Wal-Mart shoppers fight for bargains

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A mob of angry bargain-hunters chanted, "Open the doors!" as they waited to enter a Wal-Mart in Union, N.J., a few minutes after the 5 a.m. opening deadline passed Friday morning.

Tempers frayed as folks who had been queued up in a line stretching across the front of the store for hours yelled at late comers cautiously approaching the front, seemingly intent on cutting the line.

Shoppers load up their loot at a Wal-Mart in Union, NJ Friday.

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"I hope those people don't try to cut the line, we've been waiting here forever!" one bargain-hunter shouted.

Wal-Mart (down $0.13 to $47.90, Charts) offered Black Friday sale prices between 5 am and 11 am on "Doorbuster" items ranging from DVDs to flat screen TVs.

Signs posted to the sliding doors at the entrance read "No Layaway," as a reminder to customers that these hot deals were a one-time opportunity.

A loud roar of cheers and clapping came from the crowd as people ran inside to get their hands on door buster items as the doors swung open at 5:03 a.m.

DVD's priced as low as $1.88 were flying off the shelves, while Wal-Mart employees stood at the entrance handing out 20" Symphonic flat screen TVs that were on sale for $68.97.

Other customers rushed to the back of the store to the electronics and toy area, which remained the most congested throughout the morning.

Jasmine Hawks, from Maplewood, N.J., arrived at 2:00 am to wait in line to be one of the first to grab a 42-Inch plasma HDTV for $988.

"We came here to get a 42" flatscreen and we were able to get it. We wanted to be in and out of the store to get away from this madness," Hawks said.

"This is my second time coming out to Wal-Mart like this, but I don't think I'll ever do it again."

In the electronic section, digital cameras were placed behind the photo counter where customers stood reaching over trying to get ahold of a Samsung D53 Digital Camera on sale for $88.78 or a JVC Compact Digital Camcorder for $198.74.

Some shoppers were discouraged to enter the electronics area because of the large shopping cart traffic jam blocking the area.

Within an hour, shelves in the electronics and toy area were cleaned out but shoppers were still interested in grabbing any item that the store was discounting.

"I didn't get anything I came here for," said Lisa Stamps, Irvington, N.J., who arrived at 4 a.m. "We came for the PSP and the Xbox 360, and there were no more by the time we got to the back of the store."

Within minutes of the store opening, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Play Station Portable boxes were emptied from the shelves. Other hot items included the Compaq Presario PC Media and Entertainment Center for $398, RCA 52" flatscreen TV for $478 and the Easy-Bake oven on sale for $10.

Few customers shopped in the home appliance area, where the sound of holiday music created a relaxed atmosphere as the sound of angry bargain-hunters searching for good deals faintly roared in the distance.

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Black Friday: Ready, set, shop!