This week I started my Christmas shopping which is a bit early for me. It’s not as late as a friend of mine who used to say he didn’t start until December 23rd. I never knew if he was telling the truth but I wouldn’t put it past him.
Have you noticed that the stores are a mess? And it’s only the first week of December!
I went to a couple of the big box stores the other day because I figured they would have everything and I could get some ideas for some people I’m shopping for.
Yikes!
First of all, the aisles were crowded, which I wrote about a few years ago when I was confined to a wheelchair. I’ve always felt the stores were crowded but that year was especially eye opening. I know they put much more merchandise out for the holidays but they really leave very little room to maneuver a wheelchair or a stroller. I shudder to think of the years I had my children in a stroller. They must have been constantly smacked in the face with the sleeves of flannel pajamas.
Where was I?
Oh! The condition of the stores.
It wasn’t just the added merchandise but there were boxes and boxes of stuff that hadn’t even been unpacked yet. I was trying to maneuver my carriage around a corner and the poor woman coming the other way had to wait for me. I apologized and stated, “They don’t make it easy for you,” when she said, “I don’t think they have to staff to get it all put away.” She was probably right!
“I’m sorry we’re short staffed.”
How many times have we heard that?
Another thing I noticed was the customer service. My wife, Priscilla, found some earrings she wanted to buy. The woman at the jewelry counter was busy so we went up to the cash registers in the front but the line was long. We went back to the jewelry counter as there was only one customer in front of us and… we waited. And waited. Now I don’t mind waiting but the clerk NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED US! A simple, “Hi. I’ll be right with you,” would have made a world of difference but NOPE! Nothing. Priscilla went back to the line up front while I found a seat.
I was really looking forward to going out and shopping but to be honest, I went back home and ordered everything online. It should be here by next Monday.
Whatever happened to customer service?
Now I will say that I’ve shopped at a few small businesses and they get it. They appreciate your business and many go out of their way to make sure you have a good experience in their store. True, you may pay a little more but if that gets me someone who is happy I’m in their store I will gladly pay.
Not only are the big stores loaded with stuff in the aisles, everything looks disheveled. The shelves are a mess or many of them look empty because I guess there is no one to restock. Maybe that’s the next evolution after self-checkout. Self-shelf stocking. We all have to meet the truck in the back and take a crate in and unpack.
I’ve been shopping online for awhile now. Obviously it started during the pandemic and then continued. I thought this would be a nice change to go out and stroll through the aisles to get ideas.
Priscilla and I went on a Tuesday morning because we have that opportunity now. We try to avoid weekend shopping because it’s too “peoplely.” (Spellcheck tells me that’s not a word. But I like it.)
I guess we need some new Christmas tunes.
Instead of:
“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas”
We need:
”Online shopping, it’s my new thing, with my coffee in hand. Even pants are not needed this morning.”
Catch up on previous Sunday Columns by clicking here.
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