Some Shoppers Get An Early Start On Black Friday Shopping
em>By Tim Jimenez and Matt Rivers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Many Black Friday shoppers got started Thanksgiving night, as some stores opened earlier than ever before.
Before doors opened at 5 o'clock at the Toys R Us in Port Richmond, 250 people were lined up outside. Among them was one woman looking to get a great deal on a Furby.
"They're only $30! They're originally $75, but they're $30 right now," she explained.
Store manager Christine Hammaker says they've been working long hours to prepare for this day. And by opening earlier, she says, they're just giving shoppers what they want.
"Well, for some families this is a tradition just like a turkey. They do it with their families, their spouses, their moms," Hammaker says.
And then there's Christina, who says she's saving about $200 by shopping for her son on Thanksgiving.
"The Skylander Swapforce and Infinity -- seventy percent off, so you can't beat that."
Playing Santa's Elf, she tried to get in and out before her son got suspicious.
"No, he has no idea. He said, 'Mommy, where are you going?' I said, 'I'm going to the store, I'll be right back.'"
Outside of the Best Buy on Columbus Boulevard, there was anticipation and a bit of a chill.
"I've actually been here for about two-and-a-half hours now, and it is very, very cold," said Elizabeth.
She and her husband say they ate their Thanksgiving dinner at noon, much earlier than years past, so they could wait in line with plenty of time before the doors opened at six. While waiting, a store employee handed them a ticket to reserve the big item they were looking for.
"We came in for the 55-inch TV that they had for $500, so we grabbed our ticket as soon as possible."
The actual retail price of that TV is a thousand bucks, so it was an offer they couldn't refuse. Others were also looking for laptops, tablets and movies, but Elizabeth says the TV is all they wanted...until next week.
"We mainly do Cyber Monday, we're computer people."
