At our store, we start making closing announcements 20 minutes prior to lock-the-doors time. Follow-ups are done every 5 minutes after that.
"Good evening, (store name) customers. The time is now 8:40 (or :45, or :50), and (store name) will closing in 20 (or 15, or 10) minutes. Please make your final selections and bring them to the front of the store for purchase. Thank you, as always, for shopping at (store name)."
We also turn off the in-store mood music. A subtle reinforcement that it's time to saddle up and ride on out.
At 5-minutes-to-close, the content changes: "Attention, customers. The time is now 8:55, and we are closing in 5 minutes. Please bring your purchases to the front checkouts. Thank you."
Nevertheless, some folks' ears are just tuned out to these simple and informative statements. They browse, they wander, they chat -- floating along in their "everyone but me" orbit. Sometimes they're joined by the let's-walk-in-at-8:55PM-and-take-our-sweet-time set. Even "the time is 9:00, and we are closed" doesn't put a spring in their step. I'm here 'til I'm done, baby, and that's how it is. I'm shopping for essentials that won't wait until tomorrow.
Some night we really have to try the bartender's standby: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
On the other hand, morning brings the doorbusters -- especially on Sundays. They'll huddle up around the door, some with hands cupped against the window, maybe 10 or 15 minutes ahead of opening. They must have us confused with the ToysRUs that has exactly two copies of the season's hottest, must-have, video game. I can't imagine the behavior exhibited if we actually sold something vital to life -- say, H1N1 vaccine, or defibrillators, or even food.
Too much time on our hands, folks. Too much time.
This was a hilarious read. I work in public service and sometimes I wonder about people, seriously *lol*
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