Skip the Stampede: More Black Friday Deals Offered Online

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Tetra Images / Corbis

Black Friday sales — where the early, vicious, merciless bird gets the worm.

For some, it’s a Thanksgiving tradition — the Friday after the feast, wake up at the crack of dawn, stand in line and trample fellow shoppers to get massive discounts on holiday gifts. And with the (you guessed it) recession in full swing, retailers are slashing prices even more on Black Friday to compete with one another.

(See the 20 best Black Friday deals.)

But would you prefer the savings without the trip to the emergency room? You’re in luck. More and more companies are offering Black Friday deals online this Thursday, for bargain-hunters waiting for the Thanksgiving turkey to cook. Most physical retail stores are closed on Turkey Day, but their online outlets get sales going early.  Companies cutting prices include Walmart.com, J.C. Penney, Amazon.com, The Gap and Kohl’s.

Businesses are smartly responding to the rise in online shopping every Thanksgiving. Last year, people spent $318 million online on Thanksgiving, up 10% from the year before.

(See pictures of wild shoppers on Black Friday.)

Don’t mind cuts and bruises for a good sale? Make sure to hit Wal-Mart stores, which are offering to match any competitor’s Black Friday prices if you bring in their ads. Plus, you can print out a Black Friday map of the store to seek out the best deals. (via New York Times)