Waitrose the reply and YES it did come that quick

Thank you for your e-mail.

It has been our experience that many customers wish to spread the cost of the forthcoming season over a period of time, and by introducing Christmas products at the end of September / beginning of October, it enables them to do so.

We have given careful consideration to the question of the introduction of our Christmas assortment this year bearing in mind the views of those customers with a like minded view to you. It is the case that the on sale date for Christmas merchandise is no earlier this year than it has been in previous years. Indeed, if anything, we tend to start the sale of such products a little later now than we did a few years ago. With regard to the rate of sale of Christmas merchandise, it is the case that it is spread across a number of weeks, and whilst some customers choose to delay the purchase of wrapping paper and puddings until the week before Christmas, many others opt to buy these earlier, and concentrate their purchases in the last few days before Christmas to fresh food items.

Regards,