Christmas in October?

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nate

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Topic # 17003 7-Nov-2007 21:54

Anyone else annoyed by retailers putting up Christmas decorations so early it's ridiculous? For example, Newmarket DSE had it's tree up towards the end of October. Talk about eager.

/grinch.

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Hawkes Bay
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Reply # 94202 7-Nov-2007 23:37

I went to buy things in a few shops in October, and told staff that I was leaving to go to competitors, because it was cynical and stupid, and as a consumer, completely devalued any kind of respect I had for their brand.

Even November is TOO EARLY.

wmoore

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Reply # 94203 7-Nov-2007 23:52

Kmart had Christmas trees etc middle of October.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

pebbles

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Reply # 94204 8-Nov-2007 00:03

I work at DSE in lower hutt, and we just finished putting ours up this week, and that's pretty late compared to everyone else in westfield queensgate. I think November is reasonable as it's when all the christmas sales begin and I really don't mind the decorations. If I heard christmas carols though I'm definitely out of the store, I will only tolerate these a week before xmas and maybe two weeks tops if I'm being really considerate.

alasta

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Reply # 94217 8-Nov-2007 06:45

A lot of people do their Christmas shopping really early to avoid the crowds so I can understand why the marketing activity would start as soon as possible, but it does still irritate me. For me, the Santa Parade marks the start of the Christmas season, and that's next weekend.

Fortunately I spend very little time in shops, especially at this time of year. Most of my friends and family expect not to receive gifts from me, as they know that I would prefer them to donote to charity rather than buy presents for me. Getting sucked into the marketing hype and spending a fortune is totally unnecessary.

Wob

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Reply # 94231 8-Nov-2007 09:35

pebbles: If I heard christmas carols though I'm definitely out of the store, I will only tolerate these a week before xmas and maybe two weeks tops if I'm being really considerate.

I used to work part time in the David Reid electronics shop in Dunedin (in the late 14th century - we used to sell ZX81s you know!!?), and we had an electronic bell decoration thing in the christmas tree, that used to play carols in a completely irritating electronic lift music sort of way (early eighties technology - it only knew three carols!!).
The store manager would insist on having this thing going throughout the christmas season - used to drive us nuts!! As soon as he left the shop there would be a mad panic to turn the thing off - the releif was wonderful!

Don't worry folks, as soon as the New Year sales are finished, we'll all be able to buy Easter eggs!!

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nate

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Reply # 94247 8-Nov-2007 11:45

I feel sorry for those stuck in retail who listen to the same Christmas CD over and over for 8 hours a day. Mate of mine works at the Warehouse and he's sick of Mariah Carey's butchering of the carols.

mobygeek

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Reply # 94248 8-Nov-2007 12:00

according to our english lass Christmas starts six weeks earlier in the UK! Just remember, a lot of stores have to conform to the higher power who insists on having the deco's etc... Christmas starts just after fathers day in Aussie. good thing NZ has halloween to flog first!

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Reply # 94251 8-Nov-2007 12:34

nate: I feel sorry for those stuck in retail who listen to the same Christmas CD over and over for 8 hours a day. Mate of mine works at the Warehouse and he's sick of Mariah Carey's butchering of the carols.

Yes, agreed. I swear my hatred of Christmas carols is partly due to enduring them for a number of years while working in a shop while at college and university.

TinyTim

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Reply # 94277 8-Nov-2007 14:19

We have our office Christmas party tomorrow!!

If it wasn't for the fact I have to leave early I'd probably boycott it in protest...

robbyp

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Reply # 94279 8-Nov-2007 14:40

nate: Anyone else annoyed by retailers putting up Christmas decorations so early it's ridiculous? For example, Newmarket DSE had it's tree up towards the end of October. Talk about eager.

/grinch.

I think there should be a law against christmas advertising and decoration by retailers, until 8 weeks before christmas. The government regulate most other things in NZ so why not this. It seems like a 1/4 of the year is now xmas. Xmas for retailers is more to do with making money than xmas, as they make most of their moeny during the xmas period. The longer it lasts the better for them.
In France they even regulate when stores are allowed to have sales, and that shops are never allowed to sell anything below cost, as a loss leader.

Wob

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Reply # 94287 8-Nov-2007 16:02

To be honest - I love it!!

Not the overcommercialised, hyper-retail exploitation side of it, but the whole build up to the big day. I'm too old now to worry about presents, I leave that to my teenage boys, but my family starts talking about what we're going to have for christmas dinner in September!

I have had eleven christmases in Yurp, and I think that a summer christmas is sooo much better than the so-called "traditional" event. I get a big kick out of the whole christmas decoration thing, and have a battle every year with my wife as to when I can set up the christmas tree.

For anyone in or near Dunedin, at the Settlers Museum, they have Santa's Grotto, which was originally in the DIC department store in the Octagon. It is an amazing collection of clockwork elves and other christmas scenes, well worth checking out - I'll see you there!

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brucie44

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Reply # 94288 8-Nov-2007 16:02

tell all the children that Santa had a heart attack.
saves oddles on presents.

Fossie

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Reply # 94296 8-Nov-2007 16:39

Santas DEAD?!

brucie44

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Reply # 94300 8-Nov-2007 17:09

Fossie: Santas DEAD?!

yep no present for you. :)

Wob

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Reply # 94306 8-Nov-2007 17:41

brucie44:
Fossie: Santas DEAD?!

yep no present for you. :)

How cruel and heartless you two are!!

Pick on someone else, leave poor old Santa alone.

What about Ronald McDonald; embodiment of an evil transnational corporation, hell bent on destroying the environment and economies of 3rd world nations, making 1st world nations morbidly obese, while at the same time plastering our television channels with crap advertising trying to justify it all!

How does that compare with a jolly man in a red suit dishing out pressies to kids.

I have played Santa twice and found it a really rewarding experience. On the Chatham Islands, the look on the kids faces was priceless - they really believed! Please don't destroy or belittle the hopes and dreams of children.

Santa Lives!!

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