Stores Across Tulsa Open For The Holiday Earlier Than Ever

Now that the turkey is in the fridge, the time to shop this holiday weekend began earlier this year on Thanksgiving Day. 

Most stores used to open early on Black Friday, as Thanksgiving Day was sacred, but that is no longer the case. Whether you like it or not, holiday shopping now gets underway as early as 6 p.m. Thursday.

Fourteen big-box retailers in the Tulsa area opened their doors Thanksgiving Day. One of those stores, Target let me inside just before the big sale started. 

It was very calm before the crazy. 

"This is like Easter, Halloween, Christmas -- all rolled into one day," said a Target store clerk. 

Anxious shoppers lined up outside the Target store at Tulsa Hills Shopping Center. Employees passed out coupons and maps, and gave vouchers to those first in line, ensuring they'd get the prized 40-inch HDTV, marked down to $150.

"Nobody want to be paying $300, $400 for a TV that's going to be on sale for a day. You can just get in line and wait for it," said Kyler Jackson. 

Target opened earlier than ever on Thanksgiving Day. At 6 p,m, sharp, the shopping carts were flying. 

But before you think everyone out shopping on Thanksgiving Day is a greedy consumer. think again.  Ashley Tweedy stood in line to buy video games for her husband. He'd normally join her in the madness, but he's in Kuwait. He's been there for three months.

"He loves them. He has like all of them, so it's something to help him pass the time while he's there," said Ashley Tweedy. 

Sarah Green went to Dick's Sporting Goods and got 50 percent off golf clubs for her 5-year-old nephew. 

"He is my only nephew and I have to get it for him," said Sarah Green. 

Raven Cross was there as well to make sure her mom got the TV she wanted, but she dragged her family along for quality bonding. 

"If you think you think you want to shop, do it with family. If you don't want to shop, stay at home, be with family," said Raven Cross. 

The National Retail Federation estimates 140 million shoppers will be out this holiday weekend. 

Sarah Green says she's glad she got a deal, but wishes it hadn't been on Thanksgiving Day. 

"I wish it was a little bit more on Black Friday than it was on Thanksgiving because we don't get to spend as much time with the family," said Sarah Green. 

Most of the people waiting outside Target got to eat a turkey dinner at home before getting in line to shop. The longest lines Thursday evening were at Best Buy. Some of those shoppers had camped out in line since Tuesday.