'Black Friday' Shopping Frenzy

Nov. 25 (KGO) -- Stores created a shopping frenzy on the day after Thanksgiving that turned ugly and even violent. Here and across the country, shoppers fought over merchandise, and in one case, trampled others.

The rush to get into a Michigan Wal-Mart store when the doors opened turned into a stampede. Shoppers fell and tripped over each other. A lady lost her wig and quickly put it back on as the melee continued.

At the Best Buy store in San Carlos, early morning shoppers created a mob scene just to get bargain-priced laptops and other electronics.

It left this shopper bewildered.

Mark Fowler, San Carlos resident: "I got mobbed. I was fourth in line. I got mobbed running in here. It's the panic rush. It's just crazy."

The stores created the rush with their ads, promising good deals for a few hours. They wanted shoppers to come early, ready to spend and save. What it appeared to do is adrenaline pumping and tempers flaring.

Blanca Dimauro, San Francisco resident: "It's a bad example. You got families out here, kids. It's sending the wrong message to people. It's not worth it."

Consumers may not be on their best behavior, but the stores have succeeded with their early discounts and special deals.

Terry Connelly, J.D., Golden Gate University Business Dean: "Tendency this year was to have early price competition for two reasons, both because of the fears of the effect of Katrina and gas prices, and because of the mistakes Wal-Mart made last year in not bringing on their sales early enough."

Serramonte merchants say they're off to a great start. The mall is full, the cash registers are ringing and people are loaded down with shopping bags. Santa is listening patiently to the kids. This is the way it's supposed to be, without the violence.

Frances Humphrey, San Mateo resident: "No sale is worth anything like that -- people getting hurt. It's just not worth it."

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