale Linens 'n Things store to open at 7 a.m.

They rushed in to buy a pre-lit 7 1/2-foot Christmas tree for $100, half off the regular price.

``It was just a mad dash for those Christmas trees,'' Dease said.

Dease drove by the Palmdale Circuit City store but couldn't find a parking spot. They also went to Lowe's home improvement store and stopped by Barnes & Noble in Palmdale before heading off to the Antelope Valley Mall.

``The sad thing is you can't be at three or four places at one time,'' Dease said.

In front of the Palmdale Best Buy, Antelope Valley College students Burt Fous, 19, and Louie Espinosa, 19, played guitars and sang Christmas songs for the spare change of passersby.

``I like to make a little extra Christmas cash ... and provide entertainment for customers,'' said Fous. Last year they made $200.

``You could say we made a stockingful of money,'' joked Espinosa.

For Canadian Sarah Boyd, shopping at the Antelope Valley Mall for her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren was convenient although a bit more expensive than in her hometown of Ottawa.

``Being the American dollar, it costs me a lot more,'' said Boyd as she sat in the mall's food court checking off her shopping list.

Boyd and daughter Sharon Ebert by midmorning had already been to Gottschalks, J.C. Penneys and Roxy's. Their first stop was a 7 a.m. trip to Dillard's where they purchased $100 shoes for $29.99. After the mall they were headed to Target for more gifts.

After spending close to $400 on gifts in Palmdale, Boyd returns home on Tuesday to buy gifts for the rest of the family in Canada.

Down the street, Barnes & Noble was a quiet haven for shoppers compared with the jostling crowds elsewhere.

``So far, so good. I think that people ... they're shopping earlier this year than last year,'' said Paul Spencer, Barnes & Nobles customer relations manager.

Barnes and Noble top sellers included Harry Potter books; Lemony Snicket children's books; Don Mossman's novel ``Stones of Summer;'' DVDs of classic movies, and a DVD issue of the television series ``Law and Order.''

For Anne McDaniel of Palmdale, shopping at Best Buy was a one-stop trip. After spending $650 on items for her two daughters, she was loading up her vehicle by 9 a.m.

``We've been here 2 1/2 hours, mostly in line,'' said McDaniel, who was late to her job in Los Angeles.

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Photo:

(color) Bargain-hunting customers hit the Antelope Valley Mall on Friday - typically the busiest shopping day of the year.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer