2008 Woodie Awards
Shopping stampede hazardous
Ashley Cruz
Issue date: 11/16/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
It's 4:45 a.m. and I've just arrived at work and hundreds of people are lined up outside the doors in the blistering cold, waiting to charge inside like a herd of wild cattle not caring who gets in their way.
You are probably thinking it's a concert, but this is something a little more dangerous. This is the dangerous sport known as shopping. Now I don't want you making assumptions until you have actually worked or been to one of these early sales.
This sale is one of the most popular of the year; it's the day after Thanksgiving sale. For those of you who don't know about this particular sale, the stores open up earlier than normal and prices are extremely cheap. Stores open as early as 5 a.m. and those who are early bird shoppers get the cheapest prices. Some people just line up at the doors to get the gifts the stores are giving away. The gifts range anywhere from snow globes to gift cards, that people collect or buy someone for Christmas.
Inside the store is like a mad house with people pushing and shoving each other out of the way, not being able to hear the dorky Christmas songs playing due to how noisy the customers are. People lined up ready to check out and the employees not being able to see where the line begins and ends. Clothes thrown all over the floor like a tornado went through. What really bothers the employees is that the customers have to go through every single folded shirt when they are all the same and decide to get the last from the pile. What happens to the other unfolded shirts, they are thrown on the biggest shelf, the floor that really irritates the workers.
Wait until January to return any of your items because all you're doing is holding up lines and frustrating customers. Not to mention getting the employees yelled at for taking too long. If the merchandise doesn't have a tag, that takes even more time because they have to run and find another item just like it, however the stores are so packed that it's hard to get around easily.
Don't get me wrong, these sales are ideal and sometimes it does pay to get up earlier than most people. Maybe I hate this particular sale because I have to work it. I want to give you a little heads up; this is a day when you don't ask questions unless you want to be answered very rudely. The reason for this is that all the employees are very grumpy from lack of sleep, getting frustrated with the mess, and just not wanting to be there because they would rather be with their family.
This day is every retail workers worst nightmare so please don't judge us on this day. Wait until the holidays are over and then go and see us.
You are probably thinking it's a concert, but this is something a little more dangerous. This is the dangerous sport known as shopping. Now I don't want you making assumptions until you have actually worked or been to one of these early sales.
This sale is one of the most popular of the year; it's the day after Thanksgiving sale. For those of you who don't know about this particular sale, the stores open up earlier than normal and prices are extremely cheap. Stores open as early as 5 a.m. and those who are early bird shoppers get the cheapest prices. Some people just line up at the doors to get the gifts the stores are giving away. The gifts range anywhere from snow globes to gift cards, that people collect or buy someone for Christmas.
Inside the store is like a mad house with people pushing and shoving each other out of the way, not being able to hear the dorky Christmas songs playing due to how noisy the customers are. People lined up ready to check out and the employees not being able to see where the line begins and ends. Clothes thrown all over the floor like a tornado went through. What really bothers the employees is that the customers have to go through every single folded shirt when they are all the same and decide to get the last from the pile. What happens to the other unfolded shirts, they are thrown on the biggest shelf, the floor that really irritates the workers.
Wait until January to return any of your items because all you're doing is holding up lines and frustrating customers. Not to mention getting the employees yelled at for taking too long. If the merchandise doesn't have a tag, that takes even more time because they have to run and find another item just like it, however the stores are so packed that it's hard to get around easily.
Don't get me wrong, these sales are ideal and sometimes it does pay to get up earlier than most people. Maybe I hate this particular sale because I have to work it. I want to give you a little heads up; this is a day when you don't ask questions unless you want to be answered very rudely. The reason for this is that all the employees are very grumpy from lack of sleep, getting frustrated with the mess, and just not wanting to be there because they would rather be with their family.
This day is every retail workers worst nightmare so please don't judge us on this day. Wait until the holidays are over and then go and see us.
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