Shoppers waited in line, fought through crowds and even cut short Thanksgiving dinner to snap up the best deals of the year. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start when many stores opened Thursday evening. Here, in images, are scenes from Black Friday from across the nation:
AP PHOTOS: Black Friday from bargains to brawls
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A shopper browses the aisles at the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Stefan Rood, 20, folds blankets as he cleans out his tent outside a Best Buy Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. while waiting for the store to open at 12 a.m. on Friday. Rood, who has been camped out since Wednesday night, is looking to buy a new cell phone. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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A customer makes a purchase in the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Dora Hurtado waits in line at a Pembroke Pines, Fla. Toys-R-Us store, late Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
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Shoppers wait in line for the 8 p.m. opening of the Times Square Toys-R-Us store in the lead-up to Black Friday, November 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Shoppers position themselves for the midnight opening of many stores at the Clackamas Town Center for Black Friday sales Thursday Nov. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Randy L. Rasmussen)
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People wait in line, on Thursday Nov 22, 2012, for a Best Buy store in Northeast Philadelphia to open it's doors at midnight. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
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People wait in line, on Thursday Nov 22, 2012, for a Best Buy store in Northeast Philadelphia to open it's doors at midnight. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
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Customers wait in line in the computer department to shop for Black Friday discounts at a Best Buy store, Friday Nov 23, 2012, in Northeast Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
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Shoppers, at bottom, right to left, Karin Carlson, of Wichita, Kan., her husband Jason, and her cousins Tylar Neu and Christie LaFever wait in line to pay for items for purchase at Best Buy electronics store, after doors opened for a Black Friday sale that started at midnight, in Broomfield, Colo., early Friday Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
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A shopper looks at televisions at a Best Buy store on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Franklin, Tenn., after the store opened at midnight. Black Friday got off to its earliest start ever as some of the nation's stores opened Thursday night, beating the traditional Friday opening. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tyler Harless of Byram, Miss., leaves a Jackson, Miss., Best Buy store after making Black Friday purchases early Nov. 23, 2012. A number of national retailers, have pushed the start of the holiday buying season with sales starting on Thanksgiving Day. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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CORRECTS BYLINE - Shoppers stand in line outside a Best Buy department store as another rushes to join in before the store's opening at midnight for a Black Friday sale Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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A shopper looks at televisions at a Best Buy store, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Franklin, Tenn., after the store opened at midnight. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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A woman walks through the toy department at a Target store in Colma, Calif., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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Black Friday shoppers pour into the Valley River Center mall for the Midnight Madness sale Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 in Eugene, Ore. For decades, stores have opened their doors in wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. But this year, that changed when major chains from Target to Toys R Us opened on Thanksgiving itself, turning the traditional busiest shopping day of the year into a two-day affair. (AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Brian Davies)
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A crowd gathers as security guards break up a fight between shoppers waiting in line just as the doors open for Black Friday shopping at Target, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Bowling Green, Ky. Stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving that's called Black Friday because of retail folklore that it's when merchants turn a profit for the year. After testing how shoppers would respond to earlier hours last year, stores such as Target and Toys R Us this year opened as early as Thanksgiving evening. That created two separate waves of shoppers. (AP Photo/Daily News, Alex Slitz)
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Shoppers explore the Flatirons Crossing Mall, in Broomfield, Colo., Friday Nov. 23, 2012. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
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Shoppers on New York's Fifth Ave. patronize a street vendor featuring $5 jewelry, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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Tonya Thomas, of Russellville, Ky., makes her way through the aisles at Best Buy while shopping for Black Friday deals, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Bowling Green, Ky. Stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving that's called Black Friday because of retail folklore that it's when merchants turn a profit for the year. (AP Photo/Daily News, Alex Slitz)
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Kayla Harris, of Mohave Valley, Ariz., browses through a display of jewelry at a Sears store Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Henderson, Nev. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Daisy Marques, far right, and her sister, Daisy Marquez, second from left, stand outside a J.C. Penney store as they wait for their father to bring the car around to load their packages Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Las Vegas. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Tashalee Rodriguez, of Boston, uses a smart phone app while shopping at Macy's in downtown Boston, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Retailers have been trying everything they can to lure consumers into stores. Some stores tested the earlier hours last year, but this year more retailers opened their doors late on Thanksgiving or at midnight on Black Friday. In addition to expanding their hours, many also are offering free layaways and shipping, matching the cheaper prices of online rivals and updating their mobile shopping apps with more information. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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A woman talks on her cellphone next to the entrance of Target just minutes before the start of a Black Friday sales event in Flint, Mich. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012.Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, actually got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. Stores are experimenting with ways to compete with online rivals like Amazon.com that can offer holiday shopping deals at any time and on any day. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Griffin Moores)
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Shoppers stand in line outside a Best Buy department store before the store's opening at midnight for a Black Friday sale, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, actually got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. Stores are experimenting with ways to compete with online rivals like Amazon.com that can offer holiday shopping deals at any time and on any day. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Shoppers wait on a check-out line in the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Shoppers wait in line for the 8 p.m. opening of the Times Square Toys-R-Us store, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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A shopper carries bags stuffed with toys in the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in New York. While stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday, openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years. Now, stores from Wal-Mart to Toys R Us are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening, hoping Americans will be willing to shop soon after they finish their pumpkin pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Shoppers line the outside wall of Menards, early Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Winona, Minn. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP/Winona Daily News, Sydney Swanson)
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Shoppers hurry to their vehicles after shopping during Black Friday sales at Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, Minn., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/The Duluth News-Tribune, Clint Austin)
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Children in star-themed costumes march in a heavy rain durring the annual Macy's Holiday Parade Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in downtown Seattle. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Girls from the Daughters of Royalty Drill Team march in a heavy rain during the annual Macy's Holiday Parade Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in downtown Seattle. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally turn a profit for the year, got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Viewers huddle under umbrellas in a heavy rain as they watch the annual Macy's Holiday Parade go past Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in downtown Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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