Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate boxing day shopping?

89 replies

flaggybannel · 05/12/2012 14:36

Okay, i will probably get flamed for this but here goes-
Who on earth wants to spend boxing day back at the shops when everyone has just spent the last few weeks in a shopping frenzy for christmas??
If i didnt work boxing day i certainly would not be shopping- i would be with family and enjoyin the christmas break.
Could the shopping centres close for just two days a year for staff to hav a christmas break too?
Your thoughts......

OP posts:
VoiceofUnreason · 05/12/2012 14:36

I did it once. Hated it. Have never done it again. Not unreasonable at all.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/12/2012 14:41

It's not my idea of a fun Boxing Day, but I don't have a problem with it. If people want to then I'm glad they have that choice, I like choice.

I think we have to remember that we live in a multicultural society nowadays and not everyone celebrates Christmas. I don't think shops should close down for two days for a religion that not everyone follows. Plenty of other people have to work over Christmas, I don't see what makes retail special.

DingDongKethryverilyonHigh · 05/12/2012 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

InNeedOfBrandyButter · 05/12/2012 14:47

Hmm I agree with you and going shopping after all the commercialness of christmas day would be my idea of hell, but if you had teenage dc and they had christmas money to spend boxing day would be great for bagains.

DameMargotFountain · 05/12/2012 14:48

i hate to see shops opening on boxing day - close family who work in retail say 80% of the customers are trying to exchange unwanted gifts anyhow

it makes those people look desperate and grabby IMO

KenLeeeeeee · 05/12/2012 14:48

Having previously worked in retail for a number of years, I can comfortably say that I hate Boxing Day shoppers much more than Boxing Day shopping. Xmas Hmm

AmazingBouncingBabyJesus · 05/12/2012 14:49

I went out last year. It was AWFUL, with a capital AW.

HO want us to open boxing day.

I work in a chocolate shop... Hmm

Who the fuck would want to buy chocolate on Boxing day?

Catsdontcare · 05/12/2012 14:49

I have horrible memories of Boxing Day being spent in shops like dfs stood around whilst my mum desperately tried to convince my dad that he did want to buy a new sofa.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/12/2012 14:49

At the shopping centre near us, the majority of big shops don't allow exchanges or refunds on the first few days of the sales.

Original poster
flaggybannel · 05/12/2012 14:50

i think the boxing day sales are great for christmas money, i just dont understand some friends of mine planning thier christmas around yet another shopping trip when they have been shopping for weeks- maybe i am just not so keen on shopping- not my idea of a fun day out

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 05/12/2012 14:50

I have never been out shopping boxing days so no idea how busy it gets.

However, there must be plenty of demand for it.

I am sure the centres could shut for 2 days to give their staff a break, sadly they won't. There are plenty of professions however, that don't shut even for Christmas day.

Plomino · 05/12/2012 14:52

I hate it too. In fact, it's my idea of hell. Boxing Day is , if possible, for slobbing out in pj's , letting everyone graze on the contents of the fridge , and emptying the chocolate tins . For me at least . Other than Christmas 2009 , when the fucking fridge freezer went bang at 9pm on Christmas Day whilst full to the gills with food. That year I was outside Currys at 10am on the dot. Swearing.

But if others want to do it , I won't stop them . Not everyone has my lifestyle, and if they want to spend their money, and the shop workers aren't forced to work , then why not .

DameMargotFountain · 05/12/2012 14:56

see, retail employees are not protected by law from NOT working, if boxing day falls on a day they are contracted to work, they are (in the main) expected to be available for work - to listen to customers moan and complain about gifts they haven't even paid for

it's very depressing, especially when you know the shop is going to be open for the next 27 days when they could come in....

TheUnsinkableTitanic · 05/12/2012 15:05

never do it (bitter working retail memories as a student)
boxing day is for doing nowt :)

Original poster
flaggybannel · 05/12/2012 15:06

My local shopping centre are doing a special early opening and late closing on boxing day, my friends are plotting how to round up all the kids etc and get parked to be at the doors at 8am sharp ..... Hmmm not really sure why, will be the same things in there that were there on christmas eve, just with a couple of pounds off. Will still have a couple of pounds off and maybe more the week after. I just dont get it really.

OP posts:
bradyismyfavouritewiseman · 05/12/2012 15:11

I used to work at Harvey nics. People used to come in Christmas eve to plan what they were coming on for on boxing day. There were people in the bar drawing out maps so they knew exactly where they wanted to be and had a list of prioriies.

It was great, because when we coded on Christmas eve, we moved it all round. Xmas Grin

I hate it, but some people love it.

Tab U to want shops to close because you don't like it. All you have to do, is not go.

Everyone is then happy

ethelb · 05/12/2012 15:11

just don't go.

though i hate the pressure on shop workers to be in v early on a bank holiday. Grim.

Janeatthebarre · 05/12/2012 15:15

I can't understand it either. Can people not go TWO days without bloody shopping. What happened to going for a nice, muddy, boxing day walk and coming home to a warm house and an old film on the TV. Or visiting relatives. Or just curling up on the sofa with a good book that Santa bought you and a glass of early afternoon wine.

bradyismyfavouritewiseman · 05/12/2012 15:15

Also the discounts get bigger after new year.

The boxing day sale is more about getting the item you want at a discount. If you are not bothered about which handbag (for example) that you want, you are best waiting.
We went to London mid January one year and got a Ralph Lauren dressing gown and full towel set for about £30 from harrods
we still have them about 10 years later.

LadyBeagleBaublesandBells · 05/12/2012 15:16

I don't mind at all if people want to do it but I've never understood how anybody has any money left.
I'm always skint after Christmas.
Haha brady, that's evil.Grin

ppeatfruit · 05/12/2012 15:17

YABVR Why is there this terrifying consumerism in U.K.? Why can't everyone (including all religions, obviously there are some jobs that can't stop) take 2 days off from effing shopping to have a proper rest? would the world stop? I don't think so.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/12/2012 15:19

YANBU.

I dont get it at all. Boxing Day is for having another turkey dinner and spending time with family.

ppeatfruit · 05/12/2012 15:21

Exactly wannabe or seeing the other ILS Xmas Grin

Vicky08 · 05/12/2012 15:23

I have to admit I used to be one of those people who loved going shopping on boxing day. I loved the thrill of the sales, I loved getting what I considered to be a bargain. Then I had kids and realised that I preferred staying in finishing off the selection boxes with them. I haven't gone to the boxing day sales since and have no intention of going for the foreseeable future.

FernandoIsFaster · 05/12/2012 15:23

I'll always remember working on a concession in Debenhams and people literally running under the shutters as they opened on boxing day morning. Madness! Who can be arsed with running in a shop??