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Shoppers Already Lining Up For Black Friday Bargains

News Channel 8 photo by PETER MASA

Laura Johnson and her two friends have been camped outside the Lakeland Best Buy since 8 a.m. today.

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By JOSH THOMAS

News Channel 8

Published: November 25, 2008

Updated: 11/25/2008 10:09 pm

LAKELAND - It was only Tuesday, but for some area residents that's not too early to get in line for the best Black Friday deals.

Laura Johnson and her two sons have been in line at the Lakeland Best Buy since 8 a.m. Tuesday for the traditional post-Thanksgiving sales that might last for only a couple hours Friday morning.

"Sometimes they only have so many items, so we want to make sure we get what we want," Johnson said.

There is also the small matter of the $50 gift card the Lakeland store is promising for the first person in line.

Johnson and her children arrived with food and mattress in hand. Tuesday night, they planned to munch on potpies they brought with them.

"We will be out here eating and playing cards," Johnson said. "It's gonna be fun."

The door-buster prices on some items are a traditional way of getting people in the door, but most people don't start lining up until Thursday, Wednesday at the earliest, said Lakeland Best Buy Manager Kevin Smith.

The Johnson clan, though, isn't alone. By Tuesday afternoon, the line outside the Best Buy had grown to five people.

The Brandon store reported Tuesday night that three people were camping outside.

"It sends a message that despite the down economy, people are still getting gifts,'' Smith said.

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