Christmas is over, but Yuba-Sutter shoppers are hitting stores [Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.]

Dec. 27--Christmas is over, but don't tell that to steadfast shoppers -- they were out in full force on Wednesday, spending gift cards and returning presents in what was predictably another busy day for local shops and retailers.

Michael Segal, 21, and his buddy, Andrew Fogle, 20, were among the shoppers at the lively Yuba Sutter Mall. They were wearing identical black jackets, recently bought at Pac Sun with a gift card Segal received from his mother the day before.

The card was in his possession less than 24 hours before it went back to the store.

"I just wanted to spend it, man," Segal said.

Several stores offer sales in the week following Christmas, which makes shopping even more of a temptation, he said. Segal and Fogle bought the same jacket as part of a buy one get one free promotion.

Fogle, of Marysville, was quick to explain why he and his friend were matching.

"We only got them because he lives in San Francisco," Fogle said.

But not everyone was busy coughing up Christmas cash on Wednesday.

Many people, like Debbie Jones and her husband, Fred, were returning gifts in exchange for something else.

Jones, of Yuba City, received a diamond-speckled watch from her husband on Christmas. Her husband bought the Bulova watch at DeVons Jewelers inside the mall.

It was a beautiful watch, Jones said. The problem was she already had one. Her husband misunderstood her when she said she needed a new battery.

However, something good did come out of the mixup: now Jones knows what to get her husband next Christmas.

"He needs a new hearing aid," she said, "so I need to buy him one."

Stores throughout the mall, like Aeropostale, experienced high volumes of customers as long lines formed around cash registers, and other shops saw an increase in traffic as well.

With half a business day still to go Wednesday, Gaiser Pets on Plumas Street had already sold a hamster and some salt water fish to customers with Christmas gift cards.

"One kid got a cage from Santa with a gift card inside for the hamster," said manager Geoffrey Harris.

Other customers used their gift cards to buy filters for their fish tanks.

Gaiser Pets doesn't get a lot of returns, Harris said, but they do make sure pets go home to good families.

CONTACT Griffin Rogers at grogers@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4783. Find him on Facebook at /ADgriffinrogers or on Twitter at @ADgriffinrogers.

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