Last Minute Shopping--An Etiquette Guide
Published December 21, 2004
Take suggestions. They don't have what you want. What you want doesn't exist. What you want is the same thing everyone else wants. What you want is out of print or sold out or is on hold for someone who will be in to pick it up in twenty minutes. Yelling at the clerk won't change that. It won't bring a book into print and that pair of socks won't magically appear. They simply can't do anything for you if that one thing is all you want. It sucks, for both of you. Because once you start screaming their boss is going to come over and after you leave and the sign is turned off and the doors are locked someone's going to get written up and put on probation. And, maybe they were a little flippant or maybe you really didn't feel they were doing their job. But, its also possible that you're a little unreasonable because of all of the holiday stress. They might not have exactly what you're looking for, but maybe they have something close. If you're lucky, they have something better. Christmas isn't ruined if you don't get exactly what you want. Although, you might have just ruined someone's day. But, be as unreasonable as you like, you still have to wait in line.
Say Thank you. The person on the other side of the counter maybe is a writer or a musician. Maybe they're waiting for the husband to finish up graduate school or they took this job so that someone would always be there for the kids in the morning and in the evening. Their lives are bigger than this transaction. Yours is, too. Say thank you and mean it. Gratitude is always appreciated and always welcome. Especially from someone who just spent twenty minutes standing in line for a pair of lavender mittens.
- Last Minute Shopping--An Etiquette Guide
- Published: December 21, 2004
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- Section: Culture
- Writer: Katharine Donelson
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It's important that customers show basic courtesy and empathy for those who wait on them, but the reciprocal is true as well. Since in theory everyone is getting what they want out of this kind of commercial relationship, maintaining a positive attitude should be possible on both sides
A few years ago I learned to do 95% of my Christmas shopping online. It has literally changed my attitude toward the holidays, and the service person I am nicest to this time of year is the UPS man.
great point - while the service people may be unhappy about the crowds at retail this time of year, management is hoping to hold on to them as long as they can. Online retail is just getting started
Where the heck has Amber been?!? I have greatly missed my daily doses of her 20 something straightedge hardcore escapades.
Oh, and please, if anybody had been planning on getting me anything this year, please refrain, and send a donation to PETA on my behalf instead. Unless you really wanted to get me the Misfits Coffin box set, or a pair of Screamin' Eagle exhaust pipes. Then, by all means hook me up.
yes, we have missed our Amber who is off being a responsible adult these days
And re PETA, I have heard the board secretly meets at a steak house in Aspen wearing gaudy fur and cowboy hats
If that's all they wear, then sign me up!
Cause, like, that's straight out of the James Bond fantasy playbook!
very Playboy 1969
Like I posted on my blog, there are two big bo bos people make when shopping. 1)Try everything on, waist associates time, with no intention of buying anything. 2) expect the associate to provide pen and paper whe the style they want isn't available so they can write the model down and then go and purchase it from somwhere else. Such bad etiquette. Read it, Know it, Live it!
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Loved this.
I hated working retail at the holidays (I think Wal-Mart was the worst).. and this really made me laugh.
I'm making nearly all my presents this year, between knitting, screenprinting, letterpress, ceramics and painting... I've found a way to avoid the malls completely. I love it.