From fraudsters sneaking in scissors to flying shoes & mums losing kids, shop workers tell Black Friday horror stories
WITH the Christmas clock ticking, Black Friday madness has now brought chaos to the shop floor.
But as consumers clamber to buy a frock for the office party or a new sweater for Mum, what’s it like for those on the front line . . . the shop assistants? “Customers go particularly crazy on Black Friday,” says Sarah Gregori, 50, who has decades of retail experience, at the likes of Quiz and Debenhams in Exeter.
She tells Sarah Morton her most shocking stories . . . from customers who hack holes in outfits, to mums who manage to misplace kids.
FRAUDSTERS SNEAKING IN SCISSORS
I KNOW money is tight for many so I try not to judge, but sometimes people really do push their luck.
One customer — and she wasn’t the only one to try this trick — took a brand-new £65 party dress into the changing rooms and came out claiming there was a hole by the side seam, then offered to buy it at a reduced price. It was brazen, as I know that dress didn’t have a mark, let alone a hole, on it.
But we’re not in the business of calling our customers liars and she ended up getting a tiny five per cent discount on it. She probably had a pair of scissors in her bag.
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FIGHTS OVER BARGAINS
SO much for Christmas spirit — the sheer panic of the festive season causes normally mild-mannered shoppers to lose their minds on Black Friday.
Once, a woman physically shoved another out of the way when they were eyeing up the same sparkly dress. Swear words were exchanged as the pair jostled over it like something out of a film.
The lady who “won” the dress took it into the dressing room, realised that it didn’t fit and then — rather than doing the noble thing and taking it back out to give to the other woman — threw it on the floor and walked out of the shop.
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Shop the sales:
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- John Lewis -
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DODGING FLYING SHOES
WORKING in retail, you need a thick skin — and never more so than at this time of year.
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I’ve had shoes thrown at me when I’ve not been able to find someone the right size, and I’ve also had a stool from the dressing room lobbed at me by one irate woman when I didn’t bring her the correct dress.
I was shocked and in both cases I called security straight away and had the women removed, but I couldn’t retaliate. It wouldn’t be professional. There wasn’t much I could do, other than let it go.
Luckily I wasn’t hurt.
RETURNS REEKING OF WINE
AFTER the office Christmas parties are done and dusted, usually by the weekend before the big day, we see an influx in returns on items that had obviously been worn.
One woman brought us back a beautiful LBD that was covered in foundation and stank of cigarettes and wine. She claimed she’d lost the tag and swore blind that she’d never even worn it.
Again, despite the bold-faced fib, we couldn’t accuse her of lying, so we negotiated a small percentage back and she left very smug.
STRIPPING OFF FOR A SWAP
I’VE no idea why some people are so desperate to return Christmas presents so quickly, but the queue on Boxing Day for refunds is always huge. One year, a woman braved the cold to queue before we’d opened, then when she finally got in, she whipped off the woolly jumper she’d been wearing and handed it over while standing there in her bra.
Thankfully, she swapped it for another top so she didn’t have to go home in her undies.
MUMS LOSING THEIR KIDS
IT’S never easy for mums, having to drag reluctant kids around the shops as they tick things off their never-ending Black Friday shopping lists. I remember one who was so frazzled, she didn’t even realise her toddler had wandered off until she was in the changing room — cue one almighty panic as the whole shop searched for the little boy, who was eventually found hiding under a pile of clothes in a corner.
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I wouldn’t have minded — but she didn’t even say thank you when we handed him back, instead huffing and puffing while the little one grinned mischievously.
RETAIL THERAPY
TIPS to improve the in-store experience, from retail expert Holly Jay-Smith . . .
PRICE MATCH SERVICE: Check if the store offers one. Some stores may not advertise this directly, but it’s always worth asking.
BARCODE SEARCH: Before a buy, Google the barcode number of the item. This will show the prices offered by various retailers, ensuring you get the best deal.
CHECK RETURN PERIOD: Most stores extend theirs over the Christmas season, but it’s wise to confirm. Also, ask for a gift receipt which makes it less awkward for people to return items.
CREATE A WISHLIST: Stay focused and avoid impulse purchases by creating a wishlist to help you keep track of what you really want.
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