FOR THOSE WORKING in retail, Christmas is not a time of peace of joy. It is a time of stress. Lots and lots of stress.
Here’s what you can only know if you’ve worked retail during the Christmas period.
The season actually begins on November 1
At the very least. There are fervent whispers of it well before Halloween.
Christmas spirit is a myth
Well, maybe not – but it’s hard to feel the joy of the season as you watch two fathers fight over a Frozen doll.
The mess made after a Christmas shopping rush is a different beast
There’s something about pre-Christmas panic that makes every customer at least five times more destructive than normal.
“I’m sure if you look you’ll find some more in the back.”
You need to understand, customer person. There is NOTHING LEFT. YOU PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT ALL.
There are certain festive tunes that can’t be heard without a shudder
They just bring back memories of the time you were forced to listen to It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year every half hour for eight hours a day, at least five days a week.
The looks of sympathy you get from customers when working Christmas Eve
“They’re making you work Christmas Eve?” Well yes, because people like you insist on coming here.
The queues, dear god, the queues
Never ending, no relief, no bathroom breaks.
The true desperation of the last-minute shopper
It’s 5:45pm on Christmas Eve and a wild-eyed shopper is watching you scan a PedEgg, a Slanket, novelty socks, and the last of the wrapping paper, daring you to judge them.
The sheer, palpable relief when the doors finally close on Christmas Eve…
…Only to begin all over again with the St Stephen’s Day sales
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