For this editor, the presence of Salvation Army bell ringers manning change tins outside of supermarkets and retailers is just as much of a sign of the upcoming holidays as turkey, tinsel, lights wrapped around lampposts or maniacal traffic on those days when every single person in this city is trying to get out of town. But NBCWashington.com reports that those bell ringers might not be around as much this season, at least not outside of one major D.C. grocery chain. Giant Foods has apparently instituted a new policy which will slice the amount of time charitable groups can solicit outside its stores. This holiday season, you’ll hear bells at the Giant on only six days in both November and December, and for just four hours on each of those days. Previously, the Salvation Army and other groups were able to collect donations ten hours a day, six days a week throughout both months. Why the change? Giant said that they don’t want the bells to “hinder their [customers’] shopping experience.” Nothing in the NBC story about whether Giant’s statement actually included a “bah humbug” or not.