SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Black Friday shoppers are getting a sneak peek at store deals after several advertisements are leaked on the internet.
Several websites are offering a first look at coupons, doorbusters, and early bird specials for stores ranging from Walmart to Old Navy.
More stores are hoping to bring in more sales this season by opening their doors at midnight on Black Friday. "We're really excited. Being open really early gives us the opportunity to capture additional sales," says Carissa George, HR manager for the downtown Salt Lake Target location.
Some Walmart stores which are open 24 hours a day are offering their deals starting at 10pm, providing customers with the opportunity to shop literally around the clock. "It's always me and my sister-in-law's. We map out where we go, circle the things we want in ads, and then we head out," says shopper Jamie Zollinger.
Electronics are at the top of most shopper's lists. Since they are usually more expensive items, several stores are offering blowout deals on things like computers, cell phones ,and GPS devices. For example, Walmart is offering HP laptops for the price of $248.00
Some consumers are concerned that Black Friday is overshadowing Thanksgiving, focusing too much on the commercial part of the holiday season. "It is a holiday for everyone to join with their families and be thankful for what they've got, and to look forward to the next year as well. It is getting a bit too commercialized," says shopper John Van Hook.
Managers at the Salt Lake downtown Target store say they're working on plans for crowd control. They will only let certain amounts of people into the store at a time in order to avoid any problems.
According to the National Retail Federation, the amount of Black Friday shoppers in 2010 rose to 212 million from 195 million in 2009.
