Christmas shopping: Flying chooks and all

Christmas outside Smith and Caughey's. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A rotisserie chicken thrown at a checkout operator's head, assaults, threats and bullying - don't worry it's just Christmas.

Frustrated customers have been lashing out as seasonal shopping stress takes its toll.

Maxine Gay, of First Union, said retail angst was magnified during the so-called festive season, and store staff often bore the brunt.

Lack of carparking, traffic, crowds and money woes were a recipe for shopping disaster. Staff shortages made it worse.

"There have been a lot of cases where store managers have been assaulted, staff bullied and even a case where a rotisserie chicken was thrown at someone's head because alcohol was denied," Gay said.