AIBU to think that Christmas ads should be banned until at least after Halloween?

[Pleasedontdothat]

Yesterday, on the first of September, I saw a billboard ad for mince pies and have been bombarded with online ads for advent calendars of various descriptions. WTAF? We haven’t even got past the autumn equinox, the clocks haven’t changed, what is wrong with people?? When I am world dictator all mentions of Christmas would be banned until 1st December (actual advent), but until then would it be too much to ask to ask retailers to show some restraint at least until the Halloween tat is out of the way?

It does icstart ridiculously early but it is not a new thing .
Back in 1988/1989 I was in Woolworths in August before the schools went back ( probably August Bank Holiday) and they were selling tinsel !

I like Christmas but hate seeing it anywhere until December, it just doesn’t need to be advertised from July onwards - everyone knows when Christmas is.
For those who will say they need to spread their shopping over x amount of months for financial reasons, shops sell things all year round - if you’re buying auntie Sheila a cardigan, unless it’s a Father Christmas cardigan you can buy a cardigan any time of the year. There’s just no need for the mass consumerist push, people will spend money anyway.

A friend works for one of the major supermarkets and says that customers have been asking since August when they are getting Christmas goods in. I agree it is too much and way too early but retailers are responding to the demand.

I started work for Sainsburys in 1972, and the first Christmas stock always came in in September. It does seem early, but if you have family in other parts of the world, the cheapest delivery can be 8 weeks, so you need to have your presents packed and sent by October. We have family across the UK and we met up in August. Both brothers took a boot load of presents back with them. Then you have the people who need to spread their budgets, by buying some bits each month to spread the cost. In our own business, as soon as the schools restarted, we used to put ads up saying items could be reserved for Christmas with a deposit and it worked very well. The retailers are not there for our benefit,but to maximise profits. If it didn't pay them to start selling Xmas goods early, they wouldn't do it. If you want a spiritual Christmas, its the church you need, not a shop.

Bring it on! I’ve been having Christmas ads (or rather those nostalgic memories of Christmas past) on my FB feed forever. The Christmas delivery slots for some food stores are released in October too.

Yeeeessss !
When I see Kevin the carrot in ads I just want to chop him up and put him in the stew!

Looks like we're outvoted then.
Stores need to maximise profits from some suckers customers I suppose.

i mean - i love it - if you dont like it you dont have to look/buy surely?! I'm actually trying out a mince pie recipe this weekend 😂

Nobody accuses summer lovers of wishing their lives away when they pine for warmer weather and book holidays six months in advance!

Couldn't agree more. I'm already pissed off with seeing tins of bloody Quality Street, Celebrations, and Cadburys Heroes (for Christmas) in JULY! JU-bloody-LY!

Morrisons and B & M in town has had advent calendars and Christmas stockings and selection boxes (both full of chocolate,) and packs of Christmas cards since early August.

I went to get some solar lights for the garden when a couple of mine packed up in early July, and got told from all 3 shops I went into in my little town 'sorry, the summer stock has started to deplete now, and we're unlikely to have any more in now this year...'

It wasn't even half way though the summer.

Ridiculous.

Markies had a selection of Christmas chocolate on display yesterday. Garden centre sent me an email with a video of Father Christmas/ elves/reindeer and snow etc.
I haven't had my summer holiday and Im still wearing shorts.

Hence my belief that you should not ban it, but get some benefit, such as what you could use the proceeds of double VAT or some other early promotion tax.

Same as Easter eggs and hot cross buns sold before Palm Sunday.

The one thing with Christmas I would argue is different from all other celebrations is that whilst it is joyous for many, for a large number of people it is a sad time because of those who have died or are otherwise no longer part of their lives. So early advertising does have an impact.

I love Christmas but not on August or September.

Couldn’t agree more.

I disagree.
I love Christmas in September, October and so on.
I know I’m in the minority. It’s harmless and it makes me happy.
Counting down the days till the M and S Christmas Food to Order lands, usually late September 🎄

People must be buying the things - the retailers must have reason to believe the adverts are driving sales at this time of year, otherwise they wouldn't display them - it's a business decision, pure and simple.

Tesco and Asda have had their mince pies and selection boxes and their special festive POS material in place for about 2 weeks. I totally agree it should be banned until 1st December. Christmas does not mean 20th August - end December. 4 fecking months, a THIRD OF A YEAR.

You will get the posters virtue signalling that it's essential for the "poor people" who have to budget and can't afford to buy everything in one go in the middle of December. As quite clearly these "poor people" have never heard of a savings account or those cards the supermarkets have which you can add credit to.

It's bloody ridiculous.

This is the other (stupid) argument which grinds my gears. It's impossible to avoid when it's in your face every time you go to buy bread and eggs, or walk down the high street, turn on the telly, I logged onto watch something on one of the streaming apps today and it was promoting Christmas movies. Please just make it all STOP.

Yes.

Go to mainland Europe and they don’t have any Christmas crap in the shops til mid November. If they can do it, why can’t we?

The amount of Xmas crap is getting worse. Who the actual fuck needs Xmas themed washing up brushes, mop n bucket and light pulls? I saw these in The Range last year. As to the decorations, most people I know keep the same ones for 20 years plus. Who are these people who bin everything and start again each year?

The Christmas creep is definitely getting earlier. When I first worked for a supermarket in 2007, we had nothing until mid September - the advent calendars. Now seen some in the supermarkets for 3 weeks now. This will be my 3rd Christmas away from retail as left the job in Oct 2024.

Because of the earlier deliveries, things like advent calendars, their deliveries will be smaller- quantity and range towards the end of November. Don’t be surprised if you struggle to buy advent calendars 30 Nov.

Having Xmas crap in your face for the last 4.5 months of the year makes Xmas less special. It feels “is this it?” on the day. Probably working at a supermarket doesn’t help.

Also Sainsburys used to only broadcast Christmas ads once Remembrance Sunday or 11th Nov passed, whatever was the latest. They did release their Christmas advertising before that.

One thing I don’t understand is why so many Xmas cards. People are not buying them as the cost of posting. A friend drove a round trip of 150 miles to her home city to hand deliver 30 cards to friends and family. Plus 5-7 miles driving between places. With planning on which route to go on, the fuel was £25 less than posting via RM.

I have to avoid the shops which play Christmas songs in autumn. I can’t stand weeks of Merry Christmas Everybody, Everyone’s a Kid at Christmas Time, or All I want for Christmas is Youhooooooooo.

I wear earbuds

But who wants to spend December Xmas shopping? Its cold and dark, with non-stop events and school requests to worry about. And usually a load of work to get finished before everyone goes off for the holidays.

That is the worst time of year to do xmas shopping. Do it now, and spend December chilling out, eating mince pies and feeling smug.

I like Christmas, but it is definitely being ruined by being everywhere for too long. It's sad we can't just enjoy each season/month for it's own sake.

My DM goes to the supermarket at 6am on 23 or 24 and buys the fresh stuff - cream, veg, salad.

Plus both myself and DM keep on eye out on fresh Christmas food in the reduced. As they are brought out mid November. Nobody buys them then. Buy reduced and put in the freezer

The other stuff Xmas pud, booze, biscuits for cheese, mixers etc are bought throughout the year. Think my parents have a Xmas pud in the freezer which was bought for about a quarter of the price after NYD.