Hang on, kids, it’s almost over. Just one more day of practicing patience with last minute shoppers who clog parking lots and check-out lines with mandatory gifts.
In honor of people driven the most berserk this time of year we bring you timely words posted on this very blog exactly one year ago.
Ode to December Retail Workers
If you’re out there taking part in the last minute shopping frenzy on this weekend before Christmas, you might have been too busy comparing prices to notice the frazzled person behind the counter. Odds are this person is overworked, underpaid, and reaching the end of an already fragile rope after a month of getting pulverized by the combustion of the X-mas engine. And this is no small engine – it’s the heart of the US economy.
In addition to ringing up purchases and counting the bosses money, these people race to keep shelves stocked and merchandise in order while tornados of Christmas shoppers tear through in constant streams of destruction. Unsupervised children create mini storms that force frustrated workers to add “unpaid nanny” to their list of impossible duties.
In a few short hours it’ll be all over but the unwrapping. The food orgy that started on Thanksgiving will peak in crescendos and moans will shatter the silence while bellies are rubbed and treated with antacids. Let the recovery begin.
But such luxury evades the righteous worker of retail, for they must return to the front lines and address the waiving throngs who come to return or exchange gifts for which there may or may not be a receipt. These shoppers have gift certificates to spend while family members tag along to browse the isles in sweet afterglow of the post Christmas chaos. Meanwhile, the worker works, busy with task of untangling another oblivious customer’s pre-holiday purchasing problem.
So if you have the audacity to step foot into some store on Dec. 26, remember to be especially nice to the people there to serve you. They’ve hardly had a chance to sit down.
December 24, 2007 at 7:46 am
Thanks to to all you cooks, waiters & bartenders, retail clerks, gas station attendants, tow truck drivers, police and fire personnel, soldiers, sailors, nurses, doctors, hotel workers, airlines employees and all of you other people who will work right up until or even right through Christmas.
Twelve-hour+ days on your feet, dealing with the public, finding spare moments to plan your own holidays—you are not forgotten. Merry Christmas (or _______________)!
December 24, 2007 at 8:41 am
I have been guilty being mean to a retail clerk. I am expecting coal in my stocking tomorrow. In my blog story A Day in the Life I talk about a Target clerk I played a horrible joke on. I changed my mind on the amount of a gift card right after she entered the 1st amount. Of course I was joking, but she was working on her 10th hour of work, and made it very clear to me I was not funny. I apologized and made for the door as fast as I could.
I will be more considerate now.
-boy
December 24, 2007 at 8:43 am
What, they don’t like their jobs? Cry me a river. That describes everyone.
Be nice every day, not merely near the end of December. What a Scroogish post you have today Heraldo.
December 24, 2007 at 9:52 am
Thanks for the post Heraldo. I came across a blog entry about the Christmas shopping craze (of which I am guilty of succumbtion – not a word I know). I like the manure and hay angle, and I may use it later.
December 24, 2007 at 10:01 am
I worked in a retail store for many seasons. The amount of work is over the top but it is crunch time- the whole year depends on success at that time. Employees’ courtesy and a good attitude are assets to a retail business. Many of today’s employees are not trained well enough to serve the public as well as they could, for many reasons. Patience on the part of the shopper as well as the retail clerk make for a much better shopping experience for all. 8:43 has it right- be nice every day and do your best in that job you are lucky to have. It will pay off in more than a paycheck.
December 24, 2007 at 10:08 am
8:43 wrote,”What a Scroogish post you have today Heraldo.”.
Not scroogy enough for my tastes, but still, keep it going, Heraldo!
December 24, 2007 at 10:30 am
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to everyone in the Humboldt Blogosphere.
December 24, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Xmas in the middle of the week means lowered productivity. This is more than offset though, by the increase in Chinese productivity which makes Jesus’ birthday such a great day in America.
Warm climatic greetings to all.
December 24, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Yes, everybody have a happy holiday, and a best wishes in the New Year.
-boy
December 24, 2007 at 1:45 pm
CPR…please don’t paint all Christians with the same brush. Thank you. And Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Well, there are over 23,000 Protestant sects, and I don’t have that many brushes.
December 24, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Sometimes productivity needs a break. Herod had no problem breaking for population counts.
December 24, 2007 at 2:39 pm
It’s OK, Carson Park Ranger, I get what you are trying to say and get your sense of humor.
Hey, everyone, I already got my Park’s seed order that I ordered Solstice Eve! Happy Solstice and Winter! The days get longer — yippee!
December 24, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I’ve been dreaming of a white x-mas. Thanks for the virtual snow, Heraldo.
December 24, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Yes, Heraldo, the snow is lovely!
December 24, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Glad you like it. It’s the latest gift from WordPress.
December 25, 2007 at 8:41 am
Man, what a horrible post. H, you of course have no conception of reality. EVERYONE is going crazy this time of year at work. We’re all overworked and stressed to the max.
Either you’re one of the aforementioned clerks or you’re just being an asshole.
Merry F**king Christmas to you too.
December 25, 2007 at 8:48 am
Point made (Heraldo’s).
Peace, 8:41. Be kind to yourself today. Things will get better.
December 29, 2007 at 4:26 pm
“Merry Fucking Christmas.”
It has a nice Jack Nicholson sort of ring to it.