Who else secretly loves working retail at Christmas time?

[RetailActress]

In our women's clothing store, I'm the only one who's not a Christian, so I am personally unaffected by all the Christmas mania. This allows me to be calm and objective, detached from the frantic Christmas hoo-ha, yet pleasantly available to serve the needs of our holiday customers.

I'm oh-so-eager to work on Christmas Eve --- the last-minute folks are quite amusing and you can sell them lots of stuff easily --- and I'm good at wardrobing advice, gift selections, and packaging & wrapping, which I truly enjoy.

I figure, the more cultural holidays, the merrier. They're all enjoyable and have lots of interesting customs, food, and music.

My quiet, personal celebration is the Winter Solstice, the ORIGINAL winter event of the natural world. This doesn't dictate anything like having to buy presents, host parties, mount elaborate decorations, or be forced to entertain unpleasant relatives. Nope. Just a long walk in the woods with my dog, feeling a genuine appreciation of lots of good things in my life, then coming home to cozy up with the cats, and a glass or two of my homemade blackberry brandy.

Cheers!

R.A.

[AirHostess]

Bleh, there are no seasons or anything working in a bland, stagnant government office. Each day is the same as the last.

So true, I work in a Defence department and it's so bloody boring! Come back easyJet, all is forgiven!

[draggar]

Long hours that went by quickly because you were busy and tons of overtime, I used to love it.

[TheseFightingWords]

When I was in regular retail there was definitely pieces I hated. I mean hearing the same 20 xmas songs over and over sucked. But I loved working the holidays because the day flew, there was always OT, and alot of times the rules were a little less strict because it was a chaotic.

Christmas eve was fun as well again for the same reasons but then at closing we'd go up front to watch them lock the doors on the customers, and then chase the customers in the store out so that was fun.

[Rapscallion]

Back when I was in retail, we used to sell loads of turkeys come christmas eve (for those in the US, that's our turkey day). They'd be ordered, and there would always be one that was left until after we closed.

That was the one we ate.

Rapscallion

[protege]

I enjoyed delivering newspapers around the holidays. Sure, it was usually cold as hell and difficult to get around, but the insane tips I got made up for it. The last year I had that route, I ended up with something like $400 in tips for the month!

[Enjis]

Since I took my company's offered buy-out, this is the first time in 30 years that I am NOT working Christmas...and it feels weird!
Good, mind you, but weird!

Do I miss it? Kinda. I still call it 'my store' when I talk about it Do I miss the work...sometimes. I miss being needed, and being counted on.

I did always like seeing the new merchandise coming in, and helping out with fixing new displays (not my job, but it was fun, so I did it anyways...) I miss my coworkers, and the nice customers.

I DON'T miss the grumpy folks complaining about the merchandise, or demanding we call all the other stores to find them a size. I DON'T miss explaining that we don't have boxes right now, or we ran out of handle bags, or that there simply is NOT another person who can ring up their purchase...

[Eddie The 'Ead]

I've found that I enjoy working during the holidays more than any time else during the year. I don't know why, but I seem to have a bit more fun.

[jedifarfy]

I only like the last bit. The light is at the end of the tunnel!

Plus, once we have to cut off orders that won't arrive until after Christmas, nothing makes me happier than someone bitching us out for not having something. Sorry, but you had all year. You also had all month to order it. Don't blame ME because everyone else got here first! :P

JF

[mattm04]

When it is busy a 6 hour shift seems to only last two hours, which is nice. The best part about working Christmas Eve is getting to herd customers out of the store. The lazy coworkers who get lazier are the worst.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Okay, I'm going to need to hear this story.

Have you posted it here? If so, is there a link to the thread?

http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=21303

[AirHostess]

I do not miss it at all!