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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU Christmas and retail

298 replies

ItsaTenfromDen · 21/11/2016 13:35

I work in retail, yes this is my choice at the moment, would dearly love another job, but so far this is proving hard to find.

AIBU to be annoyed by someones desire to go shopping on Boxing Day? I will be up at 4.30 and opening at 6am. What can anyone possibly need at 6am on Boxing Day? We don't sell medicine or food!

I appreciate that Doctors and Nurses and other professions have to work, but I see that as a necessary park of their job. People need medical attention every day.

Even if I didn't work in retail I would never think of going shopping on Boxing Day, I've seen enough of the shops in the run up to Christmas.

OP posts:
Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:17

So if the shops are happy to delay the sales until 27th you'd be ok with that, despite earlier saying it was good for lonely people?

Ultimately it is the shops who decide. They are not going to open for the lonely people. They are going to open on the basis of sales and Boxing Day is great for sales

HackAttack · 21/11/2016 18:18

To be honest if you have as little empathy with retail workers as shopper5 I can see why you'd be lonely and not have friends.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:21

To be honest if you have as little empathy with retail workers as shopper5 I can see why you'd be lonely and not have friends

I am not lonely and have plenty of friends. Try having compassion for those who don't. Try having a little empathy yourself

Mungobungo · 21/11/2016 18:23

I worked in retail a long time ago and the only Boxing Day I worked was so quiet, sales wise that the company would have been better if for tockise and not have paid us the bank holiday wage. Not one sale. A shit ton of shoplifting from the sale rails - to the point that one bloke walked in, grabbed as much as he could physically carry off the rail and legged it off up the high street with clothes flapping around him as he ran!

emmskie03 · 21/11/2016 18:23

Yanbu. It's a bank holiday and we simply don't need shops to be open on boxing day.

People should try and use the time better IMO! There's lots of time for shopping and consumerism!

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:26

People should try and use the time better IMO! There's lots of time for shopping and consumerism!

People shop for various reasons, it's not all about consumerism. They have a right to use their time how they choose. It's really judgmental of you to say they should try and use their time better, .

Lorelei76 · 21/11/2016 18:26

Shopper, you brought up loneliness first, then switched to profits.

IHaveBrilloHair · 21/11/2016 18:29

I've worked in retail over Christmas, ugh, it's shit, all staff had to be in on Christmas Eve and Boxing day.
I've also worked in pubs when you don't get Christmas day off either, ditto when I was a cleaner.
The only one I feel slightly resentful about though is the cleaning, since you are never thanked and completely forgotten about, the staff room for the nurses/carers was full of chocolates/biscuits/cakes etc, we got bog all.
Its not about the gifts as such, but an acknowledgment that we were there too, and doing an essential job.

allegretto · 21/11/2016 18:29

I live in Italy and the sales don't start until well into January which I much prefer! It is actually really depressing to do all your Christmas shopping and then for everything to be discounted straightaway. Not so much pressure on shops to open, either in Christmas week (although they do but not on Boxing Day) as people want to wait for the sales.

EweAreHere · 21/11/2016 18:30

Mixed. London and the UK are popular international tourist destinations, and a huge number of people holiday here in the UK, and they're not here to just sit around for 2 days twiddling their thumbs because nothing wants to open up. They have money to spend, and the Christmas season is where retail makes the most money annually.

6am is silly, though. Surely hours could be sensible over the holidays.

HackAttack · 21/11/2016 18:30

Shopper5 I don't believe for one second there is no personal element to your diatribe of crap given you seem pretty unlikeable.

Retail workers should be allowed a proper rest and if consumers voted with their feet they would be.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:31

Shopper, you brought up loneliness first, then switched to profits

Yes because big business won't open for the lonely people obviously

Puddington · 21/11/2016 18:31

A shit ton of shoplifting from the sale rails

We get hit by shoplifters fairly frequently year-round, but the fitting rooms were always closed on sale day because otherwise people could shove hundreds upon hundreds of pounds' worth of things into their bags without getting caught (plus it was a health hazard as there are only about 12 fitting room cubicles and HUNDREDS of people swarming the store during the sale). A few years ago, these two women aggressively demanded to know why the fitting rooms weren't open, demanded to speak to a higher manager when I apologised and said it was company policy, and stood giving my line manager all manner of abuse after she also apologised and said it was not her decision/she couldn't do anything about it. They ranted "this is why I never shop here!" and I had to seriously bite back the urge to tell them to just get out then! They did end up buying things, still complaining the whole time... and the next year, the fitting rooms were open. And the stockloss is higher. It's frustrating.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:33

HackAttack you seem pretty awful and judgemental with your crap. Lacking compassion

Consumers will ultimately vote for shops to stay open on Boxing days. Every year record numbers of shoppers hit the malls and shopping centres.

VioletRoar · 21/11/2016 18:34

I think it's madness for retail shops to open on Boxing Day. I could understand if it was just the supermarkets or something, but no one will die from not being able to buy a t shirt in the sale. My sister used to work til 9pm xmas eve, then at be at work 6am Boxing Day. Absolutely no need!

HelenaDove · 21/11/2016 18:34

Shopper with your attitude i find it hard to believe you have worked in retail.

Starlight2345 · 21/11/2016 18:35

I have always refused to go shopping on boxing day..However..Last year I went to a shop to exchange a faulty christmas item and they had sold all of the items off in the sale on boxing day...So any faulty items ( hoping none) will be going back boxing day

I would be happy for shops not to open and agree Sunday trading hours would be much better.

Dailymaildailyfail · 21/11/2016 18:35

I think you must work in Next OP!

HelenaDove · 21/11/2016 18:35

Hack says retail workers deserve a rest and SHES the one lacking compassion????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:37

Shopper with your attitude i find it hard to believe you have worked in retail

Well I have for over 20 years so I know more than most what it is like. You have to suck it up, it's part of retail.

Debinaround · 21/11/2016 18:37

It's not end the of the world. The children aren't going to be traumatised for life because mummy isn't there Boxing Day. At least she has a job and can provide for her kids.

It's not the end of the world if the lonely people you keep going on about don't get to shop on Boxing Day either. I'm sure they won't be traumatised for life because they have to wait until the 27th.

Anyone else think Shopper5 is Philip Green? Grin

HackAttack · 21/11/2016 18:38

Maybe so Shopper5 but I will be spending boxing day looking after my children and socialising with friends, not desperately grabbing stuff and forcing people who would like to be with their own families out to serve my whims. Your 'think of the lonely' speech isn't even remotely convincing.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:38

Debinaround

I am not but laughing hard at you saying that 😂😂😂

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 21/11/2016 18:42

I used to work at airport retail - changing shifts, any day, any time between 5am and 11pm. Didn't mind it, I was aware of the conditions when I went for the job. Guess what, people like to fly whenever they want / can. They will go into the airport shops and spend good money. So my team worked every day, even on Christmas day.

So who would sign a petition demanding that airports be closed during bank holidays? Hmm

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 18:43

Do what you want on Boxing Day Hack

Why be so judgemental saying people are grabbing stuff? Some people need bargains to survive financially.

Retail workers are not serving whims. They are doing a job.

Enjoy your day with your family and socialising with friends, some people don't have families.

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