At 5:40 a.m. Friday, a line of 300 or so people stretched from one corner of Boise's Best Buy store to the other.

All were waiting for their turn at the cash registers to take advantage of deals on DVDs, computers and video games. This comes after a year in which shoppers nationwide concentrated their spending on basic necessities. The Franklin Road store had opened at 5 a.m.

Though the first numbers won't be available until Saturday, early reports indicated bigger crowds than last year, with people buying more and even throwing in some items for themselves. It was an encouraging sign for retailers, who have suffered through a year of sales declines, and perhaps also for the broader economy, which could use a kick-start from consumer spending.

Best Buy is a favorite on Black Friday because of deep discounts on expensive items such as computers, cameras, gaming systems and other electronics.

The path to the registers was carefully marked with rope and stacked boxes of TVs and other electronics.

Employee Jesse Gonzales stood near the front of the line directing human traffic to the end. One perplexed couple started to stand near the front. "The line is actually going to be in the back by appliances," Gonzales said politely.

A look of shock passed over the man's face. "You've got to be kidding."

They later cut into line, but most shoppers followed the rules, holding or pushing along the floor their DVDs, their cameras, their TVs. The wait was about 25 minutes, store staffers said.

In case you slept in, here is a taste of Black Friday, direct from Best Buy and a look at what's hot, what's not and how sales compare with last year's at some anchor stores in Boise Towne Square mall.

HOT SELLERS AND MALL SALES

Dillard's: The mall anchor store said top sellers Friday were Ugg sheepskin boots, hooded sweatshirts and jeans. Practical gifts were big; crock pots quickly sold out.

An exception to the merely practical was Dillard's sale on luxury Coach purses. Some were marked half price, to $250 or so, and they were selling fast. "You can't NOT buy them," one shopper said. She didn't want her name used because she bought a bag for her daughter and feared that being in the newspaper would spoil the surprise.

At the starting line of the holiday season, sales are better than Christmas 2008, manager Suz Watts said.

Sears: Some of the most popular discounted items here were tools. The store also had a $999 deal on a front-loading washing machine and dryer combo.

Store manager Chris Godfrey described sales as "great." "The people aren't overwhelming," he said. "It's steady traffic."

FROM A FIRST-TIMER

"It wasn't as bad as I thought," said Brad Foss of Meridian, who got in line at 4:45 a.m., very late by Best Buy standards but still early enough to snag a bundled 8 GB iPod.

Foss bought it as a gift for his son. He also held a camcorder, a family gift. He wasn't put off by lines and will come again next year, if he sees a good price on something he likes.

CAPITALIST SHOPPERS

Several people buying bargain TV shows and movies on DVD said they would enjoy them and then sell them on eBay or Craigslist.

DON'T ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING

Jocelyn Dindinger started shopping at midnight, when Toys R Us opened. After what she called a frustrating time in the store, she realized she could order the toys she wanted online, so she did.

Then Dindinger returned to shopping in real-life stores with her sister and mother. They went to Kohl's, Walmart and J.C. Penney with a stop for breakfast at Denny's.

Seven hours later, she still was shopping and even smiling. Her advice is useful for other busy shopping days before Christmas:

® Have a plan and stick to it. Don't spend time browsing while other shoppers pick up what you came for.

® Go with someone who can stand in line for you while you get the goods.

® Buy online.

Colleen LaMay: 377-6448The Associated Press contributed to this report.