Working Retail at Christmas

Well tis the season... for staying up way too late, doing rediculous things (why else is it the silly season), neglecting blogs, excessive spending and running out of time to do everything that you need to do before Tuesday when you go to beach mission. In the meantime, I shall briefly entertain you with my perception of the different types of shoppers at Christmas.

Type A: The well organised motherly type
This mother has started shopping early (maybe before August), isn't stressed at all and only has to grab a few groceries - allways with a list, and maybe that odd Secret Santa present that she wasn't able to pre-purchase months ago - often accompaning type E: old lady (see below)

Type B: The insane stressed motherly type
This person comes into the store with no idea what they're after, comes in stressed and confused and will either leave (i) Happy with a perfect gift thats already wrapped for them and maybe something for themselves (ii) Way more confused than they were when they came in and unable to make a decision between the one with the bath bomb and the one with the hand cream [does anybody care...?], and they go and get a coffee and have a think about it...

Type C: The lazy boy
Comes in - looks briefly around - tells shop assistant who he's buying for (could be his mother, girlfriend, granny, secret santa or wife) - we make suggestion - he likes it - we say that it can be gift wrapped for free - he is happy and buys it and leaves, never takes longer than 5 minutes.

Type D: The thoughtful boy/man
This is normally someone buying for wifey, or a woman who he knows particularly well (mistress perhaps??) Knows what she likes, wants to pamper her, can be rather specific and frustrating at times... but only coz he's trying to get her something nice. These are fun customers as they often buy big hampers :)

Type E: The old lady
Often accompanied by another old lady, a daughter or one of those cart thingo's that seem to carry everything. Often just looking for something little, but rather fussy - I make it my personal challenge to ensure no teenagers are give talc powder for Chrismas, coz I rather hate getting it as a gift, and old ladies often think its a really nice gift [does anybody know why???]

Subset: Couples
Too long to go into details here, but there are a few types that I won't explain
a) The retired couple shopping together - she shops and he complains about her spending his money
b) The schmoopie young couple *gag*
c) The two young ladies shopping together couple
d) The group of guys - not necescarily a couple... but they can fit here... You know how chicks can't go to the toilet alone and need a buddy, The guy equivalent might be shopping... so many guys need more than one wing-man to stand around and make stupid jokes while buying gifts

There are plenty of others, but here is where my list ends, Feel free to add to it any other species of shopper you may have observed in your travels