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I don't recall wishing you a Happy anything...

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  • #1

    I don't recall wishing you a Happy anything...

    I haven't posted in awhile, but I had something so frustrating happen today I had to vent. I suppose I should have seen this coming. Years upon years in retail should have prepared me for this, but, alas, I was caught off guard.

    The Customer Service phone desk rang (That wasn't what caught me off guard).

    Me: Hello, thank you for calling National Corporate Chain with Crappy Health Benefits. How may I help you?

    *a moments silence*

    SC: What? You can't say Merry Christmas?

    AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The ever lasting argument of saying Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays and who shall we offend this year has started! Many moons ago I worked at Corporate Coffee Chain with Great Health Benefits. We were directed to say "Happy Holidays" to customers. I got so much grief from customers for not saying Merry Christmas, I gave up saying anything.

    I'm so frigging tired of people looking to be offended. Immigration is a huge issue around here so there are certain people who take the words Feliz Navidad as a personal insult. It's gotten to the point it's not safe to say anything in regards to wishing someone a happy time during the holidays. Geez, if I wanted to insult someone, I assure you, it will be with much fouler words than "Happy Holidays".

    I would like to point out, it's 4 days after Thanksgiving here in the U.S. and December 1st isn't until tomorrow. To me, in my mind, it's not the holidays yet. I know other people think differently, but there it is.

    I would also like to point out, I made no mention of any holiday in my greeting. I just asked how I could help them.

    The conversation (on their end) continued...

    Their part of the conversation was them ranting at me about how we're taking God out of Xmas and blah, blah, blah. How much they disliked it and so on and so forth. They finally demanded to know if it was our policy to say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas.

    I was quite the unhappy camper at this point. Swallowing back the words "I'm not a member of an organized religion and I just like Christmas for the presents!" I decided to say something.

    Me: Well, I'm not sure what store policy is on the subject this year. Someone remembered Hanukkah is around this time of year as well, so we wanted to come up with a greeting that will include all religions. Any suggestions?"

    To which, in reply, the idiot cursed at me and hung up.

    I did ask for his input about the very thing he was complaining about, wasn't I?

    I can't take it much more. If one more person complains to me about Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas, I will strangle them with tinsel.

    Look for me on CNN, as I'm quite sure I WILL get another complaint.
    "Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did."
    George Carlin
    Tags: None
  • #2
    If I were in your position, I would simply say that you are there to help them and are not at all interested in a discussion on the holiday season. If they still keep it up, then keep repeating yourself until they hang up or just give up. I never used to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays when I worked retail or pizza, because I don't care to say those things to people. If "Have a nice day, or thanks for coming" isn't good enough, that's their problem. I was only trying to be nice.
    For civilized discussion about broadcasting, media and sports along with fun games to play, visit:
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    Emphasis on Michigan area broadcasting, but ANYONE is welcome!

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    • #3
      Oooooh, if only......
      Any day you're looking down at the dirt instead of up at the dirt is a good day.

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      • #4
        The way I see it: in your situation you did fine - it's just that there are some people out there who - no matter what you say or don't say - will be offended nonetheless.

        So don't sweat it - just do the best you can and if they want to complain, then that's their problem - not yours.



        As far as greetings go, I still say "Merry Christmas" during the holiday season and that's out of long-standing habit. That's also the standard salutation this time of year from the majority of our regular customers anyways.
        Human Resources - the adult version of "I'm telling Mom." - Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo (NCIS)

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        • #5
          Christmas?

          First, he complains about a lack of respect towards God, then curses you? Does not sound very Christian like to me.

          Second, I do belong to an organized Christian religion and we don't celebrate Christmas either.

          Happy Holidays is what we mostly say too, and it not only covers Christmas, but also the Jewish holidays, and for that matter the pagans celebrating the shortest day of the year (sorry I forgot it name).

          Plus all others who are not religious but get time off from work.

          I can't think of a better choice myself.
          Last edited by earl colby pottinger; 12-01-2008, 12:32 AM.

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          • #6
            Quoth Whyme View Post
            "I'm not a member of an organized religion and I just like Christmas for the presents!"
            Actually, I thought this answer was just lovely.
            A lion however, will only devour your corpse, whereas an SC is not sated until they have destroyed your soul. (Quote per infinitemonkies)

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            • #7
              Quoth AriRashkae View Post
              Oooooh, if only......
              For some reason this reminds me of when I worked at a cookie store. They didn't want us to say "May I help you?" to wheelchair bound customers because we were insinuating that they needed help due to their physical boundaries. That went over like a lead balloon.

              I'm like the suggestion from Fungus. I'm just going to repeat I'm there to help them and if they wish to discuss the matter further I will transfer them to the manager.

              Honestly, I want to be happy this time of year and spread goodwill toward men and yada, yada, yada. It's just that some of these customers suck the holiday spirit out of us workers then demand to know why aren't we smiling.

              Sweet Mambajamber, I'm only part time help!
              "Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did."
              George Carlin

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              • #8
                Quoth earl colby pottinger View Post
                shortest day of the year (sorry I forgot it name).
                The equinox? The Autumn Solstice?
                "I call murder on that!"

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                • #9
                  Autumnal Equinox is when the day and night are the same length. Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and is also known as Yule in some traditions.
                  Ba'al: I'm a god. Gods are all-knowing.

                  http://unrelatedcaptions.com/45147

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                  • #10
                    Quoth AriRashkae View Post
                    Oooooh, if only......
                    Yay! I was hoping to see someone refer to that comic sometime on here! today's was definitely a gem!

                    I've never had a problem with saying the "corporate friendly" Happy Holidays. I typically will wish some to have a "great holiday" just to mix it up (i know..i'm a rebel...)but I did have some lady go off on me about wishing her a Merry Christmas. She got mad because I should have known that she was atheist!
                    Now, if you smell the roses but it doesn't lift your spirits, you're either allergic to rose pollen or you need medical intervention. ~ Seshat

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                    • #11
                      This reminds me of yesterday at the Halmark store aka christmas central. Woman buying CHRISTMAS CARDS was offered a free cup since she bought over 35 dollars as a free gift.

                      She snarled that she was jewish and how dare they.

                      um personally I would have taken her cup since she didn't want it cause it had a snowman on it...

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                      • #12
                        I have one friend who swears that he's going to reply to any sort of complaint like this by saying "I know, I feel discriminated against too since I'm not allowed to say 'Hail Satan!' My beliefs are just as valid!!" So far he hasn't worked up the courage, though. I just hope I'm standing somewhere close by when he finally does.
                        "Maybe the problem just went away...maybe it was the magical sniper fairy that comes and gives silenced hollow point rounds to people who don't eat their vegetables."

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                        • #13
                          Quoth Whyme View Post
                          AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          The ever lasting argument of saying Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays and who shall we offend this year has started!...I got so much grief from customers for not saying Merry Christmas, I gave up saying anything...I'm so frigging tired of people looking to be offended...It's gotten to the point it's not safe to say anything in regards to wishing someone a happy time during the holidays. Geez, if I wanted to insult someone, I assure you, it will be with much fouler words than "Happy Holidays"...If one more person complains to me about Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas, I will strangle them with tinsel.
                          I'll help you. I HATE those kind of people. I use both/any holiday-related greeting, since it all means the same thing anyway!
                          ~~ Every politician that opens their mouth on birth control only proves that we need more of it. ~~

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                          • #14
                            A snowman. Which is relevant to Christmas only because it's a winter scene.

                            Some people really just *want* to feel insulted.

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                            • #15
                              Quoth Spork4pedro View Post
                              Yay! I was hoping to see someone refer to that comic sometime on here! today's was definitely a gem!

                              I've never had a problem with saying the "corporate friendly" Happy Holidays. I typically will wish some to have a "great holiday" just to mix it up (i know..i'm a rebel...)but I did have some lady go off on me about wishing her a Merry Christmas. She got mad because I should have known that she was atheist!

                              Atheists aren't allowed to have a merry Christmas? As long as she was going to get mad anyway you probably should have yelled BURN IN HELL HEATHEN.

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