A first tentative step into this community...

[moosefluff]

Just joined this community, and thought I would say hi. Just got through my 7th Christmas as a bookseller, and is it just me, or are people getting worse? No wonder stats say that most retail employees retire after the Christmas season

Comments

[moosefluff]

No, Waterloo isn't that weird. I've noticed that people seem nicer there though. I happen to work in one of the "richest" postal codes in the country (take that how you will) and it could be that people here feel they deserve everything on a silver platter?!?

[screamingintune]

I've been through two Christmases as a bookseller, in two different stores in different geographical areas of the country.

My last store, while I loved it beyond belief and all the people who worked there, was a NIGHTMARE during Christmas. Christmas Eve was the worst: tons of panicked people running in and bitching at me because they didn't get their order from bn.com, and then getting really mad when I would inform them that we have nothing to do with bn.com and therefore can't help them. Also, Christmas Eve was *insane*. That store was located in a very wealthy area in South Florida.

This year, after moving to Virginia and transferring to another B&N, I was so dreading Christmas Eve. But it really wasn't 1/10th as bad. This is a much less wealthy area, it's pretty middle class. So my conclusion is that working class people think ahead and get their crap done for Christmas, whereas the wealthy are too busy I don't know, buying yachts to get their shopping done in time.

[moosefluff]

Could be they are. Yachts or chalets in Whistler. Or something.

[andrew_tsks]

the people buying for book people are always the most annoying ever, because either they want some particular book that they can barely describe at all and dont know any vital information about, or they're like "my sister likes to read, what should i get for her?" me: "well, what type of books does she like?" "oh, i don't know... books." people like that don't understand that some people like different types of books than others. they just think everyone who reads reads the same stuff. or, i GUESS that's what they think. either way, it's annoying.

[moosefluff]

Yeah, something like that. My mum also works in a bookstore (across the street from me!), and she once had a lady come in and say, "My daughter is 12 and loves to read. What does she want?" to which my mum just kind of gaped and said, "and she likes___??"

[andrew_tsks]

that's EXACTLY the type of thing i'm talking about.

[dangerdean]

Ah yes, the holidays. The season where grandparents ask for recommendations for their grandchildren, only to ignore your suggestions and get an "educational" bargain book or some such...poor kids will have to feign gratitude come Christmas morning. :)