Holidays don't always bring out the best...

I have learned that abruptly since I started working at Victoria's Secret.

I know how frustrating retail is for people. I know how frustrating shopping can be, too...I mean let's face it, I'm still a consumer despite the fact I stand behind the register at VS. But, I'm also human and the lowest stump on the totem pole at that store, so I do as I'm told. I don't make the rules there, I follow them.

As the holiday season started on "Pink" Friday, it was clear to me that the economic hardships people are facing have come through by how they treat others. We are all suffering in some way. But do I take it out on some stranger in a store? No.

We can't combine coupons. I'm sorry. We just can't. Every coupon states that it cannot be combined with any other discount, special promotion or offer. Yet, 7 out of 10 clients will come up and try to combine their coupons and when I tell them I can't, they literally throw fits and demand that all their items be rung up individually. All 20 items. I have learned to grin and bear it.

I can't say that the first dozen customers who have yelled at me and talked to me as if I were a piece of shit didn't hurt my feelings. I would turn my back to grab a bag and bite my tongue to fight back the tears. Who are they to tell ME what to do and how to do it? I get my direction from the managers there and personally, I'd like to keep my job and not lose it because some PMS-crazed woman couldn't get a free pair of panties with all 8 of her transactions. One pair of free panties per day, lady. Get over it, it's underwear and bras.

But it didn't stop there. If you have read my blog, you know a couple of friends and I started a side-business making cards/albums. It's going well...staying relatively steady. I decided to put an ad in Riley's school newsletter, hoping to drum up some new clientele. We had a bite. A lady contacted us via e-mail wanting a "sticker book." Long story short, we sent emails back and forth and agreed upon an album for the same price we quoted for the sticker book, $45. To you, it might sound steep, but after the cost of products and time, we were essentially giving her this album at a net loss. After explaining to her that due to the price, we were going to have to be very basic with the pages (and I provided her a sample picture), she didn't appear pleased and wanted more embellishments. It wasn't going to happen for that price.

So, with lots of consideration and collaboration, we opted to pass on the project and professionally declined via email to this customer. She became irate and composed an extremely rude email and actually threatened to take out an ad in the newsletter (if she saw another one of mine) and tell everyone how awful we were.

I was shocked. And when I say that, I mean that I really felt sick to my stomach and couldn't believe that someone would actually get that angry and vindictive over PAPER. If you know me, you know that I don't turn down anything. I'm a "yes" person. Even if it means sacrificing time, I will do everything I can to help anyone. So, even this was hard for me to do...and now I know why it was the best thing for me to do. I would've never made this woman happy...and I probably would have never gotten my money for making it.

What's scary is that she walks among us somewhere...her step-daughter goes to Riley's school and I have no idea what she looks like. For all I know, she could be standing right next to me when I pick Riley up at school. It's just repulsive that someone could be so vulgar and over nothing of huge importance. It's a scrapbook. It's not a mortgage payment or a traffic violation. It's paper and glue. Chill out, right?

But the big thing is that all this reminded me of how I want to live my life each day. Do I want to spread that negative energy all over? Absolutely not. The actions of these idiots just reiterates to me how I need to be a good example for my kids that we must respect each other. And if you don't like someone, you don't need to torture them...just take a deep breath, turn around and walk away.

I could end this post with a deep thought or quote, but I can't think of any good ones. I know Shelley mentioned something about 'silence being golden' or something about an owl and being wise and not talking or something like that. See, I told you, I can't think of one. So just know that maybe when you are shopping this holiday season and someone frustrates you, before you tear them a new one, think about what kind of example you are being for others and know that it isn't their fault they can't combine coupons and give away free panties all the time because it's only until supplies last.