It looks as though JC Penny is trying to beat the competition during this year's Black Friday rush by opening its stores during the same time shoppers should be at home enjoying a Thanksgiving dinner with their families.

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According to The Huffington Post on Thursday, the department store will be opening its doors at 5:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving day.

Store spokesperson Joey Thomas says that while the move might be controversial, the company has received a "response from customers that was overwhelmingly positive."

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He added, "Local store leaders recognize the importance of work-life balance when staffing regular and seasonal associates, and give priority to those who volunteer for holiday shifts. Hourly associates will receive time and a half for hours worked on Thanksgiving Day."

In more Black Friday news, many consumers can expect big deals this year for hot items such as gaming consoles, smart phones and laptops. Many insiders are predicting deep discounts for Amazon's Kindle and Android devices.

According to website Gotta Be Mobile on Thursday, there are a few expectant price drops with some very popular items. Buyers can expect to see at least $50 off the Xbox One, and Sony may be competing with Microsoft to make prices go even lower.

Most stores are planning on opening their doors to consumers at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday, hours earlier than the expected midnight openings of many department stores in the past.

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