Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian StarMatthew and Christy Carver look at a flyer as they wait for the doors to open at Best Buy in meridian Thursday afternoon so they can grab the deals during the pre-black Friday sale. 

Continuing a long tradition in the hunt for deals, hundreds of shoppers ended their Thanksgiving holiday early to wait in line for deals at stores around Meridian Thursday.  

Perhaps the most popular store, more than 200 people had lined up outside of Best Buy before its 5 p.m. opening, as workers distributed flyers noting who had claim to the first deals in the line. 

Christy Carver and her husband, Matthew, had waited since 3 a.m. to get a new 50″ TV. 

“It’s a $500 TV for less than $200,” Christy Carver said, showing the flyer in her hand. “And it wasn’t something you could order online.” 

She said she had ordered a gaming console online, but chose to wait in line at Best Buy for the TV deal. 

“You get the chance to fellowship,” said Nathan Bell, standing with Ambrecha Lewis since 9 a.m. “We’re having a good time.”

“Someone might come at the last minute and be disappointed,” Lewis said. 

Less than a mile away, at Toys “R” Us, waiting shoppers had a different experience. 

“I need two tramps but they’ve only got one in the store,” Michelle Carpenter, the first in line, said. “And they’re out of the gaming system.”

Carpenter had waited since 3 p.m. to get a trampoline for her children, ages 9 and 12, and her brother’s children. 

“It hasn’t ever been like this,” said Carpenter, who’s waited for Thanksgiving deals at the store for the last five years. “Usually they have more than one item.”

Other customers agreed, saying they were frustrated the store seemed to have a limited stock.

Still, Carpenter said the setback didn’t deter her.

“It’s not a negative review,” Carpenter said. “I’ll still do it next year — it’s fun.”