Black Friday early store openings see past success for business

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Black Friday is all about one thing for die-hard shoppers wait in line outside Best Buy in Atwater Village.

"The deals," said Jerry Jaramillo. "The deals. The economy is bad so we got to go for these deals."

This year, many of the deals are coming on Thanksgiving night, hours earlier than the typical midnight madness.

At Wal-Mart, the registers will be ringing up sales beginning at 8 p.m. One Wal-Mart official says there's a reason behind the controversial decision to open early.

"What we saw last year is last Thursday from 10-11, that was our most popular hour by far over the entire Black Friday weekend," said Rachel Wall with Wal-Mart. "Clearly there are customers who want to put away the leftovers, bring out the circulars, head on down to Wal-Mart with the family and start shopping."

According to the National Retail Federation, a quarter of all Black Friday shoppers last year were at stores before midnight.

But the early opening has some Wal-Mart workers angry and threatening to walk off the job. Protests are planned at stores across the country. Wal-Mart isn't the only chain opening its doors at 8 p.m.; so is Sears and Kmart. Toys"R"Us and Target are beginning their Black Friday sales at 9 p.m.

It's a move that some shoppers say is too much.

"I think it does ruin the holiday," said Sherwin Chan. "I can understand why people are lining up all the deals and moneys tight."

Get more Save Money / Consumer News »

black friday, shopping, save money / consumer news, leanne suter

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•