US stores have opened early and offered steep discounts to encourage consumers to part with their cash as the Christmas shopping season kicks off.
Crowds of shoppers turned up at dawn to snare the best deals.
A worker died and at least three people were injured after being trampled by a crowd of shoppers at a Wal-Mart in the New York suburbs.
The day after the Thanksgiving holiday is viewed as an important test of how willing consumers are to spend.
Police said a throng of shoppers broke down the doors to the Wal-Mart store in Valley Stream, Long Island shortly after 5am, knocking the 34-year-old worker to the ground.
Electronics retailer Best Buy and department stores Kohl's and Macy's also opened their doors at dawn.
Toys R Us offered up to 60% discounts from 5am to 10am.
Initial reports from several major retailers indicated that crowds were at least as large as last year's, but deep discounts are likely to hurt retailers' profit margins.
Bargain hunters
Some shoppers queued up to bag the best bargains.
"The recession is kicking in," Tammy Williams, 36, told the Reuters news agency as she waited for a Kohl's store in New Jersey to open at 4am.
"I'm just looking for a bargain, anything to save a couple of dollars. I'll save the rest for food shopping."
Analysts said that retailers will closely monitor store traffic and the amount of time spent in stores.
Many retailers have suffered as the US economy nosedives although value chains like Wal-Mart have fared better.
US retail sales recorded the biggest monthly decline since 1992 in October as consumers cut back on spending.
Sounds like some rubber shotgun pellets would've come in handy there.
Seriously, why did no one stop to help? Scumbags.
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Valley Stream was crazy today. Nowhere to park. My brother was going to drive down there for shopping until he heard about that incident. He decided his life was more important than some trinkets. I headed down to Valley Stream at around 2 p.m. and news vans were still there taking up valuable parking spots. I went to the National Wholesales Liquidator next door. I didn't want any part of the Walmart crazies.
"Bible, Wrath of Khan, what's the difference?"
Stan - South Park
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Having worked at walmart and now working at kmart part time this really sucks. Glad to see some of his coworkers tried to rescue him. Hope they charge some people from the crowd.
How many Minbari does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
None. They always surrender right before they finish the job and never tell you why.
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Probably a stupid question, but what's Black Friday?
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
