Like the malls in the month of December, Christmas can be jam-packed with frustrations. The hectic pace of the "holly, jolly" season can cloak your face in a veil of misery. Shopping in crowded stores can soak your spirit of giving in an icky black goo of irritation. Dining out may cause you to develop an appetite for annoyance. But consider that this is not just a busy time for you, the customer, but also for those who work in service and retail businesses.

If you and your 15 relatives decide to dine out this Christmas, planning ahead could save your head a lot of throbbing. "Christmas means a lot of work and stress," says Tom Scott, owner of Scotts Grille in Harrisburg. In order to make things less painful, Scott said it is tremendously helpful if customers make reservations — "whether it’s two people or 20." Scott said to remember that restaurants like his are extremely busy over the holidays and that they are doing the best they possibly can to serve you. On that note, also bear in mind that when a restaurant is busy besides just a few things — like getting an order wrong — separate checks are a server’s nastiest nightmare. Don’t ask for them. Divvy up the bill.

Dick Coakley of Coakley’s Restaurant in New Cumberland, who has been in business since 1976, echoed Scott’s sentiments about the importance of making reservations. He added it is also beneficial if customers order selections from the menu instead of making special orders. "We like to accommodate people’s choices," he said, "but they definitely slow down the kitchen." Over the Christmas season he’d like you to take into account that his place serves "good food on a clean plate" and to watch your alcohol intake.

While Christmas means a lot of swollen bellies it is also time for parties. You better not wait until an hour before the big Christmas party at work before you call to get your hair done. Steve VanVorhees from Eclipse Hair Salon in Lemoyne said that customers can simplify the process by trying to schedule an appointment at least two days ahead of time. He said it also helps "if they know what they want and can articulate it to the hair stylist." So, plan ahead. Flip through the pages of Glamour to find that fabulous hair-do, then pick up the telephone and call your salon.

Instead of relying on charm to impress your beloved’s mother at Christmas dinner, present her with flowers to ease your way in. Finding a reasonably priced bouquet over the holidays may be a daunting task in most areas — unless you have a guy like Mike the flower guy who vends affordable flowers on the corner of Third and Locust streets in Harrisburg. Mike said a good customer is "someone who laughs at my dumb jokes, gives me their budget, and lets me pick out the flowers." He said to remember over the holidays that if he’s too busy to be "extra friendly" to you, he’ll be more personable next time. And another important point: if you compliment him you get extra flowers!

Catalogue shopping is one convenient way for you to avoid the hassle of retail stores. Tammy Messner from Williams-Sonoma, a catalogue retailer that offers a variety of items for the home, said it makes their job easier if you "allow as much time as possible to let our sales representatives take care of your needs." The average talk time at Williams-Sonoma is 20 minutes. Representatives are willing to take the extra time necessary to help you find the right item, but it’s easier for them if you don’t wait until the last minute. Plan ahead, (there are those words again) and you’ll have a better chance of getting what you want.

Messner has some sage advice she’d like customers to remember over the holidays. "Be patient and remember we’re all in this together. When you finally reach the sales person and it’s your turn — you wouldn’t want them to spend any less time with you than they would with anyone else."