Shopping Centre Nightmares!

[LokiBear]

The shopping centres near me are already horrendous. A grown woman actually hit my three year old in the back of her head today whilst pushing past us. No apology, just a tut and swear words under her breath. The car park was chaos too. Horrible man in a zoomy, sporty type car cut me up and then screamed at me. It is only November! I always have a dream of pottering around the shops, soaking in the atmosphere and feeling all festive, but it is always a nightmare. Any survival tips? Does anyone know what times are the quietest? Ever since I had dd I have found pushy crowds too much. I get anxious and panicked. I can't face it this year, which is why I've done mist of my shopping early, but I know DH is going to want to do a shopping trip nearer the time. Are late nights less crazy than weekends?

I should clarify; the woman hit dd with shopping bags. Not a physical assault. I was still pretty cross though.

Shop online. Always shop online.

Sounds awful. If it has to be a shopping centre I'd actually consider booking a day off work to go in the week, weekends are pure hell from October payday at the one near us and it takes forever to park and even longer to get out again. Much as I love Christmas shopping I avoid it like the plague at weekends.

Online shopping. It's the way forward.

I've done loads online. I just know hubby is going to want to do a 'Christmas Mooch' and I'm dreading it. Wouldn't go again until February if I had my way!

Go on a Sunday.

Usually avoid the shopping centres from November until about February as I can't stand the huff and puff. I do most stuff on line. However, this year I stupidly said I will take my mother to Westfield in early December. I'm going to die aren't I?

At this time of year I always think that shopping centres are really missing a trick, especially when they are trying to compete with online shopping.

Why don't they have a cloak room like they do in night clubs, so for a small fee you can leave your coat etc as everyone is wrapped up as it's cold outside but the shops are always roasting! Also if they could do a left luggage type of thing where you could drop bags off securely so you don't need to lug them around while you do the rest of your shopping.

I do a mix of online, and shopping in town well in advance when it's quiet (I only work part time so can make the odd trip while the DCs are at school) - I absolutely detest town when it's crowded (social phobia).

I don't do everything online though because I like supporting small businesses when I can - there's a toy shop for example that was set up by Woolworths staff when it closed, and a fantastic geeky game shop in the next town.

I like a mooch round the shops in the run up to Christmas.
While being convenient, Online shopping just isn't the same!
My suggestion is take a day off work and get there 9 am.

I wish I could book a day off. I'm a teacher so have no chance. DH has suggested late night shopping. I think he wants an excuse to eat McDonald's for tea!

Late night usually works well. Our centre is open until 10pm so we usually take it in turns and do a couple of post 7pm runs each.

I'm part-time now Loki, I can recommend it!
You see, DP coming with me would seriously spoil it!
In your shoes I'd do an early Saturday or Sunday and leave as soon as it starts to get busier.

I'm going to place a very big Amazon order, for the DCs, DH will do a Photobox calendar for the grandparents and then we are off to the German Christmas markets in early Dec to hopefully get some unique gifts for friends and grown up relatives. Sorry if that sounds smug but I am hoping to completely avoid big crowded genetic shopping centres this year!

Generic not genetic lol

I love a Christmas mooch around the city centre too. So my solution is to actually have all your shopping done. I buy everything I can online and then for our mooch it's all about the browse and festive merriment! No stress, so can just go where I fancy instead of "I need to go to here but it's heaving" or "I really need to buy this but the queue is 20 to one cashier."

The shopping centres around here have gone mental too. I've even started doing groceries exclusively online. It's the parking that really posses me off!

I went shopping today and it was heaving. I like to do a mix of local arse end of nowhere , online and big city shopping so I go in November to try to avoid the crowds - as I'm now a country bumpkin. Only everyone else has had the same idea. I reckon if I could hold my nerve and go the day before Christmas Eve it would be deserted

Shop online
Shop throughout the year
Get it delivered
Only venture into shopping centres to drink coffee smugly watching everyone else stressing out.

I've been doing this for two years. All these people that have laughed at me over the year aren't laughing now. I've spotted two today stressing out at a shopping centre. They didn't appreciate my cheery wave and smug grin.

Late night shopping in November is usually quiet.

In response to an earlier suggestion shopping centres don't tend to have lockers because someone could put a bomb in a locker and blow the place up.

I usually take the DCs to do theirs on a Monday evening in November, go about 4.30 to beat the rush hour traffic, go for pizza, do their shopping, it's usually nice and quiet, stay till about 6.30 to avoid the traffic again.

I went to our nearest big town one today and it wasn't that busy. I park in the Civic centre car park which is only open to the public at weekends and is usually half empty even in December, despite being less than 5 mins walk from the entrance to the shopping centre, worth finding out if there is anything similar where you shop.

Online shopping all the way for me unless I get to browse on my own even then I avoid big city centres. I avoid the shops in the sales too as nothing is worth getting in a fight for because it does bring out the worst in people

I find that the dream of Christmas Shopping evaporates as soon as I get to the first shop
Crowds
Bags
Trying to keep my bag tight beside me (and my purse / phone safe)
The cat-bum-face from other shoppers when I try to put my purse away (I'm buggered if I'm going to put it in my pocket, just to be a nanosecond quicker . It goes in my bag, zipped up)

Saturdays are hellish
Sundays are better but I have to allow the time between getting a parking space and the shops actually opening.

YY to online shopping

YY to browsing online and M&S Collect from store

DH and I usually go shopping on the last Friday in November, but every year he gets a cold so I feel really cruel dragging him round the shops carrying the bags (I drive and buy him lunch)

Shops are nice to browse round when you don't have to queue up, maybe just buying things that catch your eye .
I'm going to start the shopping this week , I have my list

This might Not help for this year but next year start in June and finish by October. That way you avoid the crowds, the increase in prices and all the hassle. Job done.

just don't bother. each year i get less and less concerned about it and would rather give dc vouchers or cash. i will probably buy a bit here and there.

Agree with the earlier you start the cheaper it is.

I've recently found that the place I've ordered my tree from has put the prices up by £20

Everything I've bought so far has been half price, the lego was either paid with points or part paid with points, the boots stuff was paid for with money I've found in a purse I forgot I had and with points...the only thing I'll be paying full price for is DD's Ipod.

Even the wrapping paper was bought in a sale st 50p per roll down from £2.50.

I'm just waiting for MandS to have their half price sale and I'll grab some crakers then.