To wonder why we still shut all the shops at5.30?

[Lanark2]

I work all week, often sleep in at the weekend, and get my shopping mojo at about 5 on a Saturday, but then all the shops shut..why? I have so many clothes and home items from supermarkets as a result.

How have we resisted a continental pattern, when we have the darkest evenings??

[Oysterbabe]

A lot here shut at 8 and the big shopping centre just outside town at 9.
But in general yanbu.

[Artandco]

They don't in London. 10pm in some places 8/9pm in most

[Milkycuddles]

Because the people who work in shops need a break too

[MishMooshAndMogwai]

Some places tend to shut at 8, particularly in cities and bigger industrial estates I've found. However that's no use to me as I live in the sticks and everywhere shuts between 5 and 6.30. Rubbish. I've resorted to Internet shopping for 90% of stuff but miss a wander round the shops.

Maybe you'll just have to bite the bullet and go on a Saturday?

[EustaceTheDragon]

I really don't understand it. If everything just stayed open until 9pm, there would be more jobs available for teenagers, weekend shopping wouldn't be so manic, and I would imagine people would actually spend more.

Wouldn't it be lovely to put the dc in bed, and then go dress shopping? Fab.

[Vintage45]

Yes there would be more jobs that pay no more for opening normal working hours than working evening and weekends. Bad idea unless unsociable pay comes into it.

[BlueMoonRising]

Because shop staff need time off too

'We have the darkest evenings' Compared to who? Mediterranean Europe? Only between the autumn and spring equinox.

[EustaceTheDragon]

Unsociable pay? Until 9pm? I scoff at the notion.

[kali110]

Because retail staff have lives too? When stores make their hours longer, staff often don't get a choice about changing their hours

[JuxtapositionRecords]

I'm prepared to be flamed but I wish Sunday trading hours would be extended.

[RoseDeWittBukater]

So people can go home?! Shops open late enough ffs

[Pippidoeswhatshewants]

Which continent are you thinking about, OP? Shops here are open much longer than shops in most of Europe.
I actually prefer shops to be closed on Sundays - forces you to relax and spend time outdoors, with your family. donning flame proof suit now

[Katenka]

Where we live only small independent shops shut before 8/9pm.

Supermarkets are 24 hours and close at 10pm Saturday night and open Sunday morning.

[Vintage45]

After a normal working day of 9-5 for instance. People should be paid time and a half for double for a Sunday. This doesn't happen and is disgusting so until this is the case then absolutely not!

[Vintage45]

or not for of course.

[thecatfromjapan]

You could have more workers, not just the same workers, workings get hours- so it's not just about workers needing a break.

Shops stay open late in London. I'm guessing that it's not worthwhile for the income it would generate in your area, Lanark.

[Sparklingbrook]

Everyone goes to Wetherspoons?

[thecatfromjapan]

I liked that thread. It was like 'Eleanor Rigby' by the Beatles.

[EustaceTheDragon]

I'm not suggesting someone should work 9am - 9pm. I'm mostly referring to shift work. The full timers can go off home at 5pm, leaving the evening shift from 5pm-9pm to part time staff such as SAHM and teenagers. I grew up in America and this was very, very common in most retail outlets. It worked well; I was able to have a job that didn't impact homework or social life.

[Littleallovertheshop]

Sunday trading hours in England are crazy. I'm Scottish and I guess our own craziness is no off sales after 10pm.

Up here we have plenty of out of town places open till 9 or 10 plus city centre about 7. It's fine, handy for an after work mooch

[saltlakecity]

I agree with you op. I think a lot of places could do with longer hours: shops, garages, hair dressers etc. At least a couple of nights a week anyway.

[newyearnewnametoday]

No one is suggesting current retail staff should have to work longer hours, later opening would create new jobs.

[Lockheart]

My tiny rural co-op shuts at 8, a full three hours after most people finish work. If you want to shop at 2am there's always the wonders of the internet.

[thecatfromjapan]

I tell the children about the olden days of my childhood , when shops shut at 5.30 and pretty much everything shut on a Sunday. They are wide-eyed with amazed horror.
When we visit the grandparents in the country, I love the quiet enclosing of the deep, untroubled night and they are, I suspect, faintly terrified.
But the opening on shops into the night is one of the great joys of my old age in the capital. OP is right - it is very convenient.

[Grilledaubergines]

YABU. And I'd be so happy to see the back of Sunday opening.