Best Buy looks like it's crushing Black Friday as hundreds of people flood stores — but it may not be everything it seems

  • Hundreds of people are lining up to get into Best Buy locations across the US for Black Friday sales. Photos of its lines have been the most impressive ones we've seen so far online.

  • The sales begin Thursday evening and continue late into the night.

  • However, in 2017, convincing people to show up in stores doesn't necessarily guarantee a successful holiday shopping season because Americans plan to spend more money online than in stores.

  • Here's a look at the crowds of holiday shoppers.


Scrolling through social media, the early winner of Black Friday 2017 looks clear — but the truth may be more complicated.

Best Buy locations have been overwhelmed with crowds of shoppers, eager to kick off Black Friday sales at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Still, in 2017, lines don't necessarily mean Black Friday success, as more Americans than ever before turn to online shopping.

Best Buy kicked off Black Friday sales at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day this year. Stores close at 1 a.m. and reopen at 8 a.m. on Black Friday.

Here's a look at some of the longest Best Buy lines across the country.

Customers' willingness to camp out for Black Friday has long been a holiday shopping tradition — and a bellwether of a retailer's financial success in the final quarter of the year.

However, as online sales grow, people's willingness to show up for Black Friday sales has become less crucial for retailers. Online shopping means that customers can avoid crowds, and retailers don't have to deal with safety concerns that hordes of shoppers can bring.

For the first time, Americans plan to spend more money online than in stores this holiday season, according to Deloitte's survey of more than 4,000 Americans.

So, a long line doesn't necessarily mean a retailer is primed for a successful holiday season. Last week, Best Buy cut its forecast for the fourth quarter. The retailer has struggled to keep up as e-commerce rivals like Amazon slash prices on tech.

Best Buy isn't the only retailer with crowds this Black Friday — through photos of its lines have been the most impressive ones we've seen so far online.

While we spotted a few lines at some Target locations, others seem to be almost eerily empty.

This year Walmart ditched the wristbands it gave to early shoppers in years past.

According to the company, it is confident that it will have plenty of stock for shoppers when they come in. The store is also heavily promoting its online pick up service, which can help streamline the shopping experience.

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