The true spirit of Christmas

ejmaztec

Looks like a scumbag Christmas to me.:(


http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/christmas/santas-elf-resigns-after-parents-swear-at-grotto-staff-over-invalid-groupon-offer-2952724.html

Santa's elf resigns after parents swear at Grotto staff over invalid Groupon offer



Friday December 02 2011

FOUL-mouthed parents verbally abused Santa's elves and fairies at a Christmas grotto when they heard their Groupon deal promising a magical Christmas train ride was invalid.
The parents had come down to the grotto in York with their vouchers from Newcastle during last weekend's St Nicholas Fayre: St Nicholas' Fayre Christmas Market in York, 2010

The grumpy grotto group shouted at a woman dressed as a Christmas Tree and upset staff so much that one of the elves resigned.

Penny Ward, who organised the grotto, was shocked when almost 2,000 families turned up with vouchers from the discount website Groupon, which had mistakenly sent an email to customers saying that there would be a train ride around the winter wonderland.

When parents discovered there was no train ride, and the queues to the grotto became so long that their children couldn't get in, some parents began swearing at staff, who were dressed as elves, fairies and a Christmas tree.

Penny said: "One man even verbally threatened the lady who is dressed as a Christmas tree.

"One of the elves was so upset that she has resigned. It was a complete nightmare. Children were crying and upset."

Organiser Penny said most of the abusive parents had come down to the grotto in York with their vouchers from Newcastle during last weekend's St Nicholas Fayre, a popular Christmas market in the picturesque city.

She said the grotto was only able to handle 40 children an hour, but dedicated staff had worked beyond their normal hours and without breaks to try to ensure excited children did not miss out.

Penny had initially been contacted by Groupon and agreed to use its services to help publicise the grotto, but she claimed she had never signed a contract and had never said there would be a train ride.

She thought the York grotto, which runs in York's winter wonderland until Christmas Eve, might have been mixed up with a grotto she ran in Hull, where there was a train ride.

A Groupon spokesman said: "Owing to a technical error, we apologise that the picture and wording used in this promotion may have indicated that a train ride was available at York Winter Wonderland when this wasn't the case. We regret any disappointment this may have caused.

"Although advanced booking is not essential, preferred time slots cannot be guaranteed without prior booking and are subject to availability. We hope that this hasn't taken away from the Santa's grotto experience and we wish everyone a happy holiday season."

The organisation said it corrected the promotion immediately as soon as it discovered the error and had yesterday sent out a bulk email clarifying what was included in the promotion for customers that were yet to redeem their vouchers.

Groupon is an international organisation which uses collective buying power to offer huge discounts on things to do, eat, see and buy.

chin_grin

The true spirit of christmas: Consumerism.

Mint Sauce

I tried to get into the christmas spirit, but couldn't get the bottle open.

Elbi

haha I found this funny!

I just imagined people screaming at a little elf.

TanG411

Elbi wrote: »

haha I found this funny!

I just imagined people screaming at a little elf.

Probably shouting at a real Christmas tree, thinking it was a costume.

Standard Toaster

Reminds me of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVRmXc8PPqk

Want me to fix you some sandwiches?

paddyandy

The True Spirit of Xmas should start in a Maternity Ward and then to a Cold Byre with Cows and Donkeys and a few smelly sheep for company.

ejmaztec

Elbi wrote: »

haha I found this funny!

I just imagined people screaming at a little elf.

...and all those kids screaming, it must've been a nightmare. They'll be thinking that Santa won't be bringing them anything, now that their parents have told Santa's elves to fuck off

Poor Uncle Tom

Penny Ward, who organised the grotto, was shocked when almost 2,000 families turned up with vouchers from the discount website Groupon, which had mistakenly sent an email to customers saying that there would be a train ride around the winter wonderland.

When parents discovered there was no train ride,

The penny finally dropped......

DEFTLEFTHAND

Sounds hilarious.:D

holystungun9

ejmaztec wrote: »

...and all those kids screaming, it must've been a nightmare. They'll be thinking that Santa won't be bringing them anything, now that their parents have told Santa's elves to fuck off

If the kids are lucky then Santa will bring them new parents.