DORA and Peter Panos joined the rush into the city yesterday but it was a mistake.

Cue the queue...bargain hunters line up at the Market Street entrance of David Jones (top); Early starters...eager shoppers arrived long before the 5am sale opening (bottom). Photo: Steve Lunam

The Drummoyne couple had no luck as they battled city crowds. Then they went to Broadway Shopping Centre and had spent $600 there when The Sun-Herald met them. ”We went into the city this morning but there were too many people and I didn’t find the sales very good,” Mrs Panos said. ”We came here and we found a bargain.”

Unfazed by the crowds were Surry Hills room-mates Sarah Berndt, 20, and Erica Na, 20, who queued outside Myer from 1am. They packed sandwiches to sustain them.

Ms Berndt and Ms Na,

from Sweden and Korea respectively, are here on a working holiday. ”We wanted to see what it was like and it sounded like a fun idea,” Ms Berndt said.

Josh Kolo, 19, of Parramatta, and his brother Luke arrived at 3am, too late to receive a David Jones gift card for being among the first in line. ”It’s a bit of a slap in the face after waking up so early,” Josh said.

But not everyone came to shop. Steven Walker, 47, of Chippendale, said: ”I don’t think I will buy anything. I just want to see what it’s like.”