Black Friday: Long lines, deep discounts a holiday ritual for many

At 3 a.m. Friday he was yawning.

The Urbana resident and his brother, Joel, 24, set up camp at midnight Wednesday. Several people followed the Tellez brothers' party of 10 after about three hours, Jacob said.

"We came with a party of 10 and set up two tents. It's been fun," Joel Tellez said. "We do it more for fun. It's like a holiday ritual."

The Tellez brothers represent two of 134 million people that the National Retail Federation predicted would shop nationwide Friday through Sunday -- an increase over last year's 128 million. Black Friday is named for the day when retailers expect ledgers to go out of the red into the black because the holiday shopping season begins.

The Tellez brothers were in search of discounted laptop computers, TV sets, games, cameras and entertainment systems. They even developed a number system to keep them in their spaces if someone had to go to the restroom or get something to eat, Jacob said.

For some people, it was not about the deals they had hoped to get. It was a ritual.

Frederick resident Sherry Ryan got to Best Buy at 3 a.m. but she had completed Christmas shopping for her four children weeks before Black Friday, she said.

"Coming out and watching all these crazy people -- this is what gets you in the holiday spirit," Ryan said. "I do it every year. It's fun."

Before hitting Best Buy, Ryan had already visited Toys R Us on West Patrick Street in Frederick and Wal-Mart on Md. 26.

"I drove around Wal-Mart at 2 a.m. and the parking lot was full. Someone said people began lining up at Toys R Us Thursday at 11:30 p.m. and there were 2,000 people, six deep, lined up on Grove Road," Ryan said.

Ken and Donna Jones of Middleburg, W.Va., arrived at Best Buy at 4 a.m.

"It was her idea," said Ken Jones, 44, referring to his wife.

"We have a Best Buy eight miles from our house but we just always dealt with this" frenzy in Frederick , Donna Jones said.

For Spike Jones, 65, of Walkersville , being out at 4:30 a.m. was worth it, he said.

"I don't normally get up this early except for deer hunting," Jones said. "But I've been looking for a 46-inch flat-screen TV for my remodeled family room. I've been checking Black Friday ads, asking friends who are very knowledgeable about TVs ... So here I am."

At 4:30 a.m., Brunswick resident Mike Heflin was the 500th person in the line at Best Buy but he wasn't about to become stressed.

"I'm looking for a laptop for my son. If it happens, it happens. If not, I'll get it at a later date," Heflin said.

Wal-Mart had laptops for less than $200, but they were sold out by 4 a.m., Heflin said.

Frederick resident Lynn Silberman and her 20-year-old daughter, Heather, were also out just for fun, and 38-degree weather didn't make their wait too miserable, she said.

"If I see something that strikes my fancy, and it's a good deal, I'll buy it," Silberman said. "Our tradition was Circuit City first and Best Buy second, but Circuit is not there anymore."

Parking spaces were difficult to find by 4 a.m. at Wal-Mart off Md. 85 and by 4:30 a.m. Some shoppers had completed their purchases at Kohl's and were heading to work.

Pat Strauder pulled into the Kohl's parking lot at 4:30 a.m. with a list that included luggage, jeans and sweaters.

"I had set my alarm at 3 a.m. I'm on way to work afterward," Strauder said.

By 1:30 a.m., Thurmont resident Carl Dolly was the first customer at Kmart on West Patrick Street in Frederick but he lost his slot to Mountaindale resident Douglas Collins when he went to his truck for a brief nap. He was fourth in the line of about 60 people at 5 a.m.

Collins was in search of a $379, 32-inch flat-screen TV and a laptop computer for his son.

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