The Christmas Place — Attraction in Pigeon Forge

Honestly one of WORST experiences I’ve had shopping. The staff are unbelievably rude, you would think the opposite working in a Christmas store. And you would also think they are use to dealing with high dollar amount sales. Apparently not. I couldn’t shop in peace without a staff member following me picking out what she thinks I should buy. Then advising to shop online. The check out took the cake on exactly who we were dealing with. It’s like communicating with someone from another planet. One word answers and questions. I had visited this store once before when they weren’t so busy and thought wow they are so sweet here. Come back now to prep for holidays, from Texas and it’s like I walked into Chicago. That’s the atmosphere now. Maybe they can’t handle the out of towners shopping. Maybe they don’t know that those sales are what funds their paychecks and keeps them employed. I don’t know. But these are definitely some of the thoughts they gave me by their actions and words. Shop in your local towns, support those businesses instead of traveling to be treated like this buying the same thing you could’ve bought at home or online as they suggested. Now every time I look at what I bought, I will be reminded where I bought it and how the experience was. Thanks for teaching me a valuable lesson. Give money to businesses that actually want it and won’t tell you what to do or how to do it.

UPDATE: The sale didn’t sit well with me, just looking at the bags reminded me of the items I took time to pick and how the happy feeling of picking them turned into me feeling bad, dirty like less than human by the way I was treated. I decided to return the items as the emotions attached were negative and I can’t bring that into my home. The staff was much better, they took the time to listen to me and treat me with dignity. They went above and beyond to make things right. This is staff I became so fond of my last visit and why I returned. I will hopefully return soon one day. They were correct in not allowing bad apples to spoil the barrel. The manager and clerk was extremely sincere in their apology. Thank you for making it right and restoring my...

What once was a WONDERFUL place to visit is now a shadow of it's former self.

It has been a practice of my wife and I to join one of my daughter's family to see Santa and have a family picture taken. As this has gone on for a number of years we had a practice of being in the same places which easily showed the growing of the kids and the natural passage of time. It was a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

This year they moved Santa to the MAIN STORE which is their prerogative. It's not as 'special' an environment as our has been but to each his own.

The problem is with one of Santa's assistants in particular. Even though there was a negative aire with several of the staff it was with a large, tall woman apparently with a Napoleon complex who did not like my assuming my traditional position behind the couch. I tried to gently tell her that it was the way we have done it for many years. She said, "Well, not this year. We're doing MY way this year." I replied, "Then will do it MY way next year."

My way will likely be too NEVER walk into THE CHRISTMAS PLACE again nor ever spend a dime with them again. Over the many years in which they have been in business and our myriad trips to the area and their store I shudder to think of the thousands of dollars my wife and I have spent with them not to mention my children with their families.

The experience of a place like this and especially a trip to visit Santa is supposed to be a pleasant, memory-making experience. This time the effect was the exact opposite of a good time. We walked in with smiles and left with frowns.

The whole place and people are not bad. The store remains pretty and very well decorated, however, there are some lines that when crossed that one will no longer tolerate. That woman/employee/Santa Assistant has crossed that line.

Do business with them if you choose. For me,...

We come here every year from 5 hours away. We spend hundreds . As i know our hundreds not coming anymore won’t break you , when numerous people stop coming it will make a difference. We saw 1 employee the entire time and she was cleaning. No greeting , no how can i help you .. we can deal with that. When we checked out we had bought a ceramic item that she literally sat down in the bag. Due to our drive my husband said can you wrap that ? We have a long drive. She proceeded to tell us the owners advised them to put it in the bag and move on. We then asked can we have some paper to wrap it ourselves because that will never make it home. The second clerk then advised us she’s not allowed to give us a sheet of paper. My husband said why do you have the paper ? She said we can only wrap what absolutely has to be wrapped per the owner. I was appalled at the lack of concern for these sometimes thousand dollar items you sell. If you told your employees this you should stand there when they obviously are very uncomfortable telling customers this. Make you sign that says that you said that and sign your name and number so you can get the grief from your customers instead of your employees having to do so. We will not be back. I’m sure your accounts won’t budge but as someone who had a family owned business my whole life, i can guarantee when you do not take care of customers it will show. It may be a few years and you may not care. But customers are why you have a business. If you have enough money that you don’t care when you lose customers then your greed really showed yesterday when you literally wouldn’t wrap my items in tissue paper. Either way I reached out to discuss this yesterday with any form of management with no response so here is what I wanted you to know . Update - 3 days and still no response on Facebook messenger but they have...