xmas shoppers!!

[mullein3]

yesterday i braved the elements and went to bham xmas shopping it was hell!! i had to que in hmv for ages in the longest que you ever did see..so i was huffing and puffing..woolworths was even worse and when i got to the till the assistant asked me would i be interested in buying a dvd ..well if i wanted a dvd i would have bought one myself!! girls heaven well that should be called girls hell..it was cramped and bustling with people all i wanted was a handbag for the granddaughter ..i couldnt see everything they had because of people and their bodys hiding the shelves so i grabbed a bag and matching purse and escaped!! I thought i had escaped all this as i got the kids main presents in september..so its just all the bits now..next year i will have to be better organised and escape this shoppers hell...I hate crowds..and ques..was anyone else nearly trampled in the crowds? I am not keen on escalators and about 50 people were jostling to get on one that was dreadfull..

[Robinia]

Hi mullein - I did think you were being brave when I saw your post saying you were off to B'ham! I still have shopping to do but wouldn't dream of going at a weekend, 'specially at this time of year. I hate crowds & queues too & I'm the one who tuts a lot when somebody's holding everyone up!! If I can finish my shopping in out of town places I'll be a happy woman....really looking forward to Toys R us...??!!
I only internet shop as a last resort as you're always waiting for them to arrive (unless you pay extra for a specific delivery time).

[boobesque]

i have done all of mine, including food, i did pretty much all of it on the internet, what a godsend!!

Last year i went to Lakeside Shopping centre and Bluewater shopping centre and was sooooo stressed at the end of it!

[Robinia]

boobesque - won't your sprouts be a bit squishy by Christmas??! ;-)

[maggie01]

We've just come back from tesco. 20% off everything. 20pounds off mobile phones when you spend 40 pounds. (sorry don't have pound sign visible on keyboard). Bought something for 60 pounds then went to mobile phone counter but they wouldn't take the 20 off the phone because we had already paid for the other item. Took the item back got a refund. Took the original item over to mobile phone counter and the till still wouldn't take the 20 pounds off the phone. Eventually they had to just reduce the price of the phone. All in all it took us about 3/4 hr. Lost the will to live after that and came home.

[mullein3]

Robina...even worse was we were so loaded down with bags i had to help carry them!! and my back started to hurt as i had nerve damage in it due to being low in b12 ..well that handbag i bought the granddaughter i have left in the chinese restaurant we phoned them and they will keep it for us..till we can get back i was stressed big time..i wont be going again on a saturday either!! i was huffing and puffing all day..i was back home for 3 i couldnt have stayed any longer..why do we do it? I bought their big things off the internet it does take stress out of shopping..but its still nice to go and look at what else their is..i may have good news for you later this week..concerning a big door!!

[Robinia]

mullein it's the carrying that I find hard too - those carrier bags make your finger ends purple!
My sister phoned earlier to say she was shopping in Coalville (leics - do you know it?) & it was really quiet ... she picked up a pressie for me to give to my oldest grandaughter - so that's one less to get!!
I know what you mean about having a look round - one year I didn't go into town & it felt like I'd missed something so I think it'll be an amble round on a weekday soon. I'll spread a rumour that everything will be half price on Wednesday - then go on Tuesday.... people round here believe anything!

fingers crossed for your door!

[boobesque]

ah robinia, i meant sweet treats!! i am not cooking xmas dinner as we are going to mum in laws, i am doing it when we get a bigger house, i must be mad!

[jrtv]

Hi Mullein, I was also in Birmingham yesterday and it was very, very busy, but still had a great day out, the German market was very good and we enjoyed a mulled wine and rum with a bratwurst hot dog, while live Christmas music was being played, brill, then onto the big wheel and watched the kids on the ice rink, stayed in town all day and got home about 9.00 last night loaded with prezzies, just resting my feet and thawing out today.

[clarabel82]

shopping in Birmingham on a saturday 4 weeks before Christmas is preferable to working in a shop in Birmingham on a Saturday four weeks before Christmas! Trust me I know :)

[mullein3]

I went to the german market also and had a mulled wine..it was really nice..I dont like meat much so the sausages didnt tempt me!! mr m has just gone back to fetch what i left behind in the restaurant..ooopps...coalville isnt that far from my daughters she lives at syston..I feel sorry for all shop assistants in busy citys this time of the year as they try their best and the companys dont provide enough staff they just flog the ones they have got ..

[Hermia]

Everyone seems to be starting their shopping very early this year. It's been very hard to find a space in the shopping centre car parks for the last few weeks. I don't remember it starting so early last year. I have done most of my shopping on the internet and I am going to a restaurant on Christmas day so I don't have to worry too much about food.

[funnywebsite]

This is what I hate about Christmas having to go out looking for presents and not knowing what to buy and then getting caught up in crowded shops. I try and stick to early mornings. Get there for 9am and get out by 12 at the latest.