DaytonDailyNews.com

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — Some free advice: Don't stand between Travis Adkins and Josiah Groves and whatever shopping bargains they may desire. It might get messy.

Adkins and Groves, both of Middletown, could be found at the head of the line waiting in the freezing pre-dawn darkness for Best Buy on Mall Woods Drive to open its doors at 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28.

These two had earned their spots in line. They had been waiting since 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, some 35 hours before Best Buy was to open its doors to "Black Friday" shoppers.

The men had a legal pad of items they planned to buy — laptop and desktop computers, TVs, GPS systems, cameras — complete with estimated prices.

Most of all, they had determination. And camping gear.

"We had tents, cots, sleeping bags, hand warmers, foot warmers, everything you could think of to keep warm," Groves said.

"This ain't nothing" he added. "They is my 10th year in a row — my 10th-year anniversary here at Best Buy (on Black Friday morning)."

The question arises: Why would anyone spend Thanksgiving and beyond sleeping and shivering in a store parking lot?

"You spend a lot of money to save a lot of money," Grove said. "A lot of Christmas presents to get."

Online shopping isn't enough for these hearty souls. They believe in-person deals are better. And, of course, they save on shipping charges.

"There are a few more in-store type deals that you can get," Adkins said.

They each planned to spend $2,000 to $2,500.

When Best Buy employees opened the doors at 5:01 a.m., they were greeted by cheers and applause.

"The line is moving now," said a relieved Tierra Cooper of Dayton. "It's worth it."

At the very end of the line — at least for a moment — was Kevin Singletary of Lebanon. He found himself well north of Best Buy, past the Ashley Furniture store.

Singletary wasn't surprised by the line's length.

"If the Ashley Furniture weren't there, the line would wrap around the Best Buy store," he said with a laugh.

The line did snake around the store at the nearby Toys R Us. There, shoppers waited patiently on Mall Woods Drive, well off the store's lot.

At Dayton Mall, shoppers were also getting an early — very early — start.

Debi Townsend of Miami Twp. already had an armful of bags by 5:20 a.m.

"It's a tradition," Townsend said. "We've done this for years."

There are bargains to be found for those willing to get up early, she said. And she thought that families would do their best to find children gifts, even with the tough economy making matters difficult.

"I think they're going to try to get at least the major item," she said. "They're probably cutting back some."

Added Townsend: "Christmas is Christmas, and you do what you can."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.