
Black Friday madness has officially gripped the nation.

The elbows-out shopping bonanza began on Thursday night as stores across the country opened their doors early to crowds of frantic bargain hunters.

It carried on throughout the day on Friday as millions flocked to malls, stores and retail websites to snag a bargain.

While most were peaceful in their pursuit of cut-priced goods, brawls and tugs-of-war erupted in different stores. One, in a Buckle store in Hoover, Alabama, resulted in two women being arrested.

The violence was even more severe in Missouri where a 19-year-old man was shot outside a mall as shoppers rushed to snap up cut-price goods inside. He is in a critical condition.

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ALABAMA: At the Buckle store in Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Alabama, a mass brawl which began with two women shut down the whole shopping center

ALABAMA: Both of the women were arrested. Police have since revealed that their fight was personal and not shopping-related

For the most part, the shopping was civilized and, in some cases, orderly.

At the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2,500 lined up neatly in rows for the doors opening at 5am.

Others camped outside a Walmart in Massachusetts which opened at 1am and will remain open until 11pm on Friday night, giving bargain hunters almost 24 hours of uninterrupted shopping.

Traditionally, most on-the-ground shopping is done on Black Friday and online shoppers wait until Cyber Monday when prices are reduced even further.

But this year at-home shoppers flooded retail websites early, causing some, including Lowes home improvements, to crash.

MASSACHUSETTS: At BJ's in Northborough, Massachusetts, people filled their shopping carts with wine, TVs and toilet paper as the sales got underway

MASSACHUSETTS: At BJs in Northborough, a man picks up one of the discounted 65in flat screen televisions on offer

MASSACHUSETTS: In Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Jeffrey Clark and Jania Carreiro waited outside Walmart for its doors to open at 1am on Friday. The store will be open for almost 24 hours - until 11pm on Friday night

MASSACHUSETTS: People slept outside the Walmart in Dartmouth in order to go through its doors as soon as they opened at 1am

MASSACHUSETTS: At a Best Buy in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, a man rushes to pay for his TV at Best Buy

MASSACHUSETTS: Shoppers rush to snap up Playstations and other electronics at a Best Buy on Black Friday

MINNESOTA: At the Mall of America in Minneapolis, thousands queued up before the mall opened at 5am on Friday to snag thousands of free gifts and snap up deals which were being offered

MINNESOTA: The Mall of America is a world famous shopping destination with 520 stores inside. It is offering extended hours on Black Friday and will be open from 5am until 10pm

CHICAGO: One video taken at a Walmart in south Chicago shows shoppers swarming over a table to pick up discounted goods

As is the case every year, Target, Walmart and Best Buy were the big winners and had snaking queues outside their stores long before staff welcomed in the first customers.

In Massachusetts, dedicated shoppers braved freezing temperatures to camp outside stores with blankets.

They waited patiently for Walmart and Best Buy to open at 1am. Walmart in Dartmouth will be open until 11pm on Friday night - 22 hours after it opened its doors to the first shoppers.

Neither incident of violence in Missouri and Alabama were sparked by fights over sale items, according to local police.

This year's frenzy will see Americans spend an astonishing $20billion in stores and online, according to consumer experts.

Experts predict 164 million Americans will spend nearly $1,000 each over the holiday weekend.

The mayhem began at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day as thousands of bargain hunters rushed inside stores across the US in search of amazing sales, door buster deals and limited-time offers.

Macy's Herald Square in Manhattan saw hundreds of people lined up outside their doors waiting to get their hands on deals like cosmetic and perfume sets from $10 to $20 as well as 40 per cent off on boots and shoes.

Shoppers were also seen flocking to its Apple shop for deals on gadgets like the Apple Watch.

NEW YORK STATE: There were long lines for the Best Buy at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, on Friday morning

NEW YORK STATE: At the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, a woman piles more goods into a trolley full of items

NEW YORK STATE: An overwhelmed shopper takes a break at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York

MANHATTAN: Two women try on sunglasses at Century 21 in downtown Manhattan in New York on Black Friday

MANHATTAN: Women ride the escalators at H&M on Black Friday as they hunt for bargains

MANHATTAN: H&M released an entire Black Friday collection for cost-conscious shoppers

MANHATTAN: A woman carrying a Macy's bag makes her way through New York City after snagging a variety of goods

MANHATTAN: Women in Macy's at Herald Square survey the merchandise at the Michael Kors accessories concession

MANHATTAN: Lord & Taylor, another popular NYC department store, attracted others with its deals

MANHATTAN: A woman makes her way through Herald Square with a KitchenAid blender

MANHATTAN: Shoppers laden down with bags from the Disney Store and Old Navy carry on in search of more bargains

MANHATTAN: Shoppers in Manhattan braved the cold to make the most of the deals across the city's stores

MANHATTAN: At Target in Herald Square, a woman makes the most of the buy one get one half-price deal on toys

BROOKLYN: In Brooklyn, New York, a young woman carries a large Target bag and children's toy down the street

BROOKLYN: A man pushes a cart of refrigerators and microwaves in to Target store

WEBSITES CRASH AS ONLINE SHOPPERS GET AHEAD OF THEMSELVES BEFORE CYBER MONDAY Lowes website crashed on Friday as online shoppers rushed to place orders While millions raced out on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday to get their hands on good deals, many are waiting to spend their cash online. On Monday, countless more deals will appear on retailers' websites. This year, experts predict that $6billion will be spent online on Monday alone. The figure last year was $3.45billion, a new online sales record. It is too soon to say whether more money will be spent on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. By 5pm Thursday, shoppers had already spent $1.52 billion, which is a 17 per cent increase from last year. Some websites began taking online orders on Friday after putting deals online early. Lowes, the home improvement retailer, buckled under the surge in traffic and its website crashed. 'The site is currently offline and will be available within the next hour. Until then, we invited you to check out these other Lowes affiliated sites. Thanks for your patience,' was the message which greeted shoppers. It was back up and running after an hour or so. Advertisement

An estimated 164 million people are planning to shop or are considering shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Of those considering shopping the long holiday weekend, the survey found that 32 million plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day, but Black Friday will remain the busiest day with 115 million shoppers descending on US stores.

Consumers said they will spend an average $967.13 this year, according to the annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

That's up 3.4 per cent from the $935.58 consumers said they would spend when surveyed at the same time last year.

Cyber Monday is expected to become the largest online shopping day in history, generating $6.6 billion in sales, 16.5 per cent growth compared to last year.

The initial sales on Thanksgiving Day were expected to increase 15 per cent to $2.8 billion. But by 5pm Thursday, Americans had already spent $1.52 billion, which is a 17 per cent increase from last year.

FLORIDA: Shoppers in the Sunshine State enjoyed balmy temperatures as they hit the shops

FLORIDA: In Naples, a man and woman peruse storefronts as they make their way through the sales

IOWA: Renee Hantelmann and her husband Josh wore onesies to shop at Target in Dubuque

IOWA: Other shoppers in Home-Farm-Auto were also in the Christmas spirit and donned costumes

IOWA: Robert Carey and h is four-month-old son Nash were among the shoppers at Theisen's Home-Farm-Auto in Dubuque

TEXAS: Shoppers wait for Dillards to open at 8am in Tyler, Texas, on Friday

IDAHO: Shoppers at a Walmart in Idaho search bargain buckets for body massagers and discounted DVDs

IDAHO: Three-year-old Tyler Green entertains himself as his family shops in Target in Idaho Falls

TEXAS: Gun stores enjoyed the sales too. There were lines of people waiting to pay for their weapons and accessories at this Superior Firearms in Tyler

CALIFORNIA: In Burbank, a woman pushes an enormous television and sound bank through Best Buy

CALIFORNIA: A woman tries to maneuver a 55in television out of Best Buy in Burbank

VIRGINIA: At Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Virginia, DJ Russell Prusak entertained shoppers in one of the mall's ploys to keep people coming in rather than shop online

WHAT THEY ARE BUYING The Amazon Echo is among the most popular items At the Mall of America, staff said the biggest demand was for voice-activated electronic goods like Amazon's Echo speaker and clothes. The Echo is being sold for $79.99 online and in stores, a discount of $20. At Best Buy, televisions were enormously discounted. Macy's, Nordstrom, and Best Buy were the most crowded of its 520 stores. Shoppers are also rushing to snap up Hatchimals, a children's toy which has surged in popularity Another popular purchase was the Hatchimal - a children's toy which has been discounted slightly across stores including Target and Best Buy. The iPhone 8 was also expected to be a big it. Best Buy was offering $200 off on financing deals. Advertisement

Adobe also projects $5 billion will be spent by the end of Black Friday.

Between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, sales are predicted to hit $19.7 billion.

The NRF expects holiday retail sales in November and December – excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants – to increase between 3.6 and 4 per cent for a total of $678.75 billion to $682 billion, up from $655.8 billion last year.

US stores had to get creative this year with tricks to lure shoppers off the internet and back into the thick of it.

Shopping malls in several states scheduled Santa photo shoots with family pets as one way to attract customers in the face of the exploding online shopping realm.

Brick-and-mortar stores have expanded their bag of tricks - and gotten increasingly bold - as they look to lure shoppers who might otherwise be happy to stay on the couch and pick up gifts while still in their pajamas.

For the holiday shopping season, malls are hosting gingerbread decorating sessions, visits from the Grinch and ugly Christmas sweater nights.

Temporary ice skating rinks and magical winter decor - like the famous Macy's window displays in New York - are also being used to draw customers intent on an in-person holiday experience.

Walmart stores plans to throw more than 20,000 'holiday parties' at which children can pose for 'selfies with Santa'.

The flagship Bloomingdale's store in New York has held yoga classes in the past, while Nordstrom has displayed Tesla cars near the section for men's suits. A number of shops now also ply visitors with food and drink.

'All of these retailers are desperate to get people into their stores,' said analyst Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, who added a note of caution about all the promotions.

'Whether they work or not is open to debate.'

More than 800 people lined up outside a Best Buy in Irving, Texas, on Thanksgiving.

The electronics store had some of the most impressive lines with line in Tennessee snaking into the parking lot.

MANHATTAN: Eager shoppers were seen cramped against the store's doors as they waited patiently to get their hands on early Christmas gifts at Macy's in Herald Square on Thursday night

MANHATTAN: Macy's opened its doors at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day for thousands of early Black Friday shoppers in search of amazing sales, door buster deals, and limited-time-offers

MANHATTAN: The Manhattan Macy's store has deals like cosmetic and perfume sets from $10 to $20 as well as 40 per cent off on boots and shoes that have enticed shoppers this Black Friday

MANHATTAN: Within minutes of the store doors opening on Thursday night, Macy's was packed with shoppers eager to make the most of the deals

MANHATTAN: A woman looks at a pair of boots in Macy's Herald Square, which is offering 40 per cent off of boots and shoes

MANHATTAN: People shop for items in Macy's Herald Square during early opening for the Black Friday sales in Manhattan

MANHATTAN: The initial sales on Thanksgiving Day were expected to increase 15 per cent to $2.8 billion. But by 5pm Thursday, Americans had already spent $1.52 billion, which is a 17 per cent increase from last year

Some shared tactics for cutting the line by wearing store uniforms. Other enterprising Twitter users were prepared to sell theirs

In Nevada, more than 40 dispensaries are offering discounts on marijuana flower products, edibles such as chocolates, and concentrates, this Black Friday.

This is the first Black Friday since legal sales of recreation marijuana began in Nevada.

'It's a great stocking-stuffer, and now you can treat it like alcohol in that regard,' said state Sen. Tick Segerblom, who helped legalize recreational pot in the state. 'As long as no kids can get to it. It's for adults only.'

Some dispensaries are offering an eighth of an ounce of select flower products for $35, down from $53. One dispensary is gifting shoppers a 10-pack of fruit chew edibles with any purchase, while another one has a buy-one-get-one-free special on edibles.

Legal sales of recreational marijuana began in the state July 1. Those 21 and older with a valid ID can buy up to an ounce of pot. People can only use the drug in a private home as it remains illegal to consume it in public, including the Las Vegas Strip, hotels and casinos.

'Cannabis use has been misunderstood and vilified in our country for over 80 years, so this day will feel both surreal and celebratory,' said Andrew Jolley, owner of dispensaries and president of the Nevada Dispensary Association. 'We're very excited about the first holiday season of adult-use in Nevada.'

TEXAS: Holiday shoppers create aisle traffic at Best Buy during an early start to the Black Friday sale at Chimney Rock Shopping Center in Odessa, Texas

CALIFORNIA: Thanksgiving holiday shoppers wait in a check out line at the JCPenny store in Glendale, California on Thanksgiving Day

KENTUCKY: Lines formed round the block of this Best Buy in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Thursday afternoon

KANSAS: A woman waiting to be allowed in to Best Buy in Overland Park, Kansas, picks out what she is going to choose once inside from a catalogue

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Shoppers in Target had more room to themselves and snagged cut-price TVs on Thursday night. Above, Jane Sousie and her son with their matching TVs in a store in Keene