Every Friday after Thanksgiving Day, millions of Americans hit the retail shops, while others lock the doors and guard the leftovers.
More and more, the chaos that plagues shopping malls and retail shops throughout the country spills over into the Internet. And this year, the big bargains are no longer limited to one single day.
Many retailers are already offering big pre-Black Friday sales.
Retailers point out that shoppers stand a much better chance of getting good deals, before items run out during the inevitable rush.
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Black Friday
News 8's Harlan Schmidt tells us what retail stores are doing to prepare for Black Friday.
 
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The huge discounts offer some holiday shoppers a less stressful and more efficient shopping experience, and at least one area mall is taking that to the next level.
Jennifer Harris, with Barton Creek Square, said that the mall's Web site offers helpful ways to organize a shopping plan ahead of time.
"We have what's called Shop Smarter Savings where people can go on the Web site before they even come to the mall, and check out the different retailer specials, they can print the specials out and kind of map out their shopping," Harris said.
Many retailers including Macy's have announced that they will be open with extended hours all week leading up to Black Friday.
"It's amazing prices we are going to have, and people don't have to fight the crowds on Friday," Austin Macy's South Vice President Larry Rietz said. "A lot of people do that more for entertainment than for the specials."
