HI! My daughter manages a post office and just called me crying because two women stood screaming at her because they expected their parcels to be delivered in a remote part of the country (Canada) tomorrow. Security had to be called.

I have a wealth of stories of my own Christmas horrors from my years in the retail world...

It's Christmas Eve in the toy department of a major department store. It is already an hour after closing and people are still lining up. Finally I announce I am ringing in the last customer of the night. To which, a dozen people arms laden with toys start crying and yelling at me as though it was my fault their kids' Christmases would be ruined. What I wanted to say flashed through my mind was, "Duh, you only had 364 days notice".

On a lighter note, post holidays once all the returns were finally made, we would go through all the wallets pulling out the money that well intentioned gift-givers stuck in for the recipients. It's considered bad luck to gift a wallet without money in it. The bills were mostly $50s and the occasional $100.

Absolutely horrible how those two entitled women treated your daughter. Inexcusable. Hugs for her.

I have done a lot of retail at Xmas, and I think department stores and grocery store customers are the worst! Unbelievable how many times people would still want to shop well past closing time on xmas eve. Most of them were not shopping for essentials or for children, just bored and looking to browse. Grrrr!

I think a lot of people don't realize that retail workers are sentient people with lives and families and interests outside the store. So many people treat retail staff as if we're and extension of the corporation that we work for...like we live there, or actually have shares in the company. A lot of customers seem to think the cashier working for minimum wage actually has an important role in decision making.

I have worked for two young managers who managed to get all customers cleared out and the doors shut and locked right at closing time, Christmas Eve. The response to irate customers at the door: "Nope, sorry, my staff have families they'd like to go home to." Best!

love it!

[leejosepho]

My wife was home for lunch and said her morning at the bank drive-thru was extremely busy since people thought the bank might be closing early today...

Update at 6...

I did retail for about 6 seconds a couple years ago. We were not allowed to announce that the store would be closing....
I don't know what people think, really

[Unrigged64072835]

My daughter works in retail and her boyfriend works grocery. They've both have horror stories to tell. And yes, they're both working Christmas Eve.

This afternoon there were lines of cars trying to get to the mall, and the mall parking lots were full. That was what my daughter was looking forward to...

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

This afternoon there were lines of cars trying to get to the mall...

Same thing at the bank drive-thru, and the branch might have run out of cash in another hour or two.

I am aggrivated I admit by my boyfriend. Here it is Christmas Eve and he hasn't even started his shopping yet.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I am aggrivated I admit by my boyfriend. Here it is Christmas Eve and he hasn't even started his shopping yet.

Justafriend, my sister-in-law does that. She says she enjoys the thrill of it! To me, it would be an absolute nightmare.

I'll confess that I'm stopping at the grocery store this afternoon. I'm traveling out of town to a friend's house and she asked me to pick up some stuff on my way there. My game plan is to grab what I need and get out as fast as possible.

[LadyShadow]

I worked retail as a teenager for years. It was a madhouse, I can totally relate. Thank god those years are way behind me....

I am really sorry that happened to your daughter.

[lizardlady]

I have a holiday nightmare story that's sort of tangential to the OP. Also kind of funny.

Years ago I worked pizza delivery. One Christmas Eve there was a massive power outage in our area due to the weather. Our store was one of the few places that still had power. Needless to say we were crazy busy with orders. Delivery was a nightmare with no power - no street lights, no traffic lights, no lights in houses. At one point I was groping my way down a pitch dark stairwell in an apartment complex and heard footsteps running behind me. I thought for sure I was about to be mugged. Instead the guy stops just before he runs into me and says "Is the power out?" I wanted to ask him what his first clue was!!!

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I am aggrivated I admit by my boyfriend. Here it is Christmas Eve and he hasn't even started his shopping yet.

Some people work best this way. Me? I just would have a flat out panic attack.

(cue the Kermit the frog crazy dance)

[Ocean Swimmer]

I worked retail too as a teenager. Every night the shoppers didn't want to go home.
We had department heads corralling people from back of the store twords the front.
Made loud speaker announcements. Had the deli sandwiches 1/2 price. It would get some shoppers near the front. Also blue light specials. Tricks.

My first Christmas eve in food retail - wow, just wow - still processing the mayhem but safely home now with a glass of something.

It's over - until tomorrow!