It’s that time of year again. The retail world brings out the best in everyone during the holiday season. After all, who doesn’t love frantic, desperate, last-minute shoppers? Or how about the redundant Christmas music playing everywhere you go?

For some reason, it’s the sales associate’s fault if the store doesn’t have what you are looking for on Christmas Eve. It’s the sales associate’s fault that the sale ended a couple days ago, and you were too late to act upon it, but still believe you have the right to get the discount.

As for the music, it’s bad enough that you have to listen to it all day (whether you celebrate Christmas or not), but it seems like it’s the same five songs on repeat. I enjoy ’80s synthesizers as much as the next guy, but when I have to hear Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” 10 times a day, it’s a bit much.

The holidays seem to give people carte blanche to wreak havoc in department stores. We all heard what happened on Black Friday at a Wal-Mart in New York when an employee was stampeded to death as he was opening the doors.

Customers want instant gratification. The closer it gets to Christmas, the more irritable they become. It’s no longer about the gift of giving; people are selfish and greedy. Complaining about how long the lines are isn’t going to help. Getting upset because we’re out of what you’re looking for isn’t going to make it magically appear out of nowhere.

A message to all customers: Help us help you.

Sometimes we lose sight of the real meaning of the holidays. It’s supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” right?

Hardly.

Kyle Kershner can be reached at [email protected]