Holiday Shopping
By DCMerkle
@DCMerkle (1281)
United States
November 15, 2008 2:45pm CST
Holiday shopping for many is a frustration and then again there are those that really don't mind it because they are well aware of what they are in for. I don't drive, but I know what the stores are like, the parking lots, the crowds of people and the list could go on.
My daughter was going to take me shopping today at Walmart. We got to the parking lot and she just freaked. There was no parking, the crowds were more than the usual Saturday crowd. She decided to take me later in the week. I was really disappointed. I'm disabled and I don't get around as easily as I use to, but Walmart has motorized scooters that are just up my alley.
Now forgetting the fact that holiday shopping could be a problem for the disabled, how do you do your holiday shopping? Do you stress out or do you take it in stride? If you drive does the crowded parking lots play a deciding factor in whether or not you go into the store or not? Do you shop on line?
DCMerkle
2 people like this
12 responses
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I try not to let it bother me too much. However, there have been times when it has bothered me, like my mother cut off some guy in a truck that preceeded to follow her around the parking lot and parked behind in to ensure she could not leave and then proceeded to yell at her in the middle of the parking lot simply because she cut him off. It was annoying. I told him he had NO right to be yelling at two women in a parking lot and if he did not leave I would call the cops and report a stalking. He eventually got back into his truck and left but it was annoying and really uncalled for. That kind of thing certainly doesn't make things easier.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
16 Nov 08
She really didn't cut him off in my opinion. A lane she was in started to end so she turned her blinker on and the guy didn't move forward so she started to merge into his lane and then next thing we know, he starts driving forward, honking his horn and getting all ticked off because she merged into his lane. I don't understand some drivers.
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
16 Nov 08
highflingangel,
Now that is scary! That almost sounds like something my daughter would do, cut someone off. She can be aggressive with her driving sometimes. I would have let the security in the store know what had happened though. Even if it hadn't been your mother that cut the guy off, he had no right to oen her in and start yelling at her. If he did that with her then he could have done that with anyone else.
DCMerkle
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
16 Nov 08
Now that was scarey! It almost sounds like something that my daughter would do. She can be an aggressive driver at times. I would have told the security in the store ecause if that guy penned your mother in he could have done it to anyone.
DCMerkle
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
16 Nov 08
I have to do my holiday shopping this time of the year every year, because I need to become Santa every Christmas and give out lots of presents. I was down at the main shopping belt yesterday afternoon, and being a Saturday, it was certainly jammed pack with shoppers. But I guess I am used to it already as it is a regular feature. The streets are also packed with cars, but I usually try to park away in a quieter neighborhood nearby and walk to the shopping centers. Well, within the next 16 hours from now, I will be boarding a plane to go on a holiday overseas for a week. While there, I will do some sightseeing and also continue my Christmas shopping. It will probably be crowded there, but it should be fun since I am in a foreign land, and the shops, crowds and Christmas offers should be a new and exciting experience to me.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
16 Nov 08
Yes, I also do like to browse around the shopping centers because of the Christmas decorations too. And over here, we have Christmas street light-up at night, so it is quite a spectacle hanging around at night.
Well, it's 10.30pm here, and I have to retire to bed within the next half an hour, 'cos my flight is at 6.05am, and I have to wake up at an unearthly 3am to get ready to go to the airport. Hopefully I will catch you again in a week's time, when I am back from my holidays. Have a great week ahead!
@PinayPrincess (554)
• Philippines
16 Nov 08
For me, I would rather shop online to get away from the crowd. It makes me ill to be walking in the mall, with a lot of people walking here and there also. Don't feel bad ;) Its more convenient to shop online. Regarding the parking, yes, I usually dont go shopping if there is no place to park my car. :)
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
16 Nov 08
PinayPrincess,
One time and it was the last time I ever did this, I went shopping on Christmas eve downtown. I took the bus. I was a bus rider anyway and I had just gotten off of work and was going home for the holidays and I hadn't bought anything yet. So I figured I go downtown, where I could probably get some good, last minute deals and really get into the holiday spirit. I got into the spirit alright and it wasn't the spirit of Christmas present either...lol. The decorations were cool though. I hadn't been downtown to look at the window decorations since my grandfather was alive. I guess I was just waxing nastalgic.
DCMerkle
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I absolutely LOVE Christmas shopping. It is the one time of year that I let go and actually shop. My husband isn't all that fond of it, but I love it. The only thing I don't like is waiting in line. I can deal with the crowds and the parking, I just don't like long lines.
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I live in a rural area and we only have one car. It's especially difficult for me to get out to even go grocery shopping during the holidays because my husband works in retail and works a lot during the months leading to the holidays. I hate crowds as well and see no point in trying to fight them, so I do most of my christmas shopping online. It's easy and if you shop at Amazon and buy items that qualify for their super saver shipping, you can have all of the items shipped to you free of charge. It beats fighting crowds and I can take my time and look at product reviews from other people, something you don't get the benefit of at a retail store.
@sunilsunny (222)
• India
16 Nov 08
ya i like do shopping in holidays and i like to spend time with my girlfriend in holidays... and i willenjoy in weekends with my girlfriend by doing shopping and i ill have dinner outside.....
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I can't believe it's crowded out there already. Here the malls are pretty empty, but I'm not sure about the Wal-Marts since I really don't normally shop there. Maybe due to the economy more people are going to Wal-Mart instead of more expensive stores.
One of my friends is disabled and it's hard for her to walk around an entire mall. But I don't get why she doesn't just shop online.
I used to only have a bicycle for transportation and I'd buy everything on eBay, ride to the post office to get money orders and pay for things that way. But now I have PayPal and can shop that way. I still prefer online shopping even though I have a car now. Except I will go out to a store no matter how crazy it is if they're having a good sale, but I rarely consider a sale a good sale, it has to be really good to get me out there.
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
16 Nov 08
Pigglies,
Walmart was the only major retailer that was able to report a 2% increase the last quarter in October. Yep, people are shopping there more. Walmart has even deiced that instead of building the new stores, that they are going to put that on the back burner and re-model some of their older stores.
When I could walk some, I knew where every bench was on the street and the malls. My children said that it was like playing musical benches with me...lol
DCMerkle
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
15 Nov 08
For me it is usualy a frustrating experience. I usualy have trouble finding what I am looking for and it is always so crowded when I go out. I am fortunate that I had better luck this year and won't have hardly any shopping left to do afther thanksgiving.
@Blondie2222 (28610)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Holiday shopping is frustrating for me this yr because I don't have alot of money n yet I have alot of ppl to buy for. I'm thinkin of just doing gift certrificates and stuff like that. I'm trying 2 do some shopping online tho maybe can find some cheap stuff n what not...Who knows...I always stress out around holiday time...I'm not askin for anything this yr I dont need anything...Just want to be wit family thats it. But hopefully ill get enough money to be able 2 buy for everyone. Won't be alot but somethin is better than nothing I guess.
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
15 Nov 08
Hi there DCMerkle
I am sorry to hear of your disappointment today as I am sure you really were looking forward to your outing. I never go shopping on a Saturday for one thing I have all my kids with me and Saturdays are always really busy. I would never get things done and I do get a bit stressed with the kids and the amount of people that would be in the store. I go shopping during the week when the kids are at school and the stores are calmer!
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
16 Nov 08
Humbug,
If it wasn't for the fact that Saturday is the only day that my daughter could have taken me shopping, I would have gone during the week. I'm not really mad at her, just what my options are. I use to take the kids with me to shop on a Saturday and I can remember what that was like. I didn't drive then either. My husband worked all week and there were a few times that we were able to shop after he came home, but I had the option then of leaving the kids with a sitter. Oh well, I guess that I will have to buck up and take it in stride.
DCMerkle
@23uday (2997)
• India
16 Nov 08
Hi frnds,
I like shopping.
when i go to a travel to tour i will go to shopping.iam going to holiday for a tour so i want to go a shopping.i will buy all what i want needed in the holiday tour.
be happy and have a nice.
@smartie0317 (1610)
• United States
16 Nov 08
By nature, I'm an early bird. So, I do my shoppping early. I have gotten something for everyone who I wanted to get something for. The special people in my life usually pick something they want earlier or I get something I know they wanted all year but couldn't afford or get. I also do 90% of my Christmas shopping online. I can't deal with the crowd.
