People will do just about anything for last-minute eclipse glasses

ATLANTA — It looked like Black Friday at some stores around metro Atlanta Thursday morning.

Not because shoppers were looking for the best sales of the holiday season, but because eclipse glasses are a hot commodity.

A Channel 2 Action News viewer sent us a photo of more than 100 people lined up outside the Learning Express Alpharetta & East Cobb Thursday around 9 a.m.

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Word quickly spread that the store, which didn’t open until 9:30 a.m., had just received a shipment of eclipse glasses.

"This is what the excitement is all about," one customer told Channel 2's Berndt Peterson.

Some of the folks in line said they’re “kicking themselves” because the glasses for which they were in line to pay $8.99 were free just a few weeks ago at area libraries and different events.

Still, $8.99 is substantially lower than the $40-$50 the glasses are selling for on re-sale sites like eBay.

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about people trying to take advantage of the big event.

"There are going to be a lot of people offering rooms on the Internet. You need to check them out and be sure they are legitimate. It could be fake right off the bat," said Fred Elsberry, with the BBB.

Elsberry said there will be companies offering excursions to prime eclipse-watching locations.

"There's no bus. There's no bus and they've got your money," Elsberry said.

The BBB says before paying for a hotel room or seat on a bus, it's better to pick up the phone and call to make sure it's legit.

Cox Media Group