closing early on Xmas Eve/closed on Xmas

[Linda]

I used to live opposite the McDonald's I worked at. Part of Christmas day was spent watching up to 9 cars at a time lining up in the drive thru, and at least 30 people tugging on the doors. And a couple actually hammering on the windows and kicking the doors.

The most part of Boxing Day was spent fielding calls from people who had found us closed on Christmas Day and wanted freebies to make up for their disappointment and anger that we had dared to be closed.

[CaroPhoenix]

The Gaming Store is open regular hours on Christmas Eve (10 AM until 10 PM). We are closed on Christmas Day. Most gamers are understanding that we're closed on Christmas. Though we do have a few disappointed wives () who couldn't send their gaming husbands up to the store to keep them out of their hair while they did the Christmas dinner.

[chops]

I wonder if SCs listen to the radio?

Nope. :P

There, fixed that for you.

[crazylegs]

Luckily I'm off Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St. Stephens/26th Dec.), however I do feel your pain, although I'm rather concerned about all these shops open on Christmas Day, WTF? Seriously, can people really not go one day without shopping?

[Lace Neil Singer]

I don't know what I'm doing Christmas Eve yet; I'm down to work, but it all depends on whether or not I'm sitting in on a trial or not. Anyway, the supermarket is open 6-6 but there will be the usual prats who show up after 6 and then whine, "But you can't close now! I haven't got any Christmas food!" Sorry, but you're mistaking me for someone who gives a damn. Enjoy your festive beans on toast.

[smileyeagle1021]

I don't know if it's an official policy or not, but it seems that most people here got either christmas or new years off... though it was kind of luck of the draw on which you got (I got new years off).

[Painted_Lady]

When I managed a "country store" (convenience, deli, gas, video rental) in Colorado we closed down early Christmas Eve and stayed closed through Christmas Day (Thank you, awsome owners!). Of course, we had signs up for WEEKS before stating our holiday hours, plastered everywhere, including the gas pumps....not that it ever did any good.
My first year I had a rather well-dressed woman driving a brand new vehicle (temp. tags and all) beating on the doors after closing (at 6 pm) and SCREAMING that we just ruined her daughter's Christmas because now she wouldn't get any presents...WTF woman; what were you going to do, suprise her with a Snickers and a 3 year old, overplayed video rental (this was the VHS days)? I actually felt horrible about it (hey, I was new and wasn't used to the idea that someone would use their child as an excuse that way) but my co-worker threatened to beat me down if I opened back up for her.
On Christmas morning I had to come in to reset the survellience tapes and check the alarm system....more people screaming and rattling the doors; since they could see my truck in the lot I must be really open and just being cruel to them, you know.
The odd thing was, we were less than 5 miles from 3 gas stations that were OPEN Christmas Day....come on, people, its not like I was slicing Santa to pieces in from of your children, it's 5 MILES (not to mention, most of them came from that direction so they drove right by them on their way to my store)! I felt so bad for the employees of the other stores I made them plates of Christmas cookies to ease the sting of the SCs I was sending their way.

[LadyAndreca]

Our store closed at 6 PM Christmas Eve last year, and we were closed on Christmas. The manager on duty made sure everyone could get home and left. Since I walk to work, I volunteered to stick around with one of the cashiers whose ride was running late so she wouldn't be alone out there.

Sooooo many people would drive by as we sat outside. The smart ones would ask if the store was open, but I saw more than one get out of the car and ignore us to tug on the door. Nobody yelled at us for ruining Christmas, but one really snotty one was acting like he wanted us to open things back up for him and demanded we tell him where else was open so he could shop.

[Brentos]

When I worked in the furniture warehouse, we divided it up so that you either worked christmas eve or boxing day, not both, and we were closed on christmas day. Nowadays every staff member is working christmas eve, but we're only open till 4 and I don't suspect too many people (though I could be very wrong). Boxing Day is going to be hell, I'm working 8:30-6 and I can just see all my commissions come back as it wasn't the right gift for this person, or that person doesn't need a camera.

Delightful.

Still, much better than on the cruise ships... 15 hours christmas eve, 10 on christmas day and working new years till 1 am .

I don't know about anybody else, but when I'm off on Christmas day, boxing day or new years, I just want to relax and enjoy the time with my family and friends... why are these people even bothering with this crap at this time? can't it wait a couple days?

[Silas G. T. Brontë]

Since my bank branch is closing early at noon on Christmas Eve, I can only expect SC's rushing to the bank as it's closing needing to withdraw money/buying gift cards, and then yelling at us for closing early and "ruining" their Christmas.

[Sonoma]

Or you can get take and bake.... yum! Papa Murphy's is a US chain and most supermarkets also have them.

Papa Murphy's is our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. I'm sure I'll be stopping by the local store to pick up our pizzas sometime Monday.

Fortunately, my job gives me both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day off. Back in my fast food days, we'd close at 6 on Christmas Eve. Since we opened at 10 then, the management team decided that we would work open-close, along with a few non-management employee volunteers. Most of the crew got Christmas Eve & Christmas Day off. It was well worth the extra effort, as our employees sure appreciated it.

[prjkt]

in the past i've worked both the closing shfit on christmas eve, and the opening shift on boxing day (god that's hell)

seeing as I'm the customer greeter, it's up to me to let people know the store is closing in <10/5 minutes, or that we're closed - that's when the fun starts, all the petty excuses, it really makes working through the christmas period worth it

[Nocmen]

I was thinking it would be pretty bad when I worked on Thanksgiving this year, but it actually wasn't. I guess being open 9-3 is quite reasonable for a day such as that. For some reason. however, we are open 9-6 on Monday, which I think is a bit late for a holiday, but because it is not really a holiday on Monday I guess it makes sense. But anyways, on Thanksgiving, only one person came up near closing complainging that we were closing early that day. The best part though is that I'm not closing on Monday.

[Eddie The 'Ead]

On Christmas Eve we're open 6-7 (usual horus are 6-11) and we're closed on Christmas Day. Haven't heard any complaints yet.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Well, as usual, the Kitty will close at 6 pm on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day, then of course reopen at regular time on the day after.

Which will probably be dead b/c everyone will be at the shopping centers and malls returning stuff.

I'm sure they'll have a barrel of fun Christmas Eve . . .this coming week my regular days off would be Mon and Fri, but I"ll have to work Friday as I have another delivery coming.

But yes, I'll have Christmas Eve off and I don't plan on setting foot in any retail store that day - not even Wally World. So I'll get to miss the 6 pm stampede.