Jacob Alva holds a spot in line for his wife, Juanita Salas, and her friend Vicky Torres outside of Best Buy in Beaumont on Tuesday. Rick Sforza — staff photographer 
 
 BEAUMONT >> Black Friday shoppers are already lining up outside Best Buy here to get the first crack at holiday specials. 
 
 Shoppers Vicky Torres of Cabazon and Juanita Salas of Beaumont said they have been camped out since last Wednesday in front of the store at 1650 Second St. The pair camped out together at the store last year as well. 
 
 “It’s cold, but it’s fun,” they said, wrapped in blankets Tuesday morning. 
 
 Each year store manager Eric Tschudy said the number of “campers” increases. “We love Vicky here,” he said. 
 
 “On a fixed income, this is a great way to buy Christmas presents,” said Jacob Alva, who was holding his wife Juanita Salas’ spot on Wednesday in front of the electronics retailer when she stepped away. 
 
 Alva said he doesn’t camp but he does offer support for his wife. 
 
 “I just provide support. Things like food, charge cell phones, bathroom breaks,” he said. 
 
 Alva also said he’s not concerned about safety, “the cops and security out here are really good.” 
 
 Each year, retail stores draw shoppers with Black Friday deals of deeply discounted merchandise the day after Thanksgiving. Some stores have even begun opening their doors on the evening of Thanksgiving Day. ||||| Black Friday is still about three weeks away, but two friends in Beaumont are already camping out, ready to cash in on holiday deals.Vicky Torres and her friend Juanita Alva picked out their spots in front of the Best Buy in Beaumont last Wednesday.They're ready for the long haul, stocked with mittens, snacks and hot coffee."We're good to go," Torres said.Alva and Torres switch off sleeping at the store overnight, saving each other's spot. Alva's husband takes part if for some reason, they both need to leave."The point is to get the sales, because everybody is on a fixed income and we don't have that kind of money to splurge," Alva's husband said.When stores open for Black Friday, Alva and Torres are hoping to get a 50-inch, high-definition TV for $199.They say they get to talk to a lot of people while waiting out here. People say a lot of different things."They say you're dedicated. That's cool. Some say you're stupid," Torres said."They say they're crazy, but then they come and ask us can you save a spot in line, or can you do this for us? We're not here for that. We're just here to get our stuff and that's it," Alva's husband said.
– Some stores are trying to resist Black Friday madness by refusing to open on Thanksgiving, but for die-hard shoppers, it's never too early to get ready for the mega-sales. Take Vicky Torres and Juanita Salas, who were already bundled up and camped out in front of the Beaumont, Calif., Best Buy weeks before everyone starts defrosting their turkeys. They've been there since last Wednesday, ABC 7 reports, and they're "good to go" for the duration, Torres says, with warm clothing, hot coffee, and food. "The point is to get the sales, because everybody is on a fixed income and we don't have that kind of money to splurge," says Salas' husband, Jacob Alva. The two women alternate who stays overnight to save their places in line, though there's no indication from reports that anyone else is actually in said line yet. If both women have to leave for a bathroom break or for any other reason, Alva takes over, he tells the San Bernardino County Sun; he also charges their phones and brings them sustenance. He's not particularly worried about his wife's safety, claiming "the cops and security out here are really good." Torres and Salas did the same "fun" thing last year—Best Buy's Beaumont manager tells the Sun "we love Vicky here." So what's their holiday must-have this time around? A 50-inch high-def TV for $199, they tell ABC. (Cyber Monday might be even bigger than Black Friday.)