TULSA -- As stores started opening before the sun came up on Black Friday, many stores had either no lines or a handful of people gathered outside.
Raeshelle Sharpnack went to Dick's Sporting Goods at Tulsa Hills at 4:55 a.m. That was five minutes before the store opened. She said she wanted to beat the crowd but ended up staying in her car until the doors opened because no one was lined up outside.
"I was like, 'What's the big deal?'" Sharpnack said. "I could have slept in a little longer."
In year's past, people have gotten to stores hours in advance to make sure they could snag the best Black Friday deal. That is not what Sharpnack said she saw throughout Tulsa Hills.
"It was madness," Sharpnack said. "People wrapped around this entire mall. Tulsa Hills was like a mass of people."
A line did form outside of Belk. They gave out gift cards to the first 100 people in line that ranged from $5 to $500.
Reina Tillotson and her husband got to the store at 3:30 a.m. for the 6 a.m. opening. She said she was stunned to find they were the first ones there.
"I was here last night for the gift cards and we got here a little earlier and we were way back by Payless when we got here," Tillotson said.
Shoppers said they think since stores are now opening with Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving, the crowds are not showing up like they used to on Friday.
Tillotson said that might be why the deals do not seem to be as good this year.
"I don't know if it's because they are spreading the deals out and they are closing and re-opening again in the mornings," Tillotson said.
The shoppers did show up and they did not leave empty-handed.
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