Many Apple Stores to open at 8AM on Black Friday, discounts available online

Teaser ad for Apple's 2013 Black Friday event.

According to people familiar with the Apple's retail operations, many Apple Stores will open at 8 a.m. local time on Black Friday, earlier than normal operating hours, but two hours later than last year's start to the holiday shopping season.

Apple has traditionally joined the crowd of retailers that open unnaturally early on Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, promotions Apple Stores opened at midnight and 4 a.m. on Black Friday in 2011, for example. The person claims Apple is not pushing for early-bird customers this year, citing sales numbers from 2013.

Spot checks at various Apple Store locations across the U.S. revealed planned opening times ranged between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., while others plan to keep normal business hours. A representative from one store California store said the outlet is officially scheduled to open at 10 a.m., but employees might let customers in an hour prior.

Apple is expected to post a complete list of holiday hours on its retail website in the coming weeks.

Last year, Apple offered hardware discounts to customers in European markets like the UK, France and Germany, but chose to hand out gift cards in the U.S. and Australia.

Apple usually announces its Black Friday promotions that same day through the Online Apple Store, shortly before doors open at brick-and-mortar outlets.