A few years ago, a customer went up to me on Dec 17th asking if we had any advent calendars left. Why ask this a week before opening the last door? I remember the date as its a colleague's birthday. We usually sell out Nov 30th/Dec 1st, Mentioned this customer to the birthday girl. Her response was why and FFS.
You should contact BBC or C4 to do a fly on the wall thing at your work... I'm amazed (not really) at the shenanigans that happen there.