Black Friday lines begin Wednesday

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Dozens of eager shoppers started lining up Wednesday morning in preparation for Black Friday.

WAVY.com was on scene Wednesday afternoon as shoppers stood outside of a Virginia Beach Best Buy, set to open at midnight Thursday for the biggest sales of the year. Many of the shoppers say  it's more than just the holiday deals that brings them out.

Matthew Sherman has camped out for Black Friday deals for the past four years and says the people he meets in line are part of why he camps out each year. 

"Honestly meeting people out here it becomes like a family. All these people here we kind of all know each other from multiple years of doing it," Sherman said.

The Black Friday shoppers don't share phone numbers or swap e-mails, but each year they reunite in pursuit of holiday deals.

"Getting the good deal that's the first thing. But, you make new friends every time you are so here so it's like the family is expanding," said Rahul Patel, who has camped out for Black Friday deals for the past six years.

A new addition to the Black Friday group this year is Keith Thompson. He set up his tent at noon Wednesday and was the first in line.

"I have like five layers on me," Thompson said. "I have like five extra coats, and I have a car out there if worse comes to worse."

The shoppers pass time by playing games in their make shift camp grounds outside of Best Buy.

"It's really fun," Sherman said. " We all sit out here, play poker, play games in our tents. We get a heater and generator out."

Thinking of how they will feel when the doors finally open for Black Friday sales keeps them going.

"Until you do it, you don't know how it feels. When the doors open, and you're one of the first ten people you feel like a winner, " said Patel.

Last year, one early shopper sold their spot in line for $300.