The promise of savings draws a line of shoppers to Dunham's Sports before the store even opened at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Black Friday got off to an early — although somewhat slow — start Thursday.

Several local stores opened their doors to customers Thursday evening, prompting a few of the famed Black Friday lines.

Joan Traggiai and her daughters, Leahanna and Nicole McCloskey, spent an hour Thursday afternoon outside Dunham's Sports. The trio was after a surprise Christmas present for Traggiai's husband, and needed a larger vehicle to transport it.

“I have the truck,” Leahanna McCloskey said.

Traggiai said “big savings” drew her out of her home and into blustery weather Thursday afternoon. When Leahanna saw this year's Dunham's ad, she alerted Traggiai.

The women said they have a game plan when it comes to braving Black Friday sales.

And they know just how brave some sales need shoppers to be.

Traggiai was “strangled” during Black Friday in 2018 when she tried to buy a set of The Pioneer Woman pots and pans at Walmart.

“I got grabbed by the neck,” Traggiai said. “That's the only time I've ever really had problems.”

Traggiai's competition might have wanted the cookware, but Traggiai wanted them more. “I did get them,” Traggiai said.

Common courtesy goes a long way in the waiting line, according to Natascha Cratty.

Cratty was among GameStop shoppers who waited for doors to open Thursday at 3 p.m.

Cratty bought “Madden NFL” for her son.

“I finished up my Christmas shopping,” Cratty said. “I like to say I'm done.”

Cratty went Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving because the savings were huge. She said she got “Madden NFL” for 50 percent off — or $33.

Cratty said her family was also involved in Black Friday sales about five years ago, when they had Thanksgiving for breakfast and spent the day driving to Cabela's in West Virginia.

The Crattys were the first to stand in line outside Cabela's, which didn't open until Friday. They wanted a chance to win Cabela's giveaways, which included firearms. In the end, they won a $5 gift card and a spice set.

Cratty says that was the last time she's doing that.

Still, Cratty is willing to stand in line for a good sale. She calls herself a “big couponer.”

“It's all about saving money,” Cratty said. “The better the deal, the longer it's worth standing in line for.”

But Cratty and Traggiai both believe it's better for shoppers to wait their turn than be pushy. The sales aren't as important as safety.

“Be nice,” Traggiai said. “Be patient. I'm sure they have enough.”