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Original poster

Stupid things customers ask on Xmas Eve Eve

538 replies

Mokel · 23/12/2025 06:52

I have done enough years in supermarkets at Christmas.

I remember one question raised by a few customers when putting out bread.
”do you have any bread dated after 28th”
I said if you go to a supermarket on any other 23rd, the latest date on loaves is 28th. As the bakeries always put the date as X days ahead, regardless of the time of year. I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

”Is it possible to collect my turkey on Xmas Day?” Erm no.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:36

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 23/12/2025 08:31

I can never seem to find eggs, especially in the little express stores. I wander about for ages 😂

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At my supermarket, they didn’t move in the years I was there. With the baking lines. In majority of supermarkets they are there

OP posts:
Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:37

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PuppyMonkey · 23/12/2025 08:39

I don’t think there was anything wrong with what the “stupid” customer asked you about bread. Were you terribly smug when you informed them about the X number of days rule that you randomly think they should have known about? And as for the Retail Worker 1, Customer 0 thing - cringing for you.Hmm

Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:39

iwasfineandlight · 23/12/2025 08:28

To be fair that’s on the customers for wanting frozen roast potatoes instead of making their own

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Nothing Aunt Bessie’s should grace a Xmas dinner

OP posts:
SushiForMe · 23/12/2025 08:40

Namechangetry · 23/12/2025 07:54

I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

That's unpleasant. Why would people who've not worked in that job know the usual best before dates of bread? It's not like they kicked off because there were no mince pies on Xmas eve or something.

Exactly, I was expecting something about rude customers but not convinced by the bread example.
The eggs also: if they stopped changing where they are maybe customers wouldn’t have to ask.

Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:40

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Yes but if you want Warbies, Hovis, majority of their lines have 5 days on their shelf life

OP posts:
SledgingSlide · 23/12/2025 08:41

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

Eggs are the hardest thing to find! They have no natural home and aren’t even in the dairy section often!

Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:42

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Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 23/12/2025 08:42

In ours - not particularly Christmas related but all year round - 'do you sell newspapers?' I always wanted to reply (but was far too nice to) 'we're a fucking supermarket, what do you think?' But instead I would direct them to aisle five, where a frankly fucking enormous sign hung saying 'newspapers'.

My first year out of retail and I am praying for my poor colleagues.

Periperi2025 · 23/12/2025 08:43

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

A lot of people get home delivery normally and only visit the store at Christmas as they can't get delivery slots. I thought your job was too know where things are and direct people to them.

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 23/12/2025 08:44

GeminiGiggles · 23/12/2025 07:34

People wanting christmas trees 😡 we started putting them out in October (much to our own disgust) - you had plenty of time I promise.

That's one thing I don't understand - real Christmas trees were out in November. They couldn't possibly survive till Christmas, so who on earth buys them?

Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:44

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itsmeits · 23/12/2025 08:45

What happens if my gas/electricity runs out tomorrow........ Top it up now then!

Chemenger · 23/12/2025 08:46

Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:36

At my supermarket, they didn’t move in the years I was there. With the baking lines. In majority of supermarkets they are there

Edited
Show quote history

well, if you had to shop in my local supermarket it would puzzle you, because they are on the end of the tinned veg aisle, nowhere near baking stuff.

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 23/12/2025 08:49

Stephy1886 · 23/12/2025 07:47

Xmas eve we would run out of frozen roast potatoes

Folk really upset and couldn't believe it

People wanting to go into the warehouse to look for themselves because they didn't believe you

We would also sell out of certain crates of beer. The drinks isle was mad all day

Folk saying "it's a present for X"

To be fair, that sounds like poor stock control with the roast potatoes. Why not order in a load extra, it's not as if you can't continue to sell them after Christmas.

ImWearingPantaloons · 23/12/2025 08:52

’can I collect my food pre-order?’

’when is your slot?’

’tomorrow at 2.00…’

Mate it hasn’t even been delivered to us yet….

TheCosyViewer · 23/12/2025 08:52

Mokel · 23/12/2025 06:52

I have done enough years in supermarkets at Christmas.

I remember one question raised by a few customers when putting out bread.
”do you have any bread dated after 28th”
I said if you go to a supermarket on any other 23rd, the latest date on loaves is 28th. As the bakeries always put the date as X days ahead, regardless of the time of year. I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

”Is it possible to collect my turkey on Xmas Day?” Erm no.

In fairness, I wouldn’t have a clue how far in advance bb dates on breads are calculated. I would actually think it varies, depending on the type of bread.

I’d sat the vast majority wouldn’t have a clue either.

Gingercar · 23/12/2025 08:52

My husband has a garage. We often get people saying “my child has just come home for Xmas. Could you do a full service and MOT before they go back on the morning of the 27th?” (usually asked on the afternoon of Xmas eve). When we say we’re not open until the 27th they say “oh but they’ve got to go back to work then, we hoped you could do it while they’re off”)

NearlyMonday · 23/12/2025 08:53

Could you squeeze me in for highlights and a trim on Christmas Eve?

(I suspect those slots were full by June)!

CaptainCallisto · 23/12/2025 08:53

Bikergran · 23/12/2025 08:16

My mother owned an antique shop. Beautiful, genuine, high-end stuff. She sold jewellery, and would always make sure she had a few expensive "showstopper" pieces in for Christmas. Often these hadn't sold by Christmas Eve, but she deliberately stayed open until about 8pm (this was before the days of shopping malls, when everything shut at 5, or earlier on Christmas eve). Every single year there would be some desperate disorganised man who would pay ANYTHING so he didn't have to face his wife the next day without a gift for her.

I used to work in Past Times. Between 4 and 6 on Christmas Eve we were swamped every year by middle aged men panic buying jewellery for their wives. We would frequently see the same men flapping on the Saturday afternoon before Mothering Sunday!

Dustyfustyoldcarcass · 23/12/2025 08:54

I used to work in retail. The funniest one said to me was when I was telling someone we didn't have any yule logs.

"Well, you come in here on Christmas Eve and everything has bloody sold out!!!" and walked off huffing.

It was about 2hrs before closing on Christmas Eve. This was 25 years or so ago when shops didn't have stock management systems and ordering the right amount was largely guess work.

OleOlay · 23/12/2025 08:55

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

In fairness in my local big supermarket the eggs are opposite the icecream freezers. It’s very weird, like the shop layout designer left the eggs until last and thought “oh crap we’ll just plonk them there then, I can’t be bothered to redo it all.”

TroysMammy · 23/12/2025 08:57

ChubbyPuffling · 23/12/2025 08:10

Went shopping at M and S food yesterday morning 7am... heard people asking for things they used to get 10/20 years ago... "do you know where I can get that frozen chocolatey dome dessert?" One shopper piped up "1997 love"😆

People have learned that the shops open early xmas week, was not the same quiet experience we had previous years! Though there were many very helpful assistants around to help.

"1997 love" 😂

catmothertes1 · 23/12/2025 08:59

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

To be fair,if it's a shop you have never been in,I can see the validity of the question. Eggs do not seem to have a natural place in supermarkets and they are in a different place,depending on which supermarket you go to.

Gofaster2023 · 23/12/2025 09:02

I cant remember the name of the book but it's red.....

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