Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hope they keep the extended shopping hours on a sunday

303 replies

hawaiiWave · 13/08/2012 13:30

I am a bit of a loser shopaholic and I love the current extended shopping hours on s Sunday, my local town centre shops are now open 10-6. I love drive,but it seems to help traffic congestion too, as shoppers are less concentrated.

Aibu to wonder why there is a restriction in the first place?

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 13/08/2012 13:31

YABU

Original poster
hawaiiWave · 13/08/2012 13:33

Oops should say Don't drive...

OP posts:
StunningCunt · 13/08/2012 13:33

I think they should stop Sunday trading.

Have been to Europe, no Sunday trading, people go for walks with their families, etc.

Six days to do shopping is plenty.

Mabelface · 13/08/2012 13:33

Gawd, no thank you! I've just worked a full weekend, including a 10-6 shift yesterday. I do quite like to have a homelife too.

WorraLiberty · 13/08/2012 13:37

Have been to Europe, no Sunday trading, people go for walks with their families, etc.

I think they'd have to ban internet access on a Sunday for that to happen in a lot of families Grin

oscarwilde · 13/08/2012 13:40

It's been amazingly handy but doesn't contribute much to our overall quality of life especially those who work in retail so on balance, I'd agree with Stunning. Far better that we learn to plan our lives better and other folk get a weekend too.
I'd much rather have late night openings than Sunday shopping. I don't understand why more smaller retailers don't do it. Unless you go into Central London it just doesn't seem to happen unless it's a major chain.

izzyizin · 13/08/2012 13:40

Even the creator awarded him/herself a day off after 6 days hard graft.

If you're born to shop determined to boost the economy single-handed, you can do so online one day a week.

MrsLocog · 13/08/2012 13:41

YANBU - as long as shop workers have at least one of the two weekend days off to spend with family (which would have to be a legal requirement to make sure it happened).

I say this as all the people saying 'it should be a family day' etc. what about people with DPs who have to work on a Sunday (Dr/Nurse etc.), when DH works on a Sunday and I'm working full time, it means Saturday is our only family day together. I absolutely do not want to spend it doing shopping, traipsing around looking for DC equipment etc. Where as Sunday is already ruined so I'd happily get up and go and do errands etc.

I think it's outdated these days to have a specified family day - yes, I think families should have one day a week which is reserved for a more relaxed time, but this should be determined by each individual family according to their needs/work demands rather than an old religious principal.

MadeleineAlright · 13/08/2012 13:42

Me too. Hate any religion dictating what I do.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/08/2012 13:42

I work in Retail so I am biased Grin

I don't think Sunday opening should be extended. I've heard all the arguments about boosting the economy and creating jobs but I don't buy it. People won't suddenly have more cash to spend, they'll just spend it over a longer time. So no extra money in the till, no extra staff, existing staff covering longer opening times - as far as I'm concerned it will damage quality of service in stores.

Also, public transport is very limited and childminders working weekends are very rare - the one's who will charge about £5 per hour in my area. Minimum wage worker on £6.08 per hour, paying £5 per hour in childcare then getting a taxi home isn't going to boost the economy.

Before anyone says it - yes there are other industries who work long hours on Sundays but presumably knew this when they applied for the job so it was a factor in their decision to take it. Retail workers will be given notice of contract changes - it could be hugely damaging for those already struggling to make ends meet.

In principle I don't mind (although I don't think it's needed) - but only if the rest of the services needed by workers do the same.

MrsLocog · 13/08/2012 13:42

Ah yes - I would accept Sunday closing if High Street shops were able to be open until 9pm in the week.

FluffyJawsOfDoom · 13/08/2012 13:43

Maybe I'm naive but I'd have thought shop workers would welcome an extra few hours of pay on a Sunday? And it's not like they're being told they can't have a day off, is it, it's just rota'd.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/08/2012 13:45

But it won't be given as optional overtime - it will be contracted. There won't be a choice - the day's of time and a half are long gone.

WillNeverGetALicence · 13/08/2012 13:46

Well I agree with you.

I did my grocery shopping at 6pm yesterday and it was wonderful.

It actually meant more family time at the weekend as instead of wasting time during the day grocery shopping with the kids we went to the park instead and enjoyed the sunshine.

Then when it became evening DH took kids home for dinner and I was able to do the groceries in blissful child-free peace.

I really hope they keep the extended hours but am not holding my breath.

I don't really understand the arguments from staff that they would have to work more hours and not have a homelife. Presumably they would still work their contracted hours and just take turns on the weekend shifts - like nurses, paramedics, any other anti-social hours workers?

NoComet · 13/08/2012 13:48

YANBU

Because of where I live, going to the shops on the way back from a day out or having been somewhere for lunch is good for my petrol bill and good for the planet.

Firmly agree that no one should be pushed into weekend shifts.

LadyBeagleEyes · 13/08/2012 13:49

Does no one here ever go and stay in a Hotel on weekends?
I'm sure many people that don't want shops open have had weekend breaks, taken their kids to tourist attractions, the seaside, swimming pools etc.
Or have to buy petrol or go to A and E?
All these people are working you know, they're not doing it for fun.
I've worked in tourism and Sunday is just another day, what's the difference in shops?
The laws in Scotland are different though.

Denise34 · 13/08/2012 13:53

If shops are allowed to open on Sundays, people WILL be pushed into weekend shifts, there's no two ways about it.

CakeMeIAmYours · 13/08/2012 13:54

Yanbu, who on earth do the government think they are, dictating to me how I should spend my time?

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/08/2012 13:57

willnebveer like I said I agree in principle but on a practical level could push minimum wage workers into poverty. The infrastructure of transport and childcare issues are very real outside of cities.

It isn't an essential service like nursing, or paramedics. There isn't a need for it. I would like to do my banking on a Sunday, or see my GP, but I can't. I would argue that there is a greater need for those places to be open as they don't already offer extended hours during the week.

Myself and DP both work in retail. We are lucky as we are both on good salaries as managers so when we both have to work on Sunday (twice a month) it only costs us £20. That's not £20 from what we would earn that day - that's £20 in addition to what we would earn. We only have 1 car, work in opposite directions and have 1 child.

I really worry for minimum wage earners in our position.

Icelollycraving · 13/08/2012 13:58

Yabu. I am in retail. People don't spend much more,takings just get spread out.
Childcare is almost impossible to find on weekends. I have spent every weekend working both days since the extended hours to ensure I have key holders to work shifts etc which isn't usually an issue on Sundays.

SirBoobAlot · 13/08/2012 13:58

Our shop is open on a Sunday on consumer based hours; we aim to shut at 5pm most days, but realistically we don't tend to close until 6.30 most days, including a Sunday. Its helpful for my business having other shops open longer too Wink

I don't understand why shops need to be closed on a Sunday, and Sunday bus service is such a nightmare. We stopped being a religious nation years ago, I don't see the need to altered hours on one day a week.

But YABU to go shopping every day Grin

EasilyBored · 13/08/2012 13:58

I quite like the supermarket being open a bit later, I generally realise I need something vital at about 3.50pm on a Sunday. I also worked in bars/restaurants for a long time, so I kind of think that retail is one of those jobs where weekend work is a given, it's sometimes handy to have a day off in the week instead. Saying all that, I'm not going to go out campaigning for extended opening, and I'm sure I will survive without it!

cakeismysaviour · 13/08/2012 14:02

YANBU

Sunday is just another day (unless you are religious).

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/08/2012 14:02

LadyBeagle no difference but when people applied for their retail jobs they didn't agree to work extended hours on Sundays, presumably if you apply to work in a hotel or restaurant you do so knowing that they will be the hours you're required to work.

Most retail workers already work Sundays, they aren't saying they want the day off. Just that there isn't a need for extended opening. In the last few weeks I've heard people say how great it's been to shop in near empty shops. That means it is quite clear that it isn't financially viable to be open.

Icelollycraving · 13/08/2012 14:05

For the person who said they'd like 9pm trading on the high street,I work until that time as my store is open until 9 6 days a week. Same thing,we take relatively little in the extra evening hours but are contracted to do them. At Christmas,we will work until 1130,Boxing Day etc. No childcare then!