As the holiday season comes to a close, all the gifts have been unwrapped, all the family dinners have been eaten and all the Christmas Carols have been sung. It is official:
I have survived my second Christmas Shopping Season at a retail jewelry store. However, I feel as if I am worse for ware.
This shopping marathon from November 1 until now has literally been the most exhausting time of my life. As a retail worker I see the other side of Christmas.
The dark one.
I get the brunt end of everyone’s Christmas cheer. I get the crazed mother, frantic father, and the cheap grandparents waiting impatiently in line or even at the gate before we open.
As it draws to a close and all returns/exchanges pour in, I have a few thoughts to share with you. Please remember this the next time you are shopping during the holidays.
1. We are only doing this job to make money. Please do not come in and waste our time with indecisiveness and abrasiveness. Believe it or not, my life’s goal is not to sell retail. This is only temporary (I hope). Retail workers are there to help, not be servants.
2. Inventory has its limits. Don’t expect us to have everything in stock the few days leading up to Christmas. You being upset with me is not going help you in any shape or form. We can only sell what we have. Don’t wait until the last minute.
3. Ordering takes time. Ordering a certain product is more difficult for some retail stores then others. There are some retail stores who have no control of what shipments they get in.
4. Everything doesn’t need to be wrapped. For some smaller retail stores during the bulk of the holiday shopping madness, it is almost impossible to walk around the store, let alone wrap a present for you. If the store is insanely busy, please don’t ask for your items to be wrapped, especially if it is offered free of charge. This is not only out of respect for the retail worker who you are holding up from getting another sale but also your fellow shopping patrons waiting in line.
5. Retail workers are people too. If an employee is working 9+ hours, please do not make them feel bad for taking a break or leaving for the day. Those sad puppy dog eyes and under-the-breath comments while I’m doing either, are some of the reasons why I dislike customers by the end of the holidays. I would much rather be at home with my family than staying an extra 2 hours past my shift, so you can get a last minute Secret Santa Gift.
Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed to have any sort of job in this economy. I am not trying to be a brat. Myself and fellow retail workers have been worked to the brink of insanity for the past 2 months. Honey will get you a lot farther than vinegar ya’ll.
Please remember that during the next Holiday Season. Happy New Year, God Bless.
Ashton Rummage 