Video: Retailers pin their hopes on holiday shoppers

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SEATTLE – Shoppers crowded the malls as usual for Black Friday, but this year, consumers in the Seattle area say they are cutting back on spending.

Malls around Puget Sound were packed at the crack of dawn. Some had camped outside their favorite stores for the best deals.

The biggest selling items were electronics, from Blu-Ray players to video games.

"We're friends. We have a game plan. Scoped it all out,” said Eric Jones, who camped out at the Lynnwood Best Buy. He was hoping to grab up a limited number of expensive electronics at rock-bottom prices.

While consumers picked through merchandise that was up to 60 percent off in some places, saving money is clearly on their minds.

"Usually I spend $200 on my sister, but I'll bring that down to $100 this time,” said one shopper.

Many shoppers say they plan on shopping for needs rather than wants.

Looking for a sweet flip

Instead of giving the items they bought on Black Friday, a number of enterprising shoppers hope to sell the items for a sweet flip.

"We gotta get the items on discount and then we turn around and sell them for profit,” Mike Johnson.

Many of these items will likely be sold on Craigslist. It’s not a new idea, but it could be even riskier this year. Many stores have too much inventory and may slash prices even further as Christmas approaches.

For example, we found a Sony Playstation 3 with two free games on sale for $399 plus tax for the first 16 buyers at the Lynnwood Best Buy. That same brand new Playstation was already on sale Friday on Craigslist for as little as $350, but without the free games.

It was a similar story for high definition TV’s.

Even so, some buyers desperately hope they can make a few bucks by reselling those door buster specials.

"We got to make rent and we need that money,” said one shopper.

For the most part, regular shoppers we talked to aren’t frowning on the practice.

"I think people should be able to buy and sell how they want to just like big companies are able to buy and sell how they want to,” said Stephanie Hare.

Retail analysts say re-selling bargain items isn’t as profitable as it used to be because buyers have caught on.