# Hell on Earth(or a Christmas Season Spent in Retail) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 12, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987 "2002-10-12T19:41:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/21 "2002-10-13T16:14:09Z")
I think one thing we can all do is remember to treat other human beings nicely – be they employees of a local retail store or members of your own family. It’s often easy to forget that “Do unto others…” doesn’t have an exception for employees of a company whose policies irritate you. I know that the stress of the holiday season can make this difficult, but instead of getting mad, let’s try to change how we, ourselves, act. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/22 "2002-10-13T18:17:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > \*\* > Hallmark has Halloween cards and Thanksgiving cards \*(who the heck sends Halloween and Thanksgiving cards?) \* right next to the boxes of Christmas cards and tree ornaments. > > \*\* Interesting. I work for Hallmark and in our most recent newsletter we were instructed that the Thanksgiving stuff went out on October 15th (after Boss’s Day comes down) and under no circumstances was the Xmas stuff to go up before November 1st. Mostly I hate the treacle-y Xmas music, everything else I can deal with. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/23 "2002-10-13T18:17:54Z")
Frosty the Snowman in Latin? I would pay to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/24 "2002-10-13T20:51:21Z")
I used to work for Hobby Lobby and we got our Christmas trees in this year in May… So they just sat in the back until the managers decided to set them out (by that time I’d quit) ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/25 "2002-10-13T21:57:42Z")
And here I am, playing Christmas music on my PowerMac’s CD player. (I just got a bee in my bonnet and ordered some Christmas CDs the other day.) I’m just nuts, aren’t I? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/26 "2002-10-13T22:34:22Z")
Pity the folks who work in the year-round Christmas shops! Must really suck around January, having to continue the ho-ho-ho holiday spirit when everyone else is putting away their decorations. Universal Studios has one of these, and I do feel for the folk who have to retail Christmas year round. Although I admit, I am gonna break my own rules and get a set of “12 Days of Grinchmas” ornaments, as well as a “SpongeBob Squarepants” ceramic ornament. Okay, the little cuss is starting to grow on me. [Summer isn’t too bad, as I used to have my own “Christmas in June/July (whenever I got around to it), break from the heat” party. Christmas decorations around the pool, decorate up the artificial tree, trade gifts wrapped in snowflake and reindeer paper, wear Santa hats and bathing suits, and eat spritz cookies downed with cold sangria.] ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/27 "2002-10-13T23:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\* > > Interesting. I work for Hallmark and in our most recent newsletter we were instructed that the Thanksgiving stuff went out on October 15th (after Boss’s Day comes down) and under no circumstances was the Xmas stuff to go up before November 1st. > > Mostly I hate the treacle-y Xmas music, everything else I can deal with. \*\* I’m not making it up. It was the Hallmark store in White Marsh Mall in White Marsh, Maryland (Baltimore County). Plus the Greetings & Readings in Loch Raven Plaza (a Hallmark store) had theirs out two weeks ago. My daughter collects the Barbie ornaments, and we looked for them, but they weren’t out on display yet. Most of the other ornaments were up and displayed. It looked like the hot “collector” ornaments weren’t out, but there lots of others out. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/28 "2002-10-14T00:15:38Z")
The local Hallmark here has had the Christmas ornaments on display for at least a month. I remember because last month I popped in to see whether they had any good series ornaments starting up this year. Maybe the “no X-mas stuff up until Nov. 1” dictum doesn’t apply to the ornaments, which lots of people treat as collectible items and want to purchase as soon as possible? Not sure. As for the OP… I have no idea, because I am not putting myself through the eye strain of reading either of his two posts in this thread. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/29 "2002-10-14T01:11:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > \*\*And here I am, playing Christmas music on my PowerMac’s CD player. (I just got a bee in my bonnet and ordered some Christmas CDs the other day.) > > I’m just nuts, aren’t I? \*\* Yes. Yes you are. But then again-does the Nutcracker Suite count as “Christmas” music? I just adore Tchaikovsky! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/30 "2002-10-14T03:02:00Z")
I went to Wal-Mart on my B-day…the day after Labor day…and they already had Christmas stuff in Home/Garden area. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/31 "2002-10-14T09:36:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*2 things. > > 1. You **do** know that there is a (space) key on your keyboard, right? Use the fucking thing. > \*\* I gotta second this. To the OP, you DO know that you are supposed to put not one, but TWO spaces at the end of a sentence right? Most of the time I don’t even use 2 because I suck, but you don’t even have one space. Throw us a bone here and start using them because your shit is really hard to read. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/32 "2002-10-14T09:48:29Z")
> [@](#): > > To the OP, you DO know that you are supposed to put not one, but TWO spaces at the end of a sentence right? [There is some debate over this.](http://www.webword.com/reports/period.html) I confess, I have always put two spaces between sentences, since I was trained to do that in typing class. But there’s nothing wrong (from what I have been told) with using one space when keyboarding on a computer. However, dammit, **PLEASE PUT SPACES BETWEEN SENTENCES and PUNCTUATION!!** Sheesh. One space will do fine. No spaces (like I see in parts of the OP) make the writing very annoying to try to read. ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/33 "2002-10-14T10:44:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\* > > You’re very lucky. > > Actually, I haven’t seen that many Christmas displays yet, but I live just west of the eastern border of civilization here in Northern Virginia, so that might account for it. But when I didn’t live here–oh man… \*\* I live out in the recently settled lands of Hapers Ferry, WV, far, far to the west of you. I borrowed our village’s only horse and rode for _three_ days to come see the wonder that is your Dulles Town Center… and was totally dismayed to hear Christmas music piping through the speakers and Christmas crap everywhere. They are not in full Christmas swing yet, but I think they may have been slowed up by the longshoreman strike out in Ca. Memo or no memo, Hallmark was the worst offender. Almost a total Christmas takeover. I wish we could hold off on this stuff until after Thanksgiving. Having it so early in the year kinda makes me jaded by the time Christmas actually gets here. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/34 "2002-10-14T12:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsWhatsit \* > \*\* Maybe the “no X-mas stuff up until Nov. 1” dictum doesn’t apply to the ornaments, which lots of people treat as collectible items and want to purchase as soon as possible? \*\* They had **all** of it out. Ornaments, boxes of cards, Christmas music CDs and the knick-knacky dust-collector stuff. I collect snowmen, and was kind of drawn to it, to see what new things they had this year, but then remembered it wasn’t even the middle of October yet. :rolleyes: Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/35 "2002-10-14T12:29:34Z")
As to the Hallmark prohibition on early Christmas items and the stores having them out anyway: Is it possible these may be independent stores, not actually under the aegis of Hallmark but using their product, such as some Burger Kings and Pizza Huts are “independently owned and operated”, therefore not subject to the coupons and sale prices advertised? Might be? Mebbe not? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/36 "2002-10-14T13:44:22Z")
Could be, **screech-owl**. The one store I mentioned, Greetings & Readings in Baltimore, is an independently owned bookstore, that also sells all kinds of gifts (from cheap gag-gift junk to high-priced stuff in locked cabinets) and has a personalized Stationery section (Wedding invitations, Baby announcements, etc.), and a cafe/coffee shop, plus they sell the full line of Hallmark stuff, including everyday cards and giftwrap. I know it’s a one-location business, and not owned by Hallmark, they just sell Hallmark products. I guess maybe they have a franchise-type arrangement with Hallmark? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/37 "2002-10-14T13:44:22Z")
Could be, **screech-owl**. The one store I mentioned, Greetings & Readings in Baltimore, is an independently owned bookstore, that also sells all kinds of gifts (from cheap gag-gift junk to high-priced stuff in locked cabinets) and has a personalized Stationery section (Wedding invitations, Baby announcements, etc.), and a cafe/coffee shop, plus they sell the full line of Hallmark stuff, including everyday cards and giftwrap. I know it’s a one-location business, and not owned by Hallmark, they just sell Hallmark products. I guess maybe they have a franchise-type arrangement with Hallmark? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/38 "2002-10-14T15:14:39Z")
> [@](#): > > To the OP, you DO know that you are supposed to put not one, but TWO spaces at the end of a sentence right? Nowadays, the convention, at least in publishing (my industry), is to use one space after a period. Check a book at random–one space, not two. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/39 "2002-10-14T23:30:32Z")
Um…I send Halloween cards… I always liked Disneyland’s take on this. No Christmas before Thanksgiving. I also always figured it would really suck to be on the decorating team, because the night before thanksgiving day they had to put EVERYTHING in place. Including the gigantic tree with all its ornaments, and all the fake snow on Main Street…and then take it all down by January 6 (I think it was). However; working in the Castle Christmas Shoppe (which I don’t believe is there any more) wasn’t all that awful. It was Disneyland, after all. You just always had to be happy. Thank the powers that be that you didn’t have to be perky as well. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987/40 "2002-10-15T12:31:47Z")
> [@](#): > > To the OP, you DO know that you are supposed to put not one, but TWO spaces at the end of a sentence right? And in case you never noticed, this board strips the second “space” right the hell outta there anyway. Don’t you look silly now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-on-earth-or-a-christmas-season-spent-in-retail/131987.md?page=3)