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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:
Puddington · 21/11/2016 18:45

Why be so judgemental saying people are grabbing stuff?

Because they are? Grin I don't think "grabbing stuff" is the most offensive choice of words in the world...

HackAttack · 21/11/2016 18:46

If a person's priority is 50% off soap and glory stuff then it's not surprising they are lonely. It really could wait one more day, shops are open Christmas eve for goodness sake.

VioletRoar · 21/11/2016 18:46

The bargains will still be there on the 27th, shopper

Puddington · 21/11/2016 18:48

I once had a customer go ballistic at me because the childrens' shoe department was closed off (for sale prep/markdown) at 5PM on Christmas Eve (as though I had personally closed it, besides anything else!). Some people need to take a look at their priorities this time of year how judgemental of me

SocksRock · 21/11/2016 18:49

We live 15 miles west of Bicester. My in laws live 10 miles east of Bicester. One Boxing Day we went to them for lunch. It took us over 90 minutes to do the 3 miles from the M40 junction to the Bicester Villsge junction. Clear road as soon as we were past. This was about 10am. I cannot imagine what the shops would have been like. It'll be even bigger for next Christmas as they are building on the old Tesco site next door...

ALemonyPea · 21/11/2016 18:53

Inhate the fact shops are open on Boxing Day, I really feel for the staff. You'd not be able to enjoy yourself on Christmas Day as you have to get up so early. 6am opening is crazy. Is it Next?

Equally, I would never go out for Christmas dinner as I would hate to be working seeing other families enjoying Christmas.

Up until this year DH worked in retail and would be at work Boxing Day morning (and never had bank holidays and Easter off either). Really looking forward to Christmas this year when he is off for nearly 2 weeks, first time in 10 years.

AnneElliott · 21/11/2016 18:54

I agree that the shops should close on Boxing Day.

I have worked in retail and going back for the sale on 27th Dec was bad enough, without having to do Boxing Day too.

I can't understand who'd want to shop then when I'm fed up of shopping by the time Xmas comes round!

And rude people shop all year round. I found people were nicer during the Xmas season, but the horror of sale day stays with me. People actually fought each other for marked down toiletries Shock

ruddynorah · 21/11/2016 19:00

I've worked in retail for years including many harassing Christmases at M&S. I'm now at IKEA and I've got got to say...it's a different world.

We don't do big Christmas sales. We do open Boxing Day but we take it in turns and use minimal cover. We are closed on Christmas Eve, as a Swedish company that's a bigger family say than the UK's Christmas Day. We also get a Christmas bonus of a month's pay. So retail friends...come over to IKEA. Basic co worker starting pay is £8.45 an hour :-)

Puddington · 21/11/2016 19:02

ruddy that sounds so tempting, I never knew they were so accomodating as employers Shock And I did once buy a huge bookcase from there which was perfection itself, hahaha.

TinselTwins · 21/11/2016 19:19

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

Oh bollocks, sale items aren't school shoes and value beans/rice, it's tat nobody really needs or luxury items nobody really needs that are reduced from £800 to £600.

And I've seen people literally get INTO sales baskets breaking them, "grabbing" is putting it lightly!

Ceaser1981 · 21/11/2016 19:26

I am one of the people who goes shopping on boxing day, normally for 10am when the shops open in my local area because i actually buy for birthdays and christmas for the following year, save a fortune. I only get christmas day and boxing day off so it is my only chance to get anything decent in the sales. I do feel for you though, the shops are a bit of a nightmare, your employers should operate a rota or something so its not every year you have to work.

SocksRock · 21/11/2016 19:27

If you want to see people grabbing stuff, 8 believe it's Black Friday soon... always some scenes of carnage while people are bargain grabbing!

Lifeisbeautiful2 · 21/11/2016 19:28

I agree we are a totally consumerist society. And how come Black Friday now starts a week in advance?? Very, very sad and one of the reasons I dislike Xmas so much.

Whatsername17 · 21/11/2016 19:33

I don't think the shops should open boxing day either. Yanbu. It would be lovely if there could actually be a time when the consumer machine shuts down for a while.

user1479495984 · 21/11/2016 19:34

When was at school and worked at a restaurant I had to work 2 of 5 shifts over Christmas. It was rubbish. I know some people don't have a choice but I don't think I'd take a job somewhere that didn't close over Christmas. I would welcome shops being shut on Boxing Day.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 19:38

If a person's priority is 50% off soap and glory stuff then it's not surprising they are lonely. It really could wait one more day, shops are open Christmas eve for goodness sake

People don't deserve to treat themselves?

Try a little compassion. You might be lonely one day without family or friends. It can happen to anyone

ThighBrows · 21/11/2016 19:39

That shopper poster is boring the crap out of me. So retail staff exist to serve rampant consumerism and provide support services to the forgotten and neglected members of society, they should suck up being verbally abused and intimidated and jostled because they are lucky to have a job at all, but they are also really rude and nasty and should be complained about all the time, by compassionate people. Riiiiight love. Hmm

Graphista · 21/11/2016 19:40

The boss kinda coughed n spluttered 'but but but...she's the only one knows what needs doing...'

But basically had to give in - dads a big guy and was army at the time so pretty intimidating looking/coming across.

The place was short staffed and training was a mess due to this managers incompetence.

Dad was even more cross when upon getting home mum revealed she's not even had a break that day. She had a new job in a week and handed her notice in. She was much happier at next job (also retail but far better employers).

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 19:41

Oh bollocks, sale items aren't school shoes and value beans/rice, it's tat nobody really needs or luxury items nobody really needs that are reduced from £800 to £600

Not everything are luxury items, and where do you draw the line about stuff nobody needs? I am sure you own more than one set of clothing, shoes etc

Some people financially rely on getting savings on items they could not afford otherwise. You are fortunate that you have a choice, some people don't

user128057 · 21/11/2016 19:43

YANBU Op I feel your pain from another retail worker

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 19:44

ThighBrows you are boring the crap out of me with your misunderstanding. Never said retail workers are there to provide support to society. Reading might help love Hmm

emmskie03 · 21/11/2016 19:50

Shopper5 - you say people who work in shops have to suck it up, it's part of retail but it really doesn't have to be and it's not that long ago that it wasn't.

You may think I'm being judgy saying people should use the time available to them in boxing day for other things than shopping but you are being utterly thoughtless to the huge number of people who work in retail and would like to have their bank holiday as a bank holiday. For many people with family who live away, Christmas is the only time of year when they have all their family close by and they shouldn't have to waste that opportunity working so some one can go buy a top. And if I am being judgy then so be it. I struggle to think of a reason why shopping on boxing day is a need for someone that couldn't be replaced with another activity. And if a person need the shops to be open that badly I.e. for loneliness then there is clearly a need for greater support than just a quick chat with a shop assistant.

There are so many days available to people to shop.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 21/11/2016 19:54

I have been sitting here thinking that debin

You beat me to it Grin

HelenaDove · 21/11/2016 19:56

So he was an incompetent fuckwit and your mum had to pay the price.

Nice Hmm

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 20:01

Why is it thoughtless to retail workers? You have to suck it up as part of retail.

Lots of people don't have the luxury of families to visit. It is a very lonely time for them.

People shop for all sorts of reasons not just to buy a top, they have that right. Ultimately it is big business that decides whether shops will open. Most people want the shops open and there are always record breaking sales every year.

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