Oh, the holiday season. The proclaimed “most wonderful time of the year,” but sometimes even when the air is filled with goodwill to man and peace on earth, somehow the worst in people surfaces when they enter frenzied stores.

As someone going into their third holiday season working retail, I find it to be my civic duty to give all you holiday shoppers out there some helpful ways to not ruin my Christmas.

1. If we don’t have it in our store, you yelling at us is not going to make it appear.

2. It’s Black Friday. There are 100 other people in this store. I’m sorry you’re not my top priority

3. I don’t know what your SO wants.

Yeah sure, everyone is buying these slippers

4. I know what’s in the back. I was just there to cry. Don't make me go back there.

5. There are like 20 people behind you, I’m sorry I can’t gift-wrap your items.

I’ll be more than happy to give you a box and some tissue paper though!

6. Also, have all your items and how you’re paying ready when you come to the till

7. You’re not saving the world by retorting my “Happy Holidays” with an indignant “Merry Christmas”

8. Your vague list that could describe anything in our store is not helpful and I’m sorry I can’t read your daughter’s mind.

Be specific. As someone who works at Victoria’s Secret something “pink” can refer to literally anything in the store.

9. “Wow, a neatly folded table. It would be a shame if anything happened to it.”

I’m not saying keep everything pristine, that’s unrealistic, just try not to mess it up if you see us fixing it. We wanna go home too.

10. I can’t magically make promotions.

11. I don’t have a treasure trove of coupons at my disposal.

Sorry I don't just hoard coupons behind my till.

12. Remind your friends that gift cards won’t self-destruct if you don’t use them in 24 hours.

And usually the stuff that is in the store the day after Christmas is old things and stuff people have returned. Wait a couple of weeks for new products.

13. I guarantee you this stuff you are haphazardly buying the day before Christmas is going to be returned the day after Christmas

14. GET GIFT RECEIPTS.

Especially, if you don't know the return policy for a store.

15. Be nice.

Seriously, we are taking time from our families this holiday season so you can buy things for yours. We really are friendly nice people if you are nice to us, too!