Someone pinch me.

Either I am asleep or I died and went to Heaven.

This morning, my son and I headed out at 445 to do the last of our Christmas shopping. My wife and other son left shortly thereafter. Did anyone else go out? Very few people in our area did. We got to the mall at 530 and were able to get a great parking spot. Inside Belks there were very few people. We finished shopping there in about 45 minutes.Everything we bought there was at least 50% off. Then we went to Dicks sporting goods and shopped there in less than 30 minutes. Everything we got there was on sale too and we got some great deals. Then it was off to Home Depot and Lowes which is where we entered Heaven.

Normally those two places are a ghost town when it comes to finding some help but not this morning. When I got out of my car at Home Depot, someone greeted me before I even got to the door. Just inside the door, two more sales associates greeted me. Then while I was shopping, no less than 10 sales associates asked me if I needed any help. At the register, a cashier came out to grab me to insist that I check out in her isle. I left speechless but without one item so I headed across the street to Lowes.

When I entered Lowes. I almost started hyperventilating. Normally they treat you like you have leprosy. If a sales associate sees you, they turn away and run so that they don't have to associate with you. Today though there was a greeter at the door. As I walked down the first isle, I passed two more sales associates who greeted me with a smile and said thank you for shopping at Lowes. I knew at this point that I was dreaming and that soon I would wake up to find that things were like they used to be;

I remembered the time I went there to buy a large fan. As usual, I found the fan myself but it was on the top shelf (15 feet up) and there was no one in that department to help me. I pushed the help button and a lady from the next department came and turned it off and told me that someone would be with me shortly. After a few minutes I pushed the button again and the same lady again came and turned it off. I told her I was still waiting and she explained how she couldn't help me because she was from the next department.

After she left, I went to where she was and saw that she was just standing there talking on the phone so I decided to get the fan down myself. There was no ladder so I just began climbing up the shelves. When I got to the top, I held on with one hand and grabbed the fan and swung it down to the next shelf. Just then, the same sales lady happened to walk by and she began screaming for me to get down. I just kept working myself and the fan down and told her; Don't worry, If I fall, I will sue the store and not you. She ran off to get the manager but you know what? I got down and was gone with my fan before they returned.

So back to today. As I walked by the registers, all of them were open. Two had customers checking out and the ladies at the other registers were standing at parade rest waiting on the next person to help. But just my luck, they too were out of the item that I wanted. I felt like just buying something just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Oh well. I did get all my Christmas shopping done. This item was for a craft that I was making to sell at the market. We just got a call that the market will be closed tomorrow due to rain so I have time to get that item.

Hey is anyone up for a Christmas Giveaway? I think I still have time. It would just be a Christmas craft. Let me know if there is any interest.

Have a great day,
Greg

Comments

Edie said…
"I pushed the help button and a lady from the next department came and turned it off..."
"I pushed the button again and the same lady again came and turned it off."
I'm sorry but WAHAHAHAHA!!

You are so funny. I love that you climbed the shelf to get the fan. I have wanted to do that several times too but wasn't able to or I would have. You should have waited for the manager to tell him why you needed to climb the shelf.

Not out shopping today but now wondering if I should be.

I'm up for a give-away. Free stuff is always good. :D I was wondering what type of craft you make. Inquiring minds want to know.
Jeannie said…
If it were me, I would have yelled for help - HELLOOOOOO CAN ANYONE HELP ME?? over and over

I've started thinking about Christmas shopping but that's about it.
Kelly said…
I'd love to enter a give away. Yes please.

I went out to Kohl's this morning and got 6 gifts, and 1 thing for myself. (An adorable apron to wear while cooking - it was so cute and on sale for $6.99! And since my 4 yr old can't read yet, I'll also say I got her a matching one for Christmas!!! I'll take pictures and they will hit the Kids Say blog after christmas.)

I then went to Macy's and while the parking lot was packed, I found my item and only waited behind 3 people in line. I was gone from my home from start to finish for 2 hours. Not bad at all.

I didn't leave the house until 9:30 however. I slept until 8 a.m. and I thought I was in heaven! I never get to sleep late.

glad you had a great day!
You're such a renegade...climbing the shelf for your fan! lol

I wasn't out shopping today; luxury. But believe me, I wanted to. :-)

A holiday giveaway would be splendid! Count me in...and a hearty Thank You to you. Amen.
Wanda said…
Oh Greg...what a trooper to be up that early shopping...

I adore the last minute Christmas Crunch!!!

Our family has gotten so big, I only buy for grandchildren and great grandchildren (11 in all), but for the adults, I give "Goodie Boxes" filled with my English Toffee,cookies, nut breads etc.

I would love to be included in your Craft Christmas Give-Away.

Loved your stories.... You are so funny and clever.

LOL:Wanda
Smooth Sailing said…
Greg, what a great Christmas tale... My neighbors here in Lafayette were at Walmart at 4AM. They said it was crazy. ALL THE LOVE WAS GONE. They sat back and laughed as they watched people argue. For a town that normally wears their cross' around their necks EVERYDAY, they must have forgotten them this morning. Sad.

Love a Christmas give-a-way. Would love to see your creation. I might have to ask you for some gardening tips when I finally get a garden.
Becky said…
*PINCH*

LOL, good for you for getting your own fan... what do they expect!?!

I shopped today but didn't leave the house until noon. I bought mostly groceries. But I did get a digital photo frame for $14.99... original $99.99. Its for my parents. :-D

Oh, I would definitely be interested in a crafty craft.
The Blonde Duck said…
People aren't buying as much this year and store clerks are desperate. I've seen the same things you have where people are falling over themselves to help you. It's sad really that it takes a bad economy to get good service!
sara said…
Okay I would have loved to be there to see that ladies face when she came back and you were doing spiderman on their shelves!!!! too funny!

I am always up for a giveaway!
Celticspirit said…
That's a really funny story about you climbing up those shelves. I can just about picture you doing that. Russell would have done the same thing! Hope your weekend is a good one.
Edie said…
Just stopping by to tell you that you got a small mention on my blog today.
Susan Skitt said…
Wow, I'm going to shop in the South from now on - lol! These Northerners up here in PA are just as crazy as ever on the roads and in the stores!!! I ventured to the mall today, and I must say, everything I wanted to buy wasn't the item on sale - you know that small print?

And about you climbing the shelves? Too funny. I've climbed a shelf or two in the grocery store myself. Ah, the life of adventure, right?

I'm glad you were able to get your shopping done. And you have peaked my interest about your Christmas craft and giveaway - sounds fun!
My ADHD Me said…
I've climbed a shelf or two in my life. finding help in some stores is close to impossible. And when you do find someone, usually, they are busy chatting with another sales associate about what they did the night before.
I have been emailed a list of about 20-25 stores that will be closing many or all of there stores in the coming months.
Customer service is one of the most important things to me when shopping. i used to be customer service manager for Philip ley furniture. I know people can be hateful but it's the job and it comes with the territory.

As for a Give-away....I'm off now to make a draft email to send you me address for when i win.
oops...I mean if.
What a Rebel!! I would of climed the shelf to, in fact, I have had to climb to get things I want becuase there is no help!

I noticed that the parking lots were a tad bare yesterday. We did not get a chance to go on Friday as usual becuase of our family being in, usually Saturdays are jammed pack just like Fridays, so lucky us!!

I'm in for a Christmas giveaway, let me know!!
Marla said…
I would be up for a Christmas give away but you better explain the rules first! I can't tolerate shopping in the 5am rush. People are brutal. I tried it once and vowed never to try it again! I haven't started to shop yet. I will miss my hubby as he found everything for the grandson's, and the boy's always loved what grandpa picked out for them. I have climbed a few shelves in my life also. Since I am only 5ft 1&3/4 inches tall, sometimes I nicely ask some tall customer in the isle to reach something for me and that usually works.
Kristen said…
A Christmas craft giveaway sounds stupendous!

I had a very similar experience at Home Depot this weekend. My husband and I could not get over how helpful everyone was! It was like a completely different store. I'm glad it wasn't just the one near us!
I have not bought one Christmas present yet. I can't believe things were that sedate in your neck of the woods. You are so lucky. I would have been very afraid to go out Friday.
Monogram Queen said…
I would have given anything to see you on that shelf and the screaming saleslady! OMG HILARIOUS Greg!

Did everyone come up Florence way? It was a madhouse/horrible on Black Friday. Geez! I wish it had been a ghost town. Oh and we went in Home Depot and couldn't find anyone to help us there. Perhaps they were all down your way?

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