You know what that means. Crazy people running mad in the stores. Increased traffic. Big oil companies capitalizing on those last minute have to have shopping lists by raising the price of gas for no reason. Angry people cussing out store employees because they can't do this or that, or they won't find this...
Wake up people. I really hope you read this, and even more, I hope you understand this and take a minute to say 'hey, he's right.'
This all started when I saw a post from BestBuy on my facebook page and went to the Bestbuy page for more detail on a certain item. Within the 30 minutes that BestBuy originally made the post, there were countless people making posts on the site, complaining. That's right, complaining. One complaining of crappy service. One complaining about an item being delivered and installed at his house (THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE!!), several people complaining about the website being down and not being able to order those last minute gifts. Who waits till the day BEFORE Christmas Eve to order something online?? Guess what, it's not gonna make it in time buddy.
What we all need to realize is, you're not the only one that's standing in a store, pissed off, demanding help, that's not going to get there any time soon. Look around you. In stores large enough, there are hundreds of other people, standing in a line, waiting impatiently on something, cussing out some employee that's just trying to do his job, mad because that gotta have it new fashion doll for your kid isn't in stock...whatever.
Now let me put this in before you stop reading here to blast me about some jerk employee that told you to stuff it. I know there's exceptions to every rule, I know from first hand experience, that some employees are just there to collect a check and could give a damn about helping you. But as a whole, the employees are trying to do their job.
Why did you, the consumer, wait till the day before Christmas Eve? The week before Christmas? The last few weeks of the year, to go do your holiday shopping? Was it to get those awesome 10% off last minute shopping deals? Was it worth it? Do you feel better knowing you're stressed, pissed, aggravated, ready to snap, spending more money on gas because you're fighting traffic to get there, driving around in circles looking for a parking spot, and losing your patience with dealing with lines of people that are doing the same thing you are?
Then it's always everyone else's fault. The stocker who can't find that last item. That employee that you can't find, or that employee that went to find something for you and never returned. Chances are, while he was looking for your item, he got railroaded by other people wanting something too. Then again, chances are, he didn't want to come back to your impatient attitude. You never know.
I did my time in retail. First 15 years of my working career was in retail in some fashion or another. And I'll tell ya. As a retail employee, you look forward to the end of the day to get away from all the people, all the nonsense, all the instanity.
When you guys wait till the last minute to do your shopping, keep this in mind. It stresses those people who are working for you, making nowhere near what they're worth. It stresses the machines that are in constant overdrive to scan your item, do a price search, ring up your item. So expect a break down. Expect that credit card machine to be a bit slower. Expect that cashier to be a little more impatient because people are badgering her insisting that it was 9.99 not 15.99, or it was 15% off not 10% off. Turn around, and look behind you at all the people that are standing in line when you're next to be checked out.
We tend to take it out on the people that work in these stores. It's not their fault most of the time. So why do we do it? It is human nature? Is it us falling to the curse of corporate America? Turning in to the sheep of the system that think we're getting a better deal on already over priced discounts?
Try doing your shopping a bit earlier. You'll save more money in the long run. You've already made your purchases, and you'll have money left over at Christmas because you've already bought stuff. If you're out shopping, try and be nice. Give a smile to those overstressed people. Say have a nice day and mean it. Buy a cheap box of candy canes and give one to your cashier when you check out. Go ahead, park at the end of the parking lot and walk. Chances are you could use a nice walk anyway, and you just saved gas instead of driving the parking lot ten times looking for that one person that's taking their time backing out of a spot.
Folks, if this world's gonna change for the better, it starts with us. You and me. WE make the difference. If you don't like Christmas, stop and think about why. Chances are you hate it because it's become so commercialized and people are running around like shopping zombies that feed off the next big discounted item. Consider shopping small businesses. Don't go to big box mart or mega priced makeup store. Don't go to designer price tags are us for your clothes. It's just not worth it. Find you a Christmas music station to listen to while you're sitting in traffic. Take the back roads. Enjoy the scenery. For those of you in and around Jefferson County, that radio station is 96.5. Say Merry Christmas and mean it. If someone's offended, let them deal with it. You just keep happy. Instead of griping at that store employee when he can't help you, just tell him thanks anyway and Merry Christmas. Watch the look of shock on his face as you smile and walk away.
Just the way I see it folks, welcome to Corporate America. We'll be here all eternity unless you start making the changes now.
Merry Christmas folks.
