What are the most common holiday shopping horror stories?

I had a horrible experience during holiday shopping at a local store. There was a long line at the checkout, and only two cashiers were working. As I was waiting, the person in front of me had some issues with their payment method. It took forever to resolve, and the cashier was getting frustrated. Meanwhile, my frozen items in my cart were starting to thaw. By the time it was my turn, I was so annoyed. And then, the cashier accidentally overcharged me for one of the items. It was just a mess.

One common horror story is receiving counterfeit products. For example, you might think you're buying a well - known brand of perfume, but what arrives is a cheap knock - off that smells nothing like the real thing. Another is when the item is damaged during shipping and the seller blames it on the shipping company and refuses to take responsibility.

Another typical element in shopping horror stories is receiving damaged or defective goods. I remember buying a new phone. When I opened the box, the screen was cracked. It was really frustrating. And also, long waiting times for delivery or pickup can be a part of these horror stories. You wait weeks for a product and it either doesn't arrive or arrives late.

Flight delays are very common. You end up spending hours at the airport, missing connecting flights, and arriving at your destination exhausted and much later than planned. Another one is food poisoning. Eating at a new place during the holiday and then getting sick for days.

Food disasters are common. For example, the turkey being undercooked at a Thanksgiving party. Everyone was looking forward to the main dish, but when it was cut open, it was still raw inside.

Another is the element of isolation. Often these romances take place in holiday locations that are away from the normal support systems. For example, in a remote cabin or on a small island. So when things go wrong, it's harder to get help. It adds to the horror as the person feels trapped in the relationship and the situation. Well, it's like being stranded with a monster, but the monster is the person you thought you loved.

Well, a frequently told turkey holiday horror story is related to travel. People might plan a wonderful turkey holiday trip but end up facing flight cancellations or long delays. When it comes to the actual celebration, some have horror stories about family feuds. All the pent - up tensions in the family explode during the holiday, making it a very unpleasant time. And of course, food - related ones are common too. For example, forgetting to defrost the turkey until the last minute and then having to rush to get it cooked properly.

In holiday horror stories, a sense of foreboding is quite common. You might enter a place and just feel that something bad is going to happen. Also, strange locals can be an element. They might act in a really odd way that makes you uncomfortable. And of course, the setting itself. Whether it's an abandoned amusement park or a desolate beach at night, these unusual holiday settings add to the horror.

Last holiday season, I was in a store when a little girl was begging her mom for a toy. Her mom said no, so the girl put on a pair of reindeer antlers and started dancing around the toy, saying she was a magical reindeer who needed that toy to fly. It was so cute and funny that the mom finally gave in.

Another is when in - laws bring a lot of their own traditions and try to force them on you during the holiday. Like they might want to do a different kind of gift - giving ceremony that you're not used to. It can create a lot of tension in the family. They may also be overly critical of how you celebrate, whether it's the food you serve or the way you decorate.