Retail Ruckus

KARORI MALL SANTA CAUGHT UPSelling PHOTO PACKAGES LIKE A PISS-TAKE

_Critics claim it’s time for the elves to take back Christmas._

By Margaret Henderson, Senior Correspondent · Karori · 2 weeks ago

The festive season has taken a turn for the questionable in Karori, where locals allege that the mall Santa is operating more like a sales rep than a jolly old soul. Reports are flooding in that parents are being pushed into purchasing photo packages that cost more than their children's actual presents — as if Santa has become the latest muppet in the upselling game. Who knew Christmas cheer came with such a hefty price tag?

"I thought I was meant to teach my kids about giving, not how to fork out $80 for a couple of photos with a bloke in a dodgy suit," said one disgruntled parent who wished to remain anonymous, presumably to avoid Santa's wrath. "It's like getting mugged by Santa himself. I mislaid my holiday spirit right after he waved a finger at me about the premium package!"

The wind howling through the Karori Shopping Centre seemed to carry the disgruntled shouts of parents questioning if the local Santas are just puppets for corporate greed. Wallets were seemingly emptied alongside holiday cheer — and at a time when public servants and locals alike are still recovering from the latest southerly that blew through the council.

In the meantime, Santa appears unfazed by the dramatisation, persisting with his upsell like he's the king of the North. "If Gerald were here, he’d have given the little bugger a piece of his mind!" Margaret admitted while clutching her half-priced spearmint ice cream from the local Countdown, a poignant reminder of happier, simpler Christmases before the commercialisation took centre stage. Perhaps it's time to send this Santa back to the North Pole, where he can focus on ho ho ho-ing instead of high-pressure sales tactics.

Reader Letters

Janice Walsh

I can't believe it's come to this. Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, not a time for being pressured into buying overpriced photos. What's next? Upselling mince pies at the bakery?

Sharon Ngatai

Honestly, I think some parents might be overreacting. It’s just a fun thing for the kids, and if you don’t want the photo, just say no. Maybe we should focus more on keeping the festive mood light and less on moaning.

Trevor McLeod

I remember when you just popped by the mall, kids would get a free photo and a candy cane, and that was enough. Now it feels like every interaction is measured by how much you’re willing to shell out. It’s a bit sad, really.

Barry

Janice, Trevor, the lot of you are off your rockers! You think the council would finally sort this out? Fat chance. I'm still waiting on them to fix the bloody potholes outside my place since '98 and now we're talking about Santas! Upselling photos is just the latest cash grab. And don't get me started on those damn cyclists taking up the pavement outside the mall; much more worrying than a dodgy Santa!

Wayne Patterson

Well, maybe we need more options around not having to pay for every little thing. Could be time for the community to step up and organise some festive events that aren't about making money, you know? Let's bring the joy back without emptying our pockets.