John Schneider

At the crack of dawn this morning, Best Buy store manager John Schneider expects to open his Mount Laurel store to a throng of anxious shoppers ready to begin a mad dash for DVD players, cell phones and digital cameras.

Strawbridge's and Wal-Mart stores in the county will open before sunrise today to accommodate the hordes hunting for toys, televisions and trinkets.

These early-morning openings may be more acts of tradition than salesmanship.Some retailers say Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, isn't nearly the make-or-break day it once was.