WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderBlack Friday starts Thursday

Black Friday starts Thursday

By Bob Schaper

ROCKFORD (WREX) -- If you were hoping to be first in line for some super-low prices tomorrow, you may already be too late.

Even though it's cold and windy out there tonight, quite a few brave shoppers lined up on the sidewalks to get those good deals. One store I visited looked like a hobo camp as people huddled in shelters to get them through the night.

The tents were lined up outside Best Buy, with most of the squatters waiting for laptop computers.

"We're getting two for $200, and then three of them cost $299," says Laira Sitchon.

The first ones arrived at 9 this morning and didn't have time for a proper Thanksgiving dinner.

Chris Lenninger of Winnebago says he ate, "ham and turkey cheese sandwich and some doritos."

Tiffany Pewitt was camping out for the first time.

"What do you say to people who think you're just crazy for coming out here to save this much money?" I asked her.

"My mom said that when I left the house," she said.

A Wal-Mart worker on Long Island was trampled to death by stampeding shoppers. This year shoppers were kept in special areas inside the store. At 7:30 p.m. only one man was in line at the East State Street store.

"First one in line," he says. "Only one in line."