okay, point. both of those examples are technically epithets, but i suppose i don't habitually think of them that way because if the point of view character doesn't know the real name, it's impossible for him to use it; the epithet isn't really a replacement there. for example, in the last one, it's the "at the front of the christmas novelty store" that makes it ridiculous; it wouldn't be at all strange if it just said "the cashier", which is exactly what the pov character would call the cashier.