Ahhhhhhh! It's almost over! The shopping mayhem! The stressed-out shoppers who can't find their last few gifts! The angry shoppers who are mad because we don't have the item they saw in our store two weeks ago! The impatient shoppers who hover as we wrap their gifts because they are in a hurry to finish buying the other six gifts still on their list!
And then, after Christmas Day, once all the gifts have been opened and sometimes disappointment sets in...the RETURNS! People returning all the things they don't like! People yelling at me because I cannot process their return without a receipt or gift receipt! People yelling at me when I tell them the amount of their gift receipt and their SHOCK that the giver only spent $25 on them! People yelling at me when I cannot give them cash, only store credit!
One time, I had a woman scream at me and say, 'NOW I HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE I CANNOT RETURN THIS ($10, year old) BAG.'
Suffer? Really?
Ahhhhhhhh!
Don't get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY love helping customers pick out gifts for people who are hard to buy for or those who just simply need ideas. I love helping little kids pick out jewelry for their mom, lotions for their grandmas, sweaters and perfume and scarves and necklaces for wives, toys and books for kids, blankets for babies, hostess gifts for the party. I love giving ideas and suggestions and wrapping their packages up beautifully and thoughtfully for them. I love it when people put THOUGHT into things. But I feel sooooo many people are hardened when it comes to the art of gift giving.
There's so much more than GIFTS during the holidays, but it is also a longstanding tradition and it CAN be a lot of fun. But having seen the stress levels of shoppers the few days before Christmas each year, it's just so, so so, so...what's the word I'm looking for....MATERIALISTIC. I know I sound like Linus but it's true.
Just breeeaaaathe people! Breaaaaathe! If you're stressed, give a gift card. Wrap it in a box and put their favorite candy with it. Give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant. Bake them some cookies. Just please please please, FOR PETE'S SAKE, don't take it out on the store employees if you're stressed!
It's supposed to be my day off today. But I have to go in. But I'm off on Christmas. Then I go in the day after Christmas. To be there for all the returns. And my next day off is New Year's Day. I know I'm not alone. There are millions of retail workers in the same boat.
I am closing up shop at 5pm on Christmas Eve. And I will ENJOY my 40 hours outside of work.
Happy Holidays.
BE KIND TO RETAILERS! Especially the ones who have been screamed at but still keep a smile on their faces.
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