City
Holiday Shopping Madness
What was that about the recession? I made the mistake of venturing into the Eaton Centre yesterday only to be confronted by holiday shopping madness. The Apple Store was completely jammed but it was nothing compared to the line-ups at Indigo. For the privilege of buying a book at full price (they'll be discounted next week plus they're always 30% off online), shoppers had formed a line snaking through the store that staffers were re-assuring would only take about 15 minutes.
Seriously, this line was something like 120 people deep. I counted. To buy books. Toronto is not exactly devoid of bookstore options. I happened to go by Type on the Danforth later in the day and I was the only customer.
Elsewhere, Blacks on the floor below was promising no quicker than 2 hours for their 1 hour photo development service. I guess that was at least better than West Camera who told me they were too busy to even offer the service on the day I called.
Do you have a crazy retail experience of your own to share? If so, please add it to the comments below.


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Large Amount of Gift Buying Two Days Before Christmas
Malls Crowded
Inside: Chicken eggs show signs of being animal byproduct.
HOLY SHIT!?
The line was at least 70-80 people deep, and it only took about 10 minutes to get through the line and pay for her purchases, just as the Indigo employee had said it would. That fifteen minutes they quoted you was probably pretty accurate.
I can almost hear someone in that photo exclaiming, "The chapters were so short, it made me feel smart completing one!"
I said "The back cash has no line" on my way out the front, but no-one seemed to take the chance.
Globe & Mail December 23, 2008
RE: November 2008... "Canada lost 71,000 jobs, the largest monthly loss in more than 25 years."
I hate the Eaton center, and if possible I'll try and do my Christmas shopping in other parts town before earlier before hitting up the mall. But, when I have 5 people to shop for and 2 days left to do it - the mall is where I will end up.
Efficient Christmas Shopping protip: hit the LCBO.