Stores stay busy as time runs out to find that perfect gift
Elaine Smalls made a list and was checking it twice Tuesday — well, three or four times — while standing outside Tanger Outlet storefronts with signs that beckoned shoppers with 60 percent off sales.
Melissa Haneline
The Post and Courier
Kelly Lewis (left) of St. George carpooled with her friend Rhonda Johnson of Branchville early Tuesday to finish last-minute Christmas shopping at Northwoods Mall.
"I really only have one person left to buy for," the Holly Hill woman said while holding a shoulder-full of bags. "No, two people. Oh, my niece, too — three people. OK, five people."
Smalls said it was her first time out Christmas shopping since Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in which stores lure shoppers with large promotions. She was looking for similar deals Tuesday as merchants hoped to take advantage of the few remaining hours before Christmas.
If you haven't found that special something for that special someone yet, know that the clock is ticking.
From flagship department stores to main street shops, consumers are finding packed parking lots, massive markdowns and extended hours, and in some places around-the-clock shopping, as merchants hope to salvage one of the worst shopping seasons in decades, brought on by the recession and growing economic uncertainty.
Previous stories
Customers demand discounts, published 12/23/08
Malls slow, King St. hot; Bargain hunters were on the prowl on the last Saturday before Christmas, published 12/21/08
For stores, the outlook is bleak. The International Council of Shopping Centers expects established stores to post their worst performance for the holidays since at least 1969, when it began tracking such data. It predicts same-store sales, sales at stores open at least a year, will fall as much as 1 percent for the November and December period, and fears the decline could be even steeper.
Lowcountry merchants and other shoppers noticed a drastic increase in traffic and purchases following a lull that came shortly after the Black Friday rush.
Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier
Bryce Jowers, 5, carries a bag for his mom, Dena Jowers, as he and his sisters, Anna, 9, and Avery, 4, (not shown) shop Tuesday on King Street. The family was on a day trip from Columbia.
"Surprisingly in the last week and a half business picked up again," said Jon Cagle, store manager of Lucky Brand Jeans at Tanger Outlet Mall. "There really isn't a reason. Our promotions haven't really changed."
Christina Hayes-Bradham, who volunteers wrapping presents at the Citadel Mall for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, said paper was flying off the rolls Tuesday.
"It's been as busy today as it was the day after Thanksgiving, and that was busy," she said.
Holmes Herlong, who was picking up the last of his presents while visiting family from Johnston, said the crowds at Citadel Mall eclipsed what he saw on Black Friday.
Chad Davis and Jess Strangstalien of Charleston said they got off to an early start in hopes of not only getting good deals but also of not having to return on Christmas Eve. Davis, who is not a big fan of Christmas shopping, joked that one day is enough.
"If we don't (finish) then, they'll just have to wait until after," he said.
Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
This article has 12 comment(s)
Posted by joncmac on December 24, 2008 at 3:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While it is late in the season, the best ways to save this holiday are using online discount codes, comparison shopping sites, and rebate sites. Many retailers have discount codes you key in to save money. Also, some shopping/research sites will give you cach back for shopping at retailers (like 5% Walmat, 7% Borders) just for registering. Also, I found this site to be a good resource to learn more about them.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/...
Posted by RedHorse7 on December 24, 2008 at 5:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Based on the crowds in the mall, as well as the parking lot itself, it appears to me that "someone" is buying something. I've stood in long lines only to be "greeted" by surly sales staff and rude shoppers. The management should "spot-check" their POS intermittently and remind the cashiers were it not for those "bothersome" shoppers, they'd have no job. I actually overheard a cashier at one of the well-known department stores as she complained to another cashier, "I wish these people would go home. They're pissing me off". Great customer service!!!
Posted by MSC on December 24, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The attitude to retail people is that they get paid the same whether they are slow or busy. Which is why checking out takes forever.
Posted by ltgrunt on December 24, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Retail employees - especially cashiers - work a thankless job which they're constantly looked down on just for having. From my own experience I can tell you that no matter how good a cashier's or salesperson's attitude is, there are very few polite customers in the world, and even fewer genuinely nice and courteous ones. Add to that the fact that for retail employees there is very rarely any reward no matter how hard they work. Basically what you have is an entire class of employees who realize quite clearly that no matter how good they are at their jobs they will rarely if ever receive any respect for it, and even more rarely will they be rewarded.
And RedHorse7, that cashier you eavesdropped on while she was talking to another cashier was having a private conversation. From your description it would seem that she wasn't engaging any customers, so her comment doesn't really reflect on her customer service. When you were interacting with her was she rude, or did she actually provide good customer service despite her unhappiness?
Keep in mind that with no reward motivation and no respect, it's no wonder that cashiers aren't always the most pleasant people. A lot of shoppers lament that customer service throughout the retail industry isn't as good as it was in times past, but in all honesty customer attitudes have been getting less and less pleasant as well.
Posted by thisguy on December 24, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Itgrunt is spot on.
Nobody gives people on the other side of the counter respect.
While in college/high school EVERYBODY should be required to work a job on the other side of the counter in order to graduate. The world would be a much happier place if everyone has shared the experience of the grumpy customer.
That being said, there will ALWAYS be a cashier or customer with a bad attitude. You cant please everyone...
Posted by jca on December 24, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my husband works at the mall. he has had to deal with nightmare customers all season cursing him out cause they have no wiis and when they do come in its first come first served.
they had a woman in line to check out curse him and his stores manager out when they tried to ring her up cause she decided she would hold the line up and look at something else. she put her son up to the register and said give me a minute. well the manager went on to the next person and she started screaming and yelling and even threw the race card out. she was black they ar white. not needed nor true. the store was packed and others were waiting. mall security came down and removed her not only from the store but the mall she had done this same bs in three other stores.
keep in mind you arent these folks only customer be polite smile and ask them how they are. go the extra mile and ask them if they need a drink and get them one. the simplest of things can change their bad attitude. i have worked retail and can say its very hard to be sweet and nice when every one around you is rude mean and nasty to you. cause you arent fast enough or didnt serve them first.
your attitude says alot too. be patient 2 extra minutes in line wont kill you
Posted by yird on December 24, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ltgrunt; i can't believe I'm saying this; I agree with you.
Damn, that was hard!
I go out of my way to be not only courteous but actually friendly to that "working person" on the other side of the checkout counter
who has to put up with all manner of a=+holes that wish to be the temporary master over someone reluctant to be confrontational for fear of losing their job.
It must be some form of sick gratification for someone to abuse another who for whatever reason is unable to defend themselves.
Posted by 10216340 on December 24, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, I have to disagree. Rude and negative customers are everywhere and should not impact a customer service reps behavior. It's their job. I deal with difficult people myself but that doesn't matter.....I still need to do my best to be nice and, even when undeserved, go above and beyond.
Yes, I know that customer service is difficult but than I bet I can say that about 99% of the other jobs out there as well. If you allow the behavior and disrespect of complete strangers put you in a foul mood to the point that you take it out on other customers than you are in the wrong job.
There will always be jerks but that doesn't mean you have to be one as well. As to the customer service rep that was overheard saying "I wish these people would go home. They're pissing me off".....absolutely no excuse. If another person can hear it than it is not a private conversation. Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted by 10216340 on December 24, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just another note to add to my comment above.....before anyone jumps in I want to make sure I say that vulgar language by customers is absolutely uncalled for and no customer service rep should have to put up with that.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on December 24, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever happened to the attitude that even if you are a lowly ditchdigger, you dig the best damn ditch in the world? I am sorry you hate your job. I am sorry some people are rude to you. If you crumble under that kind of penny-ante pressure, God forbid you ever have to work full time, go to school, raise kids, run a household and contribute to your community. You'll fold like a nine-dollar suit.
I've worked plenty of skank jobs. You do what you have to do to pay the bills and if you're smart and want to get ahead, you do it with a smile on your face. It's called the real world. There's a lot of good with some bad mixed in. Take a deep breath and get over it.
Posted by geekboy on December 24, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just want to know why it is that every single time I am in a hurry, I get stuck behind someone who doesn't seem to know they're expected to pay for whatever it is they have and wait until the cashier tells them how much they owe before they start digging around for their checkbooks.
And then there are the ones that want to stand there and argue with the cashier over a %#$%^!$ coupon that was worth all of 10 cents off.
And the ones that want to buy a single pack of cigarettes, and the cashier has to lock the register and go God knows where to get the damn cigarettes.
And no b*tchfest would be complete without mentioning the welfare recipients in front of you at the grocery store with a buggy that is absolutely overflowing with high dollar cuts of meat and fish while your poor working ass is standing there with the little you can afford to buy while staying within your budget.
Hallelujah, holy sh*t... where's the Tylenol?
Posted by ltgrunt on December 24, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Walleyedwoman, you're making the disrespectful assumption that people who work retail aren't working full time, going to school, raising kids, running a household and contributing to their community. That's exactly the kind of contemptuous, condescending attitude that cashiers put up with that they shouldn't have to. Cashiers may not be building skyscrapers or performing brain surgery, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve respect and admiration for the hard work that they do. And as I said before, many cashiers keenly realize that no matter how good a job they do, many customers will never be happy and will still treat them like dirt.