$35 Bucks to Sit on Santa's Lap? So Much for the Christmas Spirit
By Nelda Hoxie
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
United States
November 17, 2015 8:03am CST
That's what a New Jersey mall tried to do this year. After all the bad press that followed, they changed their minds. Usually the kids get to visit for free, then the mall rakes it in by charging that much for the slick pics that many parents can't resist.
Even if the mall hadn't changed its mind, is it so important that kids talk to a fake Santa? I imagine it would have been possible to find another free one at some other mall.
11 people like this
12 responses
@xFiacre (12970)
• Ireland
17 Nov 15
@neldahoxie They really had a cheek asking $35. Personally I'd want Santa to pay me $35 for the privilege of having me sit on his knee.
6 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Nov 15
real funny but was it sit on he's knees or he's lap?
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
17 Nov 15
There you go. I often wonder who that guy in the Santa suit is. I wonder if they check his credentials and do a background check. I guess if the parents are with the kid nothing bad can happen.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
18 Nov 15
@NeldaHoxie Common misconception, unfortunately. You'd be surprised what can happen in a room full of people without any of them noticing.
2 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
18 Nov 15
I'm not sure what a ho ho goes for in our area.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Nov 15
There are so many places to go, I wouldn't spend that money. I did get Ruby's photo taken with Santa but it was free and $10 for the photo and 1/2 was donated to animal rescue.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Nov 15
@NeldaHoxie We got there early and Santa was late and when he finally showed up Ruby was way beyond nuts - jumped in his lap and kissed him for 10 mins.
2 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
17 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill That would have been fun to see. I guess this Santa had to like animals. Were there any other kinds of pets. Cats, Parrots?
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
17 Nov 15
Pet parents are a whole matter. I'm glad it was a fundraiser!
2 people like this
@meltean59 (182)
• Temple, Texas
19 Nov 15
For some reason,I see a very poor image of Santa there.If he has to be paid for some one to sit on his lap,I don't get a very pretty image.In most malls,don't they normally employ a photographer to take pictures,and the Santa is the draw for the picture taking event?
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
19 Nov 15
Yep, I guess they thought parents would be so desperate, that they would pay up.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
18 Nov 15
that's crazy. nowadays they try to get you with the photos, but so many people have their own cameras on phones that they don't buy
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I would think that the mall would just do this as a public service. They should make a ton of money during this time anyways.
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
18 Nov 15
I don't think visiting Santa has much to do with the birth of Christ.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Nov 15
so many cheaper santas to see - not surprising that such greed backfired on the store
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
19 Nov 15
@NeldaHoxie they certainly did themselves no favours and adversely affected their own trade at peak season
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
19 Nov 15
Cheaper Santas and less greedy mall owners. I just thought it was a stupid mall.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
19 Nov 15
Can't believe they even tried it. With $35 I could buy gifts. 
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
18 Nov 15
I don't think so. I think that's what they were going to do.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82695)
• United States
17 Nov 15
Having to pay $35 for a visit to Santa is highway robbery and most kids don't care about a picture anyway. Parents are guilted into buying a photo just for their kids to see Santa. Glad that mall finally changed its mind
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
17 Nov 15
I honestly don't know why people are so quick to feel guilty, especially during the Christmas season.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Nov 15
What ridiculous greed on their part. Santa was probably making minimum wage.
