How long would you wait for a cheap doughnut? For many Americans, it seems, the answer is a considerable time.
Across the country a Krispy Kreme sale paralysed traffic and caused lines hours long, snaking back from stores as hungry doughnut fans waited to take advantage of the deal on offer: a dozen doughnuts for 80 cents. It applied if customers bought a dozen doughnuts at regular price.
In Charleston, South Carolina traffic was snarled by lines of up to three hours, WCSC-TV reported.
Police had to re-direct traffic around the store as lines built up, according to the network. The Charleston Post and Courier reported that the lines lasted into late afternoon.
"Everybody is getting to work late because of this," commuter Jere Young told the Post and Courier. "They literally should just line up orange cones all the way down 526 and have a designated doughnut lane for whenever they run specials."
"I just can see the stress of people stuck in a line that don't want a doughnut," Young said.
The doughnut frenzy didn't just hit South Carolina, with Americans across the country posting pictures of lines building outside local stores.
Yikes! Lines are even more ridiculous in the evening for #krispykreme donuts. Not even worth it to stand this long to save $9. pic.twitter.com/4PHbn2zq7b
— Attractions 360° (@SoCal360) July 15, 2017
that long queue at krispy kreme was blockbuster and hopeless at the same time
— ʀᴇᴍ (@itsrmposadas) July 13, 2017
Happy Birthday Krispy Kreme!!! Waiting 2 hours for fresh doughnuts 😊👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/e6PSc32IrE
— Lauryn Luangsomkham (@laurynluang) July 14, 2017
so if you brought a dozen donuts at krispy kreme today it would cost 80c and this is the outcome pic.twitter.com/l6VMaxVLdt
— jen (@morningavery) July 14, 2017
In Burbank, California, police issued a traffic advisory for backed-up traffic outside the local branch.
And if the seemingly insatiable appetite for a bargain is surprising, science tells us it's perfectly predictable.
Researchers from Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University in 2007 examined the brain patterns of shoppers and bargain hunters.
They found that the brain's pleasure center lit up when subjects were presented with desireable items. The pleasure was more pronounced if the items were discounted.
Uncommon Knowledge
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