Today, while running some errands, I was reminded of why I try to do all my Christmas shopping online.
It's not the crowds. The long lines don't bother me that much. Parking further away has never seemed all that terrible -- I can walk a few extra feet. None of this is it.
It's the people. No, not even the store employees -- it's the customers. They are ALL grumpy. Crabby, grumpy, sullen, whiny, angry customers. Nothing is going well for them. A crowd of people in such a uniformly bad mood is hard to find -- except in December. Why is everyone in such a rotten mood? This is the Christmas spirit??
Shop online... shop online... come to the light!
Even if I didn't work in online retail, I think I would still be a huge supporter of it for all the reasons you listed. Bascially, the other holiday shoppers. Never discount the power of one negative interaction to ruin a whole day's worth of otherwise productive shopping, and when you are at the mercy of a holiday shopping mob? The odds aren't in your favor. Online, all the way.
Posted by: beca on December 9, 2002 03:05 PM