Nearly every retail parking lot along Reserve Street in Missoula was full on Friday morning with eager shoppers hoping to make the most of Black Friday.

Electronic Store, Best Buy, says that this year sales were up when compared to last year. Manager Rob Hooper says this year sales were up by as much as 10%.

Some hot items to fly off the shelves first were laptops by Sony and Toshiba's, LED Televisions by Samsung and also the new Ereader from Sony. Smaller price point items like Blu Ray DVD's also sold out fast.

Hooper says Best Buy's ticket system works well with customers because once they've purchased their item they then receive a ticket. Shoppers can then finish their shopping and pick up the item on their way out of the store, taking out some the madness of Black Friday.

He also says Best Buy's location close to other major retail stores like Target only helps their business.

- Robin O'Day reporting from KPAX in Missoula

(from November 27, 2009) The race is on at stores across the country as shoppers buy into the annual tradition of Black Friday.

Some shoppers spent hours standing in line to get ready for one of the busiest and craziest shopping days of the year.

"If you look at it, you're saving 500 bucks or something by staying up all night. Otherwise, it's pretty stupid" shopper Travis Urdahl told us late on Thanksgiving Day.

Shoppers waiting on deals at the Best Buy in Missoula set up tents, rolled out sleeping bags and blankets. While some are there for the deals, others are there for moral support.

One shopper told us he spent the last five years camping out on Black Friday. Once he was 74th in line, last year he was 4th, and this year he's first.

"we're getting two laptops this year. Plus they've got several other good buys that I want to get in on" Steve Manzanares told us.