Evening star., 1943-12-27
Gift Exchange Begin!
Slowly al District
Department Stores
Nearly Barren Shelves
Greet Those Desiring
Different Merchandise

The annual exchange of Christ
mas gifts was started slowly today
at downtown department stores,
where shelves were comparatively
barren.
Few people were bringing in
articles to be swapped for different
sizes, different colors, different styles
or just cash. Store officials say many
persons are too well aware of the
shortage of stocks to bother eX-
changing gifts unless they are un-
usable because of size.
Early exchanges were mostly in
mems furnishings, women's gloves,
toiletry, jeWelry and lingerie. Most
of the stores had little left to offer
in the way of clothing. In most
instances those making exchanges
were paying more to get a better
product or were settling for a quality
not quite so good as the original.
Exchanging gifts within the same
price range was almost impossible
in many departments, it was said.
Occasionally, luxury gifts were
being turned in for sensible" items.
At one department store woman
exchanged a pair of earrings for
a pair of shoes. She provided her
own coupon.
An official at another store said
he thought many people were for
giving errors in style this year and
were clinging to gifts made of scarce
materials.
At third store a floor manager
said people will have to be more
tolerant this year"
IF they wait a week or So" he
advised, they may be able to find
a greater variety. Well have some
new stocks in by then"
Sold Out of Pajamas.
One store reported it was COM
pletely sold out of mems paiamas.
Another had not single white shirt
on its shelves. Glass stemware, sets
.ot drinking glasses and some pat
terms Of china had been completely
unavailable at some places.
AiS pSoit Jo1 CCd ltS SbOCk Vi
less-expensive womens lingerie was
reasonably full. This stores sales in
this line were mostly of the more
expensive items and these supplies
were about exhausted.
Another downtown store official
said he thought his establishment
could take care of all exchanges so
far as sizes of garments were con-
cerned. He said he felt these would
not be too heavy, since most persons
bought carefully because of short
ages.
Some clerks did not agree that
the store would be able to take care
OF all such exchanges. Because ma
terlals were scarce, they said, pa
irons bought items in almost any
available size, with the hope they
could be exchanged later. These
clerks pessimistically looked forward
to the next few days. when they ex-
pect crowds to storm the stores
with frayed packages bearing mis-
fits.
Toy Departments Quiet.
Most toy departments had a tram
quill day. Almost no toys were ex-
changed anywhere, but store officials
pointed out there was nothing un-
usual about this, since youngsters
are more easily pleased than their
parents
The manager of mans wear de-
partment admitted the day was light
but said the business of exchanging
F.. gifts probably would increase tomor-
row as the horror of Christina
neckties begins to grow on hus-
bands all over the city
One clerk in a toiletry department
said she had been able to talk one
customer out of exchanging perfume
that had come as a Christmas gift
In most instances, the clerks triec
to please customers, but the empty
shelves convinced many persons not
to look their gift horses too closel,
IN the mouth today.