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The Official 4 Step Stress-Free Holiday Shopping Guide For Retail Addicts

A helpful guide for shoppers and retail associates to get them through the worst month in shopping.

Jessica Reider

Nov 26, 2018

Orlando, Florida

The Official 4 Step Stress-Free Holiday Shopping Guide For Retail Addicts

RawPixel

The holidays are here which means crazy shoppers and pissed off retail associates are out in full force. As a retail veteran, both as a shopaholic and a miserable retail worker, I thought I would create a helpful guide to keep you from losing your mind and potentially murdering a Wal-Mart greeter.

1. Don't be a dick.

I know, I know, the customer is always right. But actually, sometimes they aren't. Sometimes they're being really rude, ignoring the store policies and holding up the rest of the line.

Shoppers: Just try to be a little nicer. The sales associates are there to do their jobs and also want you to leave the store as quickly as possible. We're all on the same team.

Associates: Just make the customer happy. Accept the return, give them the price they saw on the floor and just keep smiling. Your manager can worry about the rest.

2. Don't wait until Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, come December 24th, the stock is low and your odds of getting everything you're looking for is slim. So don't wait! Beat the rush and get out there in the early weeks of December.

Shoppers: If you are planning to shop on Christmas Eve, get out early! There is nothing worse than waiting in a 2-hour line only to find out the product you want is out of stock or worse, not as cheap as it was on Black Friday.

Associates: Encourage the customers you encounter over the first few days of the month to get everything they need now. Offer to gift-wrap, carry the purchase to their car or whatever else you need to do to ensure they don't come back too soon.

3. Treat people like people.

This one should be a no-brainer, but I'll break it down anyway.

Shoppers: The people helping you are just that, people. So try to show a little humility and treat them how you want to be treated. Unless waving receipts and asking 17-year-old cashiers "Do you have any idea how much I spend at this store?" is your kink or something.

Associates: Breath. That's literally my only advice.

4. Remember what you came for.

It's a holiday, people! We're out here because we want to give and show the people we love how much we appreciate them. It's a common thread among us all, not a dividing line.

Shoppers: I know the woman in front of you just bought the last Hot Diggity Dog Mickey Mouse but I promise it's going to be okay. Your kid will still love you if you get them a different present. Also, maybe shop on Amazon next time you want the holiday's hottest toy.

Associates: It's been a drag all holiday I know, but at least you have that Hot Diggity Dog Mickey Mouse hiding in the stock room, right? Work is long but that overtime check is bound to help you ensure you get everyone on your list just what they're looking for.

So there you have it, 4 simple steps to keep you from totally losing it this holiday season. Added bonus, step 1 is pretty much clutch for every single day of the year. Happy shopping!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

The Official 4 Step Stress-Free Holiday Shopping Guide For Retail Addicts

A helpful guide for shoppers and retail associates to get them through the worst month in shopping.

1. Don't be a dick.

2. Don't wait until Christmas Eve.

3. Treat people like people.

4. Remember what you came for.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

Movie Tickets

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