Black Friday shopping keeps stores busy

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Black Friday is living up to the hype with hundreds of people hitting the stores to get a good deal.  Stores offered shoppers a look at their deals early, letting people make their attack plan.

The lines at some Mobile department stores formed as early as 7 a.m. on Thursday morning.  Shoppers trying to save a few bucks didn't want to miss the door opening tradition.

"We left Thomasville at 4:30 a.m.," said one shopper.  "We started shopping this morning around four," said a Brewton man.

Thousands of people lined up outside area stores before midnight Thursday, to cash in on some great deals. And they waited for hours to get those deals.

"I've been in line a few hours," said Myles, while shopping at Best Buy.

Best Buy opened its doors at midnight, allowing a controlled flow of fifty people in at a time.  Shoppers looked happy and workers were excited.

"That's what this day is about coming out and getting the great deals and having a good time and that's what we're here to help you do," said Matt Poling a Best Buy supervisor.

Toys, electronics, clothes and jewelry were the big draws at stores across the Gulf Coast.

Many stores opened earlier this year.  Toys-R-Us opened at 9pm Thursday. Walmart's Black Friday deals began at 10pm Thursday, and most of the other big stores opened between midnight and 5am Friday.

One man had been camped out at Best Buy since Wednesday morning at 7am, to make sure he got the TV he wanted at the Black Friday price.

The National Retail Federation has estimated 14 more million people are shopping this Black Friday compared to last year.

And while many spent money creating a boost to the economy, some people said they were out bargain hunting and buying over a period of time, not just on Black Friday.

Still others were not out buying gifts for others but themselves.

"We bought shoes, clothes, lots of stuff for us, merry Christmas to us," said a Satsuma shopper.