Big-box stores have been opening earlier every year to lure Black Friday shoppers, with some kicking off door-buster sales as early as Thursday night.
The National Retail Federation estimates that 138 million consumers will flood stores Friday through Sunday, searching for big discounts on HDTVs and video games. While that's up almost 3% from last year, the competition to attract budget-conscious shoppers has never been stiffer.
Toys 'R' Us will be one of the first retailers to begin Black Friday sales, opening at 10 p.m. Thursday. That will give the toy chain a two-hour headstart before rival Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT - News) opens its doors at midnight.
Here's a guide to store hours at national retailers, with a few tips for what to expect when you get there:
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Opens: Midnight, Thursday
Wal-Mart announced last week it will open most of its stores at midnight on Black Friday. The announcement also confirmed the veracity of a leaked copy of the retailer's sought-after Black Friday circular. That circular featured such deals on electronics as an Emerson 32" LCD HDTV for $198, Nintendo DS Lite for $89 and a Magnavox Wi-Fi Blu-ray player plus $10 in free VUDU movie credits for $69.
Opens: 4 a.m., Friday
Even though Target (NYSE: TGT - News) has been keeping a tight lid on its Black Friday sales, the company plans to attract the early birds with a 4 a.m. opening. If you want to be the first to find out what its Black Friday sales will be, you can sign up for its e-mail alerts on door-buster sales.
Toys 'R' Us
Even though Target (NYSE: TGT - News) has been keeping a tight lid on its Black Friday sales, the company plans to attract the early birds with a 4 a.m. opening. If you want to be the first to find out what its Black Friday sales will be, you can sign up for its e-mail alerts on door-buster sales.
Toys 'R' Us
Opens: 10 p.m., Thursday
Can you still call it Black Friday if it starts on Thursday? Toys 'R' Us seems to think so. The toy giant will be kicking off its Black Friday sale at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (it will last until 1 p.m. on Black Friday), hoping that eager shoppers will have shaken off their food comas by then.
Toys 'R' Us offered a sneak peek at a few of the deals that will appear in its Black Friday circular, which won't be released until Thanksgiving Day. These deals include a free $50 Toys R Us gift card when you purchase an iPod Touch, as well as $9.99 for select Nintendo DS and Wii games.
Opens: 5 a.m., Friday
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News) has already had a slew of sales on the weekends leading up to Black Friday, but as for the big event, the electronics retailer will be opening its doors at 5 a.m.
Many stores will be giving tickets to customers who line up from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., in an effort to quell massive crowds. In a preview of the sales, Best Buy is selling a number of PlayStation 3 and Xbox games for $35 and it also has many $10 movies up for grabs.
Macy's
Opens: 4 a.m., Friday
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News) has already had a slew of sales on the weekends leading up to Black Friday, but as for the big event, the electronics retailer will be opening its doors at 5 a.m.
Many stores will be giving tickets to customers who line up from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., in an effort to quell massive crowds. In a preview of the sales, Best Buy is selling a number of PlayStation 3 and Xbox games for $35 and it also has many $10 movies up for grabs.
Macy's
Opens: 4 a.m., Friday
Starting at 4 a.m. on Black Friday, Macy's (NYSE: M - News) will offer discounts on everything from electronics to beauty items.
Deals include: Literati E-Reader from Sharper Image for $99, Martha Stewart Collection Enamel Cast Iron 2.75qt Casserole for $19.99 and $99.99 Tommy Hilfiger Leather Jackets.
RadioShack
Opens: 5:30 a.m., Friday
RadioShack
Opens: 5:30 a.m., Friday
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH - News) isn't even paying lip service to the traditional start date: The retailer already started offering sales on Sunday. However, if you want to hit the store on the big day, you'll have to wait until 5:30 a.m.
So, what does "The Shack" have to offer? The company announced in a press release last week that it will offer the Samsung (KSE: 005930.KS - News) Galaxy Tab for $349.99, $50 less than the regular price. Also, if you want help finding your way to your next shopping destination, RadioShack is offering the Garmin nuvi 1300 4.3" GPS Navigator for $99.99, a $70 discount.
Kmart
Opens: 5 a.m., Friday
Kmart is taking a different twist on the holiday shopping season with its "Blue Friday" sales. The retailer's 44-page "Blue Friday" circular cropped up on a number of websites recently, though a Kmart spokesman said the company couldn't vouch for the ad's authenticity. With that caveat in mind, there was a great deal for a 42" plasma HDTV for only $400.
Kmart
Opens: 5 a.m., Friday
Kmart is taking a different twist on the holiday shopping season with its "Blue Friday" sales. The retailer's 44-page "Blue Friday" circular cropped up on a number of websites recently, though a Kmart spokesman said the company couldn't vouch for the ad's authenticity. With that caveat in mind, there was a great deal for a 42" plasma HDTV for only $400.
The deals in the circular are only available from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., but stores will remain open after that first six-hour period of deals has ended.
Old Navy
Old Navy
Opens: Midnight, Thursday (will also be open on Thanksgiving)
Old Navy has dubbed its sale Gobblepalooza (beating out RadioShack's "Shack Friday" as our favorite sale name). While some deals are Friday-only, stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. You can return four hours later at midnight to shop the retailer's Black Friday sales.
If you want to stock up on apparel, this is the store to hit on Black Friday. Old Navy has children's jeans for $10, adult jeans for $15 and adult sweaters for $15, too.
Sears
Sears
Opens: 7 a.m., Thursday
Sears (NasdaqGS: SHLD - News) will open for the first time ever on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. until noon, hoping to capture shoppers with appliance discounts.
While the Sears Black Friday sales have yet to be officially announced, the retailer will open at 4 a.m. and a leaked circular says that major deals will last until noon. Expect to see discounts on TVs and washers and dryers.
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