christmas Archives - I Hate Working In Retail

By

11 Things Retail Workers Hate About Christmas

December is always the busiest month of the year in retail. We all hire extra Christmas staff, buy triple the amount of stock and deck our stores out with festive cheer. At least this is what our pleasant exteriors show.

Our interiors are a lot less shiny and bright and more rusty and cynical. By time Christmas day actually rolls around we’re all freakish zombie like creatures that would rather have a day long snooze fest than face a full day of family celebrations. Why? Because we’re underpaid, overworked, glorified slaves to the flocking unorganised masses who think we’re robots not actual human beings.

There’s a reason we lose our holiday cheer and start picking up the Grinch’s cynical attitude. To us Christmas isn’t pretty and that’s just a fact. To help everyone understand here are 11 of the reasons us retail workers enter auto pilot mode for the entire month of December.

24/7 Christmas carols

It’s bad enough we get the pleasure of listening to these repetitive tunes all day every day, we don’t need every second customer complaining about them too. Yes we know they suck, we also know they’re annoying. Geez thanks for pointing out that they’re playing everywhere, we really hadn’t noticed.

Come December 1st the crazies come out to play

For 11 months of the year a large proportion of shoppers are in hibernation. Come the start of December they come back out to play. Their mission to drive us bat shit crazy. These are the shoppers that combine all the traits we hate in customers and wrap themselves up in one neat package for us to want to chuck in the trash. Please, just please leave us alone.

The loss of our social lives

9pm trades every night, plus chuck in a couple 7am opens and midnight closes and it’s safe to say our schedule looks a lot like the social butterflies nightmare. We often do our Christmas shopping on our short lunch breaks, fighting the crowds to get a lousy sandwich from the food court and don’t even get me started on the brutality of the car park. They’re a war zone where no one is safe, even the trenches offer no recluse. Your bestie wants to go the movies, no sorry hun, I’ve got a full day of sorting out the world’s crap.

Professional tantrum chucker’s

Two words. School holidays. Oh hell no!

The bargain hunters

No I cannot mark the price down for you, no buying two of the same thing won’t change that. No they won’t be going on sale any time soon. No I cannot give it to you for free because it didn’t scan. And, my all time favourite, no I cannot give you, a complete stranger my staff discount.

The indecisive shopper

I am not your personal shopper! I do not know what colour your mother in law will prefer! Furthermore I don’t know a damn thing about you, I’m here to assist you, not do all the hard work for you.

The last minute panicked shopper

When we shut our doors we will not re-open them because you’re shouting at us from outside. Rattling the doors will not help; it will just piss us of more. If you walk in a minute before closing and want to ‘browse’ kindly f@#* off. We don’t get paid enough to stay back after hours to serve you. Please just let us go home we don’t bug you at your place of work when you’re about to knock off.

The superiority complex of customers

Last time I checked my job description does not include ‘your own personal house slave’. Just because we work in retail does not mean we’re the bottom of the food chain. In fact 99% of the time we’re actually smarter and more switched on than you are. Just so you’re aware, whoever created the slogan ‘the customer is always right’ clearly never worked in retail because THE CUSTOMER IS NEVER RIGHT! so in future please refrain from using that wildly inaccurate phrase, it only proves that we really aren’t beneath you.

The ‘can I speak to your manager’ customer

If I tell you we can’t refund the item you kid smashed, then we can’t refund it. If you ask for my manager, they’re going to come out and tell you the same thing. The quality of service does not change between our bosses and us. At Christmas they work ridiculous overtime so if anything they’re less inclined to want to deal with your crap than we are.

The cringe worthy ‘Do you gift wrap?’ question

Sure thing as long as you’re happy with a scrunched up box with too much sticky tape. We have not had professional training. If you want you presents wrapped do it yourself, or pay the worker at the gift-wrapping station who has nothing better to do. The ten customers in my line waiting to be served are way more important than you being too lazy to wrap your own gifts.

Becoming the GRINCH when everyone else is all festive

We deal with a lot of shit especially at Christmas. So forgive us for feeling less than cheery when you all set out to make our lives miserable

 

Sourced from abeautifulmessme.com

By

CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS TACKLE DEER INSIDE WALMART

Humans aren’t the only ones going nuts over the retail giant’s crazy low prices on berries this holiday season.

According to UPI, a deer wandered into a Charlotte Walmart Monday afternoon and had to be subdued by customers and workers until Animal Control arrived. Thankfully, last-minute Christmas shopper Edmond Ratcliffe was there and recorded the excitement on his cellphone:

“It was kind of a stay out of the way situation,” Ratcliffe told a local television station. “I know if I’m in the way, it could be trouble.”

Luckily for the safety of both customers and the deer, several other patrons weren’t as passive as Ratcliffe and tackled the deer to the ground. Animal Control eventually arrived on the scene and took the deer away.

It’s unknown what happened to the deer after her unexpected Walmart adventure, but we think it’s safe to say she’ll be buying her Schweppes Ginger Ale from another retailer this year.

Sourced from mandatory.com

By

British Shoppers In Panic After Supermarket Websites Cancel Orders

Sainsbury’s and Asda customers in panic after websites cancel Christmas orders – and Waitrose shoppers complain about no deliveries

  • Angry customers complained of delivery slots being cancelled by retailers
  • Computer glitch scrapped slots chosen by those who had amended orders 
  • Many took to social media amid fear their Christmas food would not arrive
  • Panicked customers bemoaned not being able to phone customer services
  • Sainsbury’s website crashed for half an hour while Asda’s stayed live
  • The online retailers have assured shoppers their orders will arrive on time 

Shoppers ordering their Christmas groceries were left in a state of panic on ‘Mayhem Monday’ today as one major supermarket’s website crashed and two cancelled orders.

Sainsbury’s and Asda customers took to social media to complain about their delivery slots – booked weeks in advance – being scrapped.

The former’s website crashed for half an hour while a glitch in Asda’s website cancelled the delivery times allocated to around 40 customers who had amended existing orders online.

In addition, Waitrose customers also complained that their deliveries did not arrive yesterday.

Sainsbury's customers were outraged when allocated delivery slots booked weeks in advance were scrapped, with the retailer's website crashing for half an hour 

It came on one of the busiest shopping days of the year with consumers rushing to get hold of last minute Christmas essentials.

Father-of-three Peter Dunbar told Sainsbury’s in a tweet: ‘Had an email last night cancelling our Xmas shop delivery. Website glitch. No delivery slots left now. What will you do to fix?’

Meanwhile Matt Richardson said: ‘Sainsbury’s have let us down 100 per cent. Delivery slot booked two weeks ago – Sainsbury’s make a unilateral decision to delete our order. Merry Xmas!’

Vikki Fuller, of Frimley, Surrey, said she had lost her Sainsbury’s order after trying to amend it online, despite booking her delivery slot three weeks in advance.

She will now buy her groceries from the shop, saying: ‘I will have to go out and do my Christmas shopping now but do find doing it online much easier as it’s hard trying to do it with a baby.’

Another customer, Emma Mottram, from south-east London, said: ‘I tried to amend the order yesterday but the website crashed and wouldn’t let me access it.

‘When I tried to amend it today instead, the order disappeared completely from my account, which is why I panicked.’ But she said after speaking to customer services her problem was resolved.

Asda shopper Patrick Harper stated: 'Entire food delivery for our Christmas holiday just cancelled by Asda but they can deliver... on the 29th! Shocking service.’

Asda shopper Patrick Harper stated: ‘Entire food delivery for our Christmas holiday just cancelled by Asda but they can deliver… on the 29th! Shocking service.’

Asda customer Justine Webster tweeted: ‘A problem with your website has cancelled my order and delivery for tomorrow! I could cry'

Asda customer Justine Webster tweeted: ‘A problem with your website has cancelled my order and delivery for tomorrow! I could cry’

Matt Richardson said: ‘Sainsbury's have let us down 100 per cent. Delivery slot booked two weeks ago - Sainsbury's make a unilateral decision to delete our order. Merry Xmas!'

Matt Richardson said: ‘Sainsbury’s have let us down 100 per cent. Delivery slot booked two weeks ago – Sainsbury’s make a unilateral decision to delete our order. Merry Xmas!’

Asda customer Justine Webster tweeted: ‘A problem with your website has cancelled my order and delivery for tomorrow! I could cry.’

And Asda shopper Patrick Harper stated: ‘Entire food delivery for our Christmas holiday just cancelled by Asda but they can deliver… on the 29th! Shocking service.’

While Asda’s website did not crash and is still taking orders for Click & Collect shopping, around 40 customers were affected by the glitc.

An Asda spokesman said: ‘We’re contacting those customers today to reassure them they will be getting their orders, and to offer a little something extra for their inconvenience.’

Meanwhile Sainsbury’s confirmed that it experienced ‘a brief technical issue with our website last night which has now been fixed’.

A spokesman said: ‘We will be individually contacting the small number of customers affected to apologise and make alternative arrangements.

‘We would like to reassure all customers who have orders outstanding that they will receive their deliveries before Christmas.

Busy day: Shoppers on Oxford Street in central London today. Visa Europe expects some £1.3billion to be spent using its cards tomorrow 

Packed: Christmas shoppers make their purchases on Market Street in Manchester city centre this lunchtime

Packed: Christmas shoppers make their purchases on Market Street in Manchester city centre this lunchtime

Out and about: Shoppers pack Oxford Street, with today expected to be the most popular day for festive grocery shopping

‘We’d also like to reassure customers who did not experience issues on the website last night that their confirmed orders will be delivered as expected.’

A problem with your website has cancelled my order and delivery for tomorrow! I could cry
Justine Webster, Asda customer

Waitrose customers also took to Twitter last night to complain about Christmas deliveries that had failed to arrive.

Paul Mayo tweeted: ‘Appalling service from Waitrose. No delivery last night, no call to say it wasn’t calling – no call today to rearrange – Xmas stuff missing.”

Fiona Turner said on Twitter this morning: ‘Waitrose still waiting for my Christmas shop since 8pm last night. Not impressed as now have to sort out the shop with a six-month-old!’

Nadine Gibbs wrote: ‘Waitrose you cancel my Xmas food shop (inclusive of turkey) no notice and no one answering the phone to resolve. So angry, three days before Xmas.’

Waitrose said about 2 per cent of orders were seriously disrupted yesterday and have promised that all customers will receive their deliveries before Christmas.

Wish list: An hour at lunchtime tomorrow is believed to be the peak time for high street shopping

Wish list: An hour at lunchtime tomorrow is believed to be the peak time for high street shopping

A spokesman for the supermarket said: ‘All orders will be fulfilled in time for Christmas. The temporary IT problem yesterday was swiftly and successfully fixed.

‘We have been in touch with any customers who might have a slight delay to their order to apologise and to arrange a delivery time to suit them.”

‘We have contacted any customer affected to ensure we meet their needs in any way we can in time for Christmas (rescheduling delivery or, if they would prefer, collect from their local branch).

‘No orders have been cancelled. We are now back on track with orders today and tomorrow.’

Tesco sent emails to customers with more than one delivery slot, asking them if they could cancel one of them, although it was understood that this was a standard email often sent ahead of peak times such as ahead of Christmas.

A spokesman for the company told MailOnline: ‘We’re pulling out all the stops and are opening up more delivery slots wherever we can.’

It seems shoppers still leave their shopping to the last minute – with more than three million visitors leaving their shopping to the last 12 days of Christmas
Myf Ryan, Westfield director

Tomorrow, an hour at lunchtime is believed to be the peak time for high street shopping.

Supermarket aisles will be filled today as some 36 per cent of consumers plan to do their main Christmas food and drink shop, according to a survey.

This was followed by 35 per cent who are due to stock up on festive treats tomorrow. And from Saturday until Christmas Eve, £300million is expected to be spent in London’s West End.

Tablet computers and video games have been the biggest online sellers for Tesco, which expects to shift 175,000 turkeys and 1.5 million Christmas puddings in the run-up to Christmas.

This Christmas, Waitrose expects to sell enough ‘gingerbread activity kits’ to build a street of houses a mile and a half long, as well as more than 800,000 kilos of turkey, 2.2 million slices of smoked salmon and enough Brussels sprouts for every Briton to have six each.

In the four weeks before Christmas, Tesco expect to shift 2.5 million bottles of champagne and 55 million bottles of wine.

Some 15million Britons were said to have hit the high street at the weekend for last-minute shopping, with 12million planning to continue purchasing right up until Christmas Eve.

Christmassy: People take a photograph in front of a festive window display on Oxford Street in London today

Christmassy: People take a photograph in front of a festive window display on Oxford Street in London today

The figures came from multi-store gift card company One4all, which also found in a study of 2,000 UK that one in five people in Britain struggle to be creative with presents.

This weekend saw over 800,000 people visit Westfield centres in London and shopping hours have been extended until midnight on Monday and Tuesday to allow more last-minute shoppers the chance to purchase presents.

Westfield director Myf Ryan said: ‘It seems shoppers still leave their shopping to the last minute – with more than three million visitors leaving their shopping to the last 12 days of Christmas.’

Meanwhile Visa Europe expects some £1.3billion to be spent using its cards tomorrow, making it the busiest day on the UK high street in the run up to Christmas.

Some £916,667 will be spent every minute or £15,278 every second on Visa cards, the company predicts. The peak time will be in the lunch hour break from 1pm to 2pm.

Crowded: Christmas shoppers pass a '50 per cent off' sale sign on Oxford Street in central London today

Crowded: Christmas shoppers pass a ’50 per cent off’ sale sign on Oxford Street in central London today

Kevin Jenkins, Visa Europe managing director, said: ‘Black Friday kick-started Christmas on the high street and online this year but the busiest bricks and mortar day will likely remain in its traditional slot close to Christmas.

Across Tuesday we are likely to see £1.3billion spent in total
Kevin Jenkins, Visa Europe

‘Retailers’ multi-channel approach should cause a surge in footfall from click-and-collect sales too, with the opportunity for further shopping in-store when consumers arrive. Across Tuesday we are likely to see £1.3billion spent in total.

‘Lunch hour should prove the most popular time for a shopping trip, either for last minute gifts or final ingredients for Christmas dinner.’

Some 34million transactions are expected to take place which is 7 per cent higher than in 2013, while spending is predicted to rise 6 per cent.

Jace Tyrrell, deputy chief executive of New West End Company London, said: ‘The weekend got off to a strong start across the West end with footfall up 6.8 per cent year-on-year on Saturday and up 4.7 per cent year-on-year for the weekend as a whole.

Oxford Street: 15million Britons were said to have hit the high street at the weekend for last-minute shopping

Oxford Street: 15million Britons were said to have hit the high street at the weekend for last-minute shopping

Mayhem Monday: The peak for festive food treats like these

‘Retailers reported confident sales over the weekend hitting the expected £150million spend mark with menswear, accessories and technology proving popular purchases.

‘We are expecting shoppers out in force as the countdown to Christmas begins with 75 per cent of shoppers on Christmas Eve set to be men for the traditional last-minute “Man Dash”.’

The Mail also reported today how traditional Boxing Day sales could become extinct following a rise in pre-Christmas discounts, with shops starting their sales earlier every year.

The British retail ritual on December 26 is coming to ‘the end of its life cycle’, experts said, with footfall on Boxing Day falling by four per cent between 2011 and 2013.

Amazon is expecting Christmas Day to be its busiest day ever for sales of digital books, music, television, films and video games – and said its Boxing Day sales will start at 4pm on December 25.

LAST ORDER DATES FOR RETAILERS TODAY (MONDAY) 
STORE TIME (IF SPECIFIED) CHEAPEST DELIVERY PRICE AFTER AND FINAL ORDER DATE CLICK & COLLECT IN STORE UNTIL
Argos (small items) 6pm £3.95 N/A Wed 24 Dec
Cath Kidston 3.30pm £7.95 N/A N/A
Ernest Jones 2pm £3, free over £100 £5 until Tue 23 Dec (3pm) Mon 22 Dec
Figleaves 12pm £3.75 £6.95 until Tue 23 Dec (3pm) N/A
M&M Direct 2pm £3.99, free over £50 N/A N/A
Next 10pm £3.99 N/A Mon 22 Dec
Reiss £3.95 N/A Mon 22 Dec
Tesco Wine 3pm £6, free over £50 N/A N/A
TM Lewin 1pm Free N/A Mon 22 Dec
LAST ORDER DATES FOR RETAILERS TOMORROW (TUESDAY)
STORE TIME (IF SPECIFIED) CHEAPEST DELIVERY PRICE AFTER AND FINAL ORDER DATE CLICK & COLLECT IN STORE UNTIL
Asda (groceries, if you can get a slot) Book a slot Varies N/A Tue 23 Dec
Ocado (if you can get a slot) Book a slot Varies N/A N/A
Rubbersole 2pm Free N/A N/A
Sainsbury’s (if you can get a slot) Book a slot Varies N/A N/A
Tesco (groceries, if you can get a slot) Book a slot Varies N/A Tue 23 Dec
Waitrose (if you can get a slot) Book a slot Varies N/A N/A

Tables provided by MoneySavingExpert 

More than 1,600 offers will be available, with an average of 35 per cent off current Amazon UK prices. Offers will include £37 off a £170 Sony smart-watch and £15 off a £40 Philips blender.

75 per cent of shoppers on Christmas Eve [are] set to be men for the traditional last-minute “Man Dash”
Jace Tyrrell, New West End Company London deputy chief executive

Discounts will also include £129 off a £259 Briggs & Riley cabin trolley bag, £44 off a £144 Makita cordless drill, £172 off a £633 Yamaha piano and £301 off a pair of £500 Clogau glod earrings.

Some 88 per cent of Britons plan to hit the Boxing Day sales – although 54 per cent will buy items or styles they would not purchase at full-price, according to a study by retailer B&Q.

The poll also found 43 per cent of people think they will later regret purchases, with an estimated £14billion of post-sale regret on ‘big ticket’ items such as kitchens or cars in Britain this Christmas.

Other research, for online marketing firm Webloyalty, found one in 20 people will spend Christmas Day shopping on the internet and more than half of Britons plan to shop in low-cost supermarkets.

HOW 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COST AVERAGE BRITISH FAMILY ALMOST £650

The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ will cost the average British family about £650, a study revealed today.

And when the bill for Christmas Day to January 5 is added to the £750 households are expected to spend on gifts, decorations and food in the run-up to December 25, the total is £1,400.

The average bill of £642 per household during Christmas includes £109 on post-Christmas food shopping, £97 on drinks and trips to the pub and £195 on eating out.

Also included are £120 on January sales shopping and £121 on travel and visiting family, according to the survey of more than 2,000 people by First Direct bank.

Zoe Shore from First Direct said: ‘Christmas becomes a two-week holiday for a lot of people, and that means extra expense, which we found 85 per cent of people haven’t budgeted for.’

Sourced from: www.dailymail.co.uk