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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish there was some way to ban shops from starting their sales on Boxing Day

231 replies

Daisysbear · 08/12/2015 13:39

Yet again, unfortunate shop staff will have to turn up for work at crack of dawn on boxing day to deal with the throngs crowding in for the sales.

Years ago, it was just understood that the shops stayed closed for a couple of days after Christmas. Customers survived forty eight hours away from retail therapy, staff got a proper Christmas break, and we were all forced off the shopping treadmill for a couple of days.

AIBU to wish it was mandatory for all shops (except small corner shops etc selling essentials) to stay closed for at least one day after Christmas to stop all the frenzied buying.

ps I know this wouldn't really work in an increasingly multi-cultural and secular society, but it would just be nice if it could.

OP posts:
squoosh · 08/12/2015 13:47

YANBU.

Who wants to stir out of doors the day after Christmas.

It's a day made for eating epic leftovers, swigging something fizzy, watching a period drama, and squabbling with your brother like you're both 11 again.

On the other hand I suppose enforced family time makes some people yearn to leave the house either to shop or to work.

RaspberryOverload · 08/12/2015 13:51

I don't think anything short of a change in the law would make any difference.

And the law won't change because with internet shopping available, people will just shop from places without the restriction, and the companies that open on Boxing Day won't want to risk customer money going elsewhere.

Sadly, in some cases, the money coming in from the sales could be the difference between some staff retaining a job or facing redundancy.

AnnPerkins · 08/12/2015 13:52

YANBU

I'm sure those who are happy to work would rather not have to start at 5am either. What is the point in opening so ridiculously early?

LittlestLightOnTheTree · 08/12/2015 13:53

The sales usually start before Xmas these days

Bearbehind · 08/12/2015 13:56

It's just simple supply and demand unfortunately.

If no one went shopping on Boxing Day the shops wouldn't open.

People would go if they opened on Christmas Day if the number of sad greedy bastards who are online that day are anything to go by.

HeadandBrickWall · 08/12/2015 13:59

YANBU, all businesses that possibly can should close after 23rd and re-open on 27th - everyone will survive without 3 days of shopping and it would be a guaranteed holiday for the huge majority of the country. Sales afterwards would still be huge and OTT, people would just wait to go mad in them, but at least there'd be a break.

Original poster
Daisysbear · 08/12/2015 13:59

I agree Bearbehind. I just can't understand people who are jumping out of bed at 7am on Boxing Day to rush back out to the shops. Can they not survive for two bloody days without shopping?

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisysbear · 08/12/2015 14:00

And I agree Head, 27th is time enough to reopen and if all shops did it, no one would lose out.

OP posts:
LittlestLightOnTheTree · 08/12/2015 14:01

Sorry but lots of store staff and store owners aren't Christian and don't bother with Christmas and would quite like to carry on as normal

AuntieStella · 08/12/2015 14:01

I thought the Boxing Day sales had been around for decades?

They've certainly been around from well before Sunday opening.

eosmum · 08/12/2015 14:02

I've been staging a one woman boycott of all shops on the day after christmas for years especially Next with their ridiculous early start, don't think anyone has noticed. DD1 has been in til 7 on chrismas eve and back in again at 7 on St. Stephens days for the last 4 years. This year it's DD2s turn:(

LegoRuinedMyFinances · 08/12/2015 14:03

YANBU - I genuinely don't get it. 5am on Boxing Day you'd have to be mad.

TheBunnyOfDoom · 08/12/2015 14:03

YANBU at all. I'm sure everyone (even non-Christians) would appreciate a couple of days off to spend with their families.

I work retail and our store is counting Boxing Day as the Saturday to save money, so I have to work the Monday (which the rest of the world sees as a bank holiday) as usual for no double-time. Not happy.

HeadandBrickWall · 08/12/2015 14:05

Maybe the government should arrange for the banks to apply an extortionate charge for any card payments put through on any of those days (would have exceptions for stuff like paying for petrol, dentist charges etc), would stop everyone bothering to go shopping, except a few who'd remembered to keep some cash out, then the shops wouldn't bother catering for them the next year Grin

Original poster
Daisysbear · 08/12/2015 14:05

We were invited to relatives for a late lunch last boxing day. When we arrived, they were up in a heap with nothing ready, because they'd had to rush out to a nearby shopping centre to buy a half price coat and pair of jeans they'd seen advertised on Christmas Eve, got stuck in traffic leaving the car park and were just back Sad.

OP posts:
HeadandBrickWall · 08/12/2015 14:06

I've been doing the boycott too, I deliberately don't go into a shop on 23rd until at least 27th, unless it's something critical like the pharmacy. Don't think it's made any impact though Grin

HeadandBrickWall · 08/12/2015 14:07

That's awful Daisy! I'm all for getting bargains where you can, especially if things are tight but surely some things are more important!

LouisaGlasson · 08/12/2015 14:08

Yanbu. I've had enough of shopping by the middle of December. I don't get any urge whatsoever to go on Boxing Day or even the days afterwards.

coffeeisnectar · 08/12/2015 14:11

My dd works p/t in McDonald's. She,HAS to work Xmas eve or boxing day and either nye or new years day. It's open 24/7… she is on from 7am to 3pm on Xmas eve and new years day. Which means one of us has to get up at the crack of dawn to take her. And it's in a retail park which will be murderous to get out of with the traffic. Not happy and neither is she.

Who goes to McDonald's on bloody boxing day anyway?

doleritedinosaur · 08/12/2015 14:18

As someone who had to work Boxing Day last year but there was nothing for me to do as a late 6 month pregnant woman who had to walk to work, across a city, I wish this would happen but Next are money grabbing & would open at 3am or stay open 24 hours.

I get not everyone is religious but in Norway they shut down for several days.

It doesn't hurt to not shop regardless of if you have a faith or not.

& if anyone wants sale clothes that badly Next do friends & family at sale times. phone up your local store, work a few sale days & you'll get to pick the sale items you want without queuing up at silly o'clock, fight people or miss out.

Things are Cheaper throughout the year anyway without resulting in this.

Original poster
Daisysbear · 08/12/2015 14:21

"It doesn't hurt to not shop regardless of if you have a faith or not."

Exactly. Those who don't believe in Christmas can still treat it like a couple of days' bank holiday. The shops are open all year round and seven days a week now. A couple of days respite, at a time when the vast majority of the country are marking Christmas, isn't going to harm anyone.

OP posts:
fuzzpig · 08/12/2015 14:21

Agree. DH is working BD this year, as he's a retail manager. Bah humbug.

TheWitTank · 08/12/2015 14:24

The Next sale is my idea of hell on earth. You would have to pay me to get up at 5am and battle hoards of people for "bargains" crap nobody else wanted.
I've been out shopping today and there are sales everywhere already. There is no need really to be open on Boxing Day. Yanbu.

squoosh · 08/12/2015 14:28

The Next sale is baffling. It's a shit shop at the best of times.

gallicgirl · 08/12/2015 14:29

I'm with you.

My DP is a store manager. We will never have a holiday at Christmas or even in December. If we want to travel to see our parents who live 200+ miles away, we have to plan work days carefully and we'll only get a couple of nights away at most. Parents usually visit us but DP will be working for part of that visit.

This year for the first time, his company have decided to open on Boxing Day too. Cheers for that.