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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be sickened with the commercial greed on boxing day

64 replies

pinkmagic1 · 27/12/2011 17:28

I love to shop and love a bargain as much as the next women but was saddened that more shops than ever opened their doors on boxing day and some at the crack of dawn. I felt so sorry for the shop workers as I have worked in retail and understand the pressure some may have been put under to work even when they didn't really want to. I think it is getting really greedy and sad if shops can't shut for just 2 days in the entire year and let their staff celebrate Christmas with their families. I didn't enter a shop yesterday out of principle. What do others think about boxing day opening?

OP posts:

lljkk · 27/12/2011 20:53

Okay, fair enough, someone answered my Q on another thread: about needing something but trying to wait until the sales are on to replace it.
I can't believe there are a great many of those in the shoppers out today, though.

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 20:58

Next has always opened at 5am for the sales. Next is rubbish. It's one of those shops aimed entirely at people without an awful lot of individuality who want to look like they are fashionable and up to date.

I don't go, I did shop online a little bit towards the evening, but tbh it isn't worth rushing around getting into fights and I can't think of anywhere I'd be gladder to avoid than the town centre, most days and especially when it's packed full of post Christmas sale shoppers.

It's so depressing.
We went to take a few things back at a very small retail park today. It wasn't too crowded but there were some very unhappy families there, children going nuts, it was a strange atmosphere. On the way home a massive jeep thing pulled RIGHT out into the side of our car, almost hitting us, there was no obstruction to his seeing us, he was clearly either drunk, mad or didn't look.

So I swerved and hooted so he knew we were there (in case he still hadn't seen us almost on top of his bonnet). I then got tailgated all the way down the road.

What's that all about? Loony drivers everywhere today.

southeastastra · 27/12/2011 21:03

i got a nice top at next today but i have no individuality it wasn't in the sale either

we actually bought a half price sofa in next yesterday was really cheap is lovely and massive but we had to carry it home

WorraLiberty · 27/12/2011 21:10

But WHY are people shopping on Boxing day? Didn't everyone just get their presents? What could you possibly need to buy?

The major shopping center near my Dad, is in a predominantly Asian area and many of them don't celebrate Christmas...others just exchange small token gifts.

Either way, many of his neighbours look forward to the sales and spend months saving up to bag a bargain, as unlike a lot of other people they haven't just spent a fortune on presents.

ssd · 27/12/2011 21:14

op YANBU

working in retail is truly shite at this time of year

Madeyemoodysmum · 27/12/2011 21:15

I used to be a next sale girl but since they moved it to boxing day I refuse to go. I think it unnecessary to open shops then. Recession or not it's a family day Shops can be visited anytime. I saw in laws Xmas day and my dps boxing day We had a lovely family Christmas and making shop workers go in is spoilng that for them and there families. It won't change now tho. In ten yrs they will probably open Xmas day too!!!!

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 21:16

Oh but SEA, you're not their target customer. You got around it somehow.

It's not their customers that bother me. It's what they think of their customers. iyswim.

But I wouldn't ever queue up at 5am for their sale as I don't want to give them my money! (unless I saw a remarkably cheap and lovely sofa in there...)

Pandemoniaa · 27/12/2011 21:22

You are so NBU.

I get irritated beyond measure by news reports showing all the fuckwits that queue up from the crack of dawn on Boxing Day in order to burst through the doors like rampaging lemmings when the shops open.

I realise that it may be rather too late to reverse the idea that shopping is some sort of valid leisure pursuit but for fuck's sake, who needs to shop on Boxing Day?

I feel extremely sorry for all the people who work in these retail outlets given that they've already been over-worked in the lead-up to Christmas. Everyone deserves a rest. Nobody needs to shop less than 24 hours after the Feast of Sheer Materialism that Christmas Day has become.

I boycott all shops on Boxing Day. And that includes supermarkets.

Mollydoggerson · 27/12/2011 21:29

Staff are paid, therefore I do not feel sorry for them.

ssd · 27/12/2011 22:00

yeah, paid shite molly youarse

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 22:05

YANBU...I like a nice pressie but ths year seemed disgusting...I want to go away next year...somewhere cold and quiet.

Pixel · 27/12/2011 23:51

YANBU. I really can't see why the sales can't wait a few days. I don't buy the argument that it's ok because the shops are desperate because of the economy. I realise they are desperate but shoppers only have a limited amount of money to spend so why does it matter if they spend it on boxing day or a couple of days later?

aquashiv · 28/12/2011 00:06

Used to feel like that about Sundays. I remember when the streets were quiet. Now its like anyother day more or less.
I hark after the old days.
Then again I got some great bargains in Gap and Boots.

RachelHRD · 28/12/2011 00:22

YANBU it is so rubbish for the staff - Next opening at 6am sums it up - what a shit Xmas for the staff. I used to be a fuel site licensee and the oil company insisted we should open on Xmas Day - my motto was if Head Office was open on Xmas Day then I would too..... One time I got an alarm call out on Xmas Day mid morning and had to go over to check it out - all was OK but whilst I was there I had one person desperate for fags and another go ballistic when I wouldn't open to serve him fuel - FFS can people really not manage for 1 day!! This was all 14+ years ago also!!

I needed wrapping paper on Boxing Day so popped to Sainsburys and was just shocked at the number of people doing full shops!! I could have managed without if necessary and certainly wouldn't begrudge shops being shut on Boxing Day.

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