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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think local shops should have longer opening hours.

40 replies

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 21/04/2015 21:56

my local butcher has lovely meat at reasonable prices, always fresh and taste a lot better than the supermarket.

Problem is the shop shuts at 4:30, now I know it's the owners business and the owner can dictate opening hours. However I think in this 24/7 world local shops are missing out on a huge chunk of trade by closing before typical working hours.

OP posts:
MeggyMooAndTinkerToo · 21/04/2015 22:00

Go on a Saturday?

ErrolTheDragon · 21/04/2015 22:01

If they open longer they'd presumably have to hire more staff, probably just isn't financially viable for them. I'd guess there's all sorts of health and hygeine training needed to run a butcher's so its wouldn't just be a matter of hiring a random student or suchlike.

Maybe you should ask if they've considered doing one later night opening? Fresh butcher's meat mostly freezes well so you could stock up.

FarFromAnyRoad · 21/04/2015 22:04

Actually I think it's rather refreshing that there are some traders refusing to subscribe to this 24/7 frantic nonsense. If he were to stay longer - and I don't know what time would please you? - he'd have to pay someone with all the expense and hassle that entails - this would probably force prices up. Also he wouldn't get nearly as much custom in the evening hours as regular hours are still those of the majority. So why would he want to do it? To sell a couple of extra bits of meat? He's obviously gone for quality of life over the vague possibility of selling 3 chops at 7.30.

mousmous · 21/04/2015 22:04

yanbu
have the same situation.
would love to buy there but the opening times mean I only buy there if I need a certain cut for a recipe.

PtolemysNeedle · 21/04/2015 22:06

It would be lovely if they did, but they probably don't make enough money to justify it. Staffing costs for small businesses are huge, and if it's a little butchers, then mr butcher probably wants to get home for his tea.

MangoJuggler · 21/04/2015 22:11

Piper I'll bet he would deliver an order to you, outside of his standard hours. Mine does, he's a star. Early though, usually before 8am. Ring and ask.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 21/04/2015 22:13

Our local butchers opens late one night a week and does home deliveries. It's family run so they don't pretend to want to extend their current hours (8.30-4.30)

It might be worth asking.

PuntasticUsername · 21/04/2015 22:14

I was just watching Back In Time For Dinner, featuring owners of small shops that stay open late. One said he gets a bit of a rush around school run time, then does about 40% of his daily business between 5-7.30pm. So I don't think the "it's not worth it for them" argument can pass unchallenged, myself. It makes sense, given how many people live nowadays ie wanting to shop on the way home from work.

Itwasmybirthday · 21/04/2015 22:15

Perhaps it depends where you live. Where I am, loads of independent local shops are open late. Two are open 24 hours, one of which has a butchers counter and sells fresh (Turkish) bread and loads of fruit and veg, as well as general groceries.

Original poster
PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 21/04/2015 22:21

I could ask to see if he does deliveries.

PuntasticUsername, what's that tv program called sounds interesting

OP posts:
Artandco · 21/04/2015 22:27

They should. We are central London. Butcher used to close at 6pm. They now close at 8pm and 6-8pm is there busiest time, they have hired more staff but have customers queuing out the door so the high sales cover more staff

PuntasticUsername · 21/04/2015 22:34

Piper have a look here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05nc5tv and there are a couple of Mumsnet threads about it if you search. All the episodes are on BBC iPlayer at the moment.

Original poster
PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 21/04/2015 22:39

Thank you.

OP posts:
mistybluebellwoods · 21/04/2015 22:40

Just about all the shops on our local high street close at midday on a Saturday! Hmm Grin

whois · 21/04/2015 23:44

Agreed OP. Sometimes it's almost like they don't want to get more custom. Suppose maybe they are doing just fine as it is though without longer opening hours.

There is a fantastic shop opposite our flat which is a 24 Turkish whole foods style shop. Amazing. Sells everything from exotic fruit, obscure grains to frozen pizza and fags. At any time of the day. At only a slight mark up to the next nearest shop which is a sainsbo local which shuts at 11.

worridmum · 21/04/2015 23:54

but if the world of work becomes 24 hours would you all like to do your office jobs/ other normal hour jobs during the night? / unsolcialable hours if not please desist in insisting more places open for 24 hours as people are normally forced to take these shifts.

Sadly I do not want to work in the world were everything is on the go 24/7 aka working all hours etc

mrsmeerkat · 22/04/2015 00:00

4.30 is very early ! Lot of customers would want to shop up until 6.30 surely

whois · 22/04/2015 00:09

Worridmum im not seriously suggesting all shops should be 24 hours, but working till 9pm a few nights a week is hardly the end of the world.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 22/04/2015 00:12

Most independent shops close at around 5pm here. 5.30pm at the latest, so this scenario is just something we live with.

I imagine those who work 9-5pm Monday to Friday must either shop on a weekend or during their lunch hour. Either that or stick to the supermarkets.

I just think it's great that any shops are open evenings & Sundays. I remember the days of Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm opening, with the vast majority of small shops closing at 1pm on a Wednesday.

I actually have no clue why "half day closing" on a Wednesday was a thing Confused.

TedAndLola · 22/04/2015 00:37

I can't use my local high street because everything is closed by the time I get home from work, except the takeaways and restaurants. Saturdays are the only day I get a lie-in, and if you go past about 11am the bakers has run out of bread. So I don't bother. Yet another reason I adore online shopping!

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 22/04/2015 00:58

Our local shops are open until 9pm most nights, 10pm Thurs / Fri / Sat (in the US) Smile

Postchildrenpregranny · 22/04/2015 01:12

Our local shop-started as anewsagent/PO but now sells a lot of groceries and other stuff is open 6am-11pm .
The (family) butcher on the same 'parade' isn't though . I hink he shuts 5.30. Hedoes very well at 3.30 ish as all the local mums walk past to school/park in the pub car park next door Open on Sat though .They are very well known so I guess don't need to !

Andrewofgg · 22/04/2015 05:28

worridmum I don't insist on any business opening any hours but I take my custom to the ones who sell when I want to buy.

nagynolonger · 22/04/2015 06:09

I think the half day closing mid week was when they went to 'stock up'.

I remember the people who ran the fruit and veg shops used to have a very early start. They travelled to the fruit market before their working day started. Not really surprised they shut up shop at 5.30.

Our local baker does run out of bread by mid afternoon. Most people order what they want to be sure of getting it. They also depend on the lunch time trade in filled rolls/pies and pasties. Once that's all out of the way they start to pack up.

HermioneGrangerHair · 22/04/2015 07:35

Well, I'm sure they'd get more business in many places, but not everyone is driven by the more-is-better attitude. If they run healthy businesses, and meet their living costs, and are able to finish work at 4:30pm, why wouldn't they? I certainly would! It may be an inconveniences to those of us who work 9-5, but i get up and do the local shopping on a Saturday morning, same as my mum always did. I quite like the routine of it.