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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that if you're in a shop on Boxing Day...

46 replies

SapphireSeptember · 26/12/2016 18:26

...You shouldn't be telling the staff how disgusting it is that said shop is open, or telling them they should be sitting at home with their families/dog/in front of the fire or TV! Seriously, if you are that disgusted with the company I work for opening their store, maybe you should boycott it on Boxing Day? The idiot who told my MIL she should be sitting at home in front of her fire was apparently shocked that Waitrose were closed today and was complaining about it! Err...(She did point out they would be closed if it weren't for people like him doing their shopping. Which surely perpetuates the cycle of shops opening on Boxing Day? Personally I think Waitrose have the right idea.)

I sometimes wonder if these people get the irony (or hypocrisy) of what they're saying. They should also stop flipping rubbing it in. If I hadn't had to work today I wouldn't have left the house and stayed in bed all morning, instead I woke up while it was dark, and then walked to work while it was still dark, and when I finished work it was dark and I had to walk back home.

OP posts:
TheSlaughterOfHerodificado · 26/12/2016 19:30

Daughter works in retail and she had to work today. She would much rather have had a lie in and eaten chocolate all day like I did.

Witch - You may have been sympathising with the shop staff, but other people were complaining, if you read the original post. It was either "Why are you at work today the day after our Lord's birthday when you should be with your family! You should be ashamed!" or "Why the blue blazes isn't Waitrose open so that I can buy even more food and drink?"

It's particularly stupid to ask someone in one shop why another shop isn't open, I think.

Andrewofgg · 26/12/2016 19:30

If you shopped online today for delivery tomorrow you were making warehouse staff work, weren't you? Or does that not count because you don't see them?

And indeed if you went to a restaurant, or a pub, or a cinema or a theatre today you were making people work? What's the difference?

Again, what about public transport? Over the years I have noticed a strong correlation between belief in more and better public transport and a preference to abolish Sunday and Bank Holiday trading. But trains and buses don't drive each other any more than shops open without staff, do they?

fussychica · 26/12/2016 19:31

I think it's a shame that all shops don't follow Waitrose/John Lewis example and remain closed on Boxing Day and New Years Day. I think it's a bit sad that we can't not shop for 2 days in a row!

JassyRadlett · 26/12/2016 19:34

As I said, I explained I would rather come in tomorrow but as the shops were open and would have sold out of what I needed, I had to go in today.

I'm so curious about what this necessity of life was that isn't available on the 24th of December, will sell out on Boxing Day and never be seen in Boots again.

Or is it just something you wanted, at a particular price, rather than 'needed'? Principles, but not if they cost anything, eh?

feellikeanalien · 26/12/2016 19:34

But if you buy online the workers packing and delivering are having to work on Boxing day.

I really don't think the country will go into meltdown because the shops close for two days.

We have become used to getting things on demand but, seriously, is the world going to end because you haven't been able to buy yet another handbag or pair of shoes at 6 a.m. on Boxing day?

I like shopping when I've got money but I think we in the developed world are too obsessed with consumerism and the need to acquire yet more things we don't need.

susurration · 26/12/2016 19:38

Definitely YANBU. Its not just shops either. I work in the Heritage industry and got similar comments today too.

I was moments away from bonking someone on the head with my card scanner today and saying 'i'm only effing here, because you are you moron.' Luckily I bit my tongue and smiled almost sweetly.

00100001 · 26/12/2016 19:39

Give it a few years and the shops will be open on the day itself.

Starlight2345 · 26/12/2016 19:42

I went today for batteries...

I refused to shop last year because I don't agree shops should be open. I returned an item for exchange the following day they had sold them all off so was unable to exchange...

So while I didn't go into do the sales shop if I need them in future I won't wait till 27th..

cheminotte · 26/12/2016 19:42

Yanbu.
I think shops should stay closed for both days so deliberately didn't buy anything today either online or on the high street.

Sparklemummyx0x0x · 26/12/2016 19:56

Would be lovely to get a day off on Boxing Day, but hey, lives have to be saved

HackAttack · 26/12/2016 20:02

I don't agree with shops being open on boxing day so wouldn't go near. I don't 'need' sale items

NotOneIota · 26/12/2016 20:10

I was at work for a 9am start today. I work in a shop that sells toileteries/fragrance/make up. No need for us to open today, no emergency milk/cigs/bread/wine merchandise. I can't see what harm it would do for us to close for the day. No miserable customers though..hallelujah!

yoowhoo · 26/12/2016 20:30

So do you think it's better to not go to shops at all on boxing day even though they are open? I went to one shop today but to be honest I kind of forgot it was boxing day! To me, the special days are Christmas eve and Christmas day. I used to work in a pub on Christmas day and Boxing day and really enjoyed it. I agree shops don't need to be open on boxing day, I wonder what we can do to make them shut? I feel bad now for going to the one shop today. It wasn't a high street store. But do feel bad. But I sort of feel like they will always open as people will always use them so should we just shop or not?

MrsWickens · 26/12/2016 20:31

sparklemummy that's the difference. Lives do need to be saved but people don't need to shop.

Hushabyelullaby · 26/12/2016 20:40

We haven't even left the house today, but there were people queuing at the local retail park from 3am apparently. Sheer madness!

HelenaDove · 26/12/2016 21:05

I was on the Thames Water fb page last night reading the comments from angry customers about the water pump failure on Christmas Day.

As expected there were the usual trolly type comments reminding customers paying for their water service how lucky they were that engineers were giving up their Christmas Day with their families to restore their water supply.

I wonder if any of the fair number of ppl making those comments ventured into a shop today. Xmas Hmm

I walked the mile to my parents just before lunchtime. and i live near one of those designer shopping outlets. I had one car stop and ask me directions to the place. And the high amount of traffic and impatience of some other drivers was unbeliveable. Honking horns with impatience while pedestrians are crossing the zebra crossing when the light is showing the green man. Its bloody ridiculous.

Basicbrown · 26/12/2016 21:10

You could be lying in the sun, on the beach, traveling to your holiday destination, relaxing, not shopping, doing nothing the day after Christmas Day, but instead you're in the shops? Again?!

For the record it was a beautiful, sunny day today here and I live in the Northern Hemisphere (UK). I honestly can't think of anything worse than going shopping on Boxing Day.

CombineBananaFister · 26/12/2016 21:21

Me and DS went for a walk to blow the cobwebs off today, we live near to an historic, touristy city which makes it a lovely scenic route.

Luckily it's landed as my day off today but I worked late xmas eve and DH worked xmas day and today (chef Sad ) I have to say, despite lots of shops being open, it did not look busy at all. Certainly not as busy as previous years. Not sure if it was quiet inside the shops too as we didn't go in, just walked along the river. Maybe people are taking a small stance?

CombineBananaFister · 26/12/2016 21:22

Oh, and YANBU - total muppets

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2016 21:30

Meh- I had to go out today, my 5 guinea-pigs emptied the veg supply this morning (in spite of me having filled the fridge on Friday) they need to eat (pretty constantly) so I had to stock up for their supper/breakfast tomorrow.

Shoot me Hmm

SapphireSeptember · 27/12/2016 18:36

Just a quick note, I am not saying it's unreasonable to go into a shop on Boxing Day if you need something, 70s guinea pigs needed feeding, and my poor mum needed to send my brother up to the shops for some medicine as she woke up yesterday feeling dreadful. Or if you've run out of milk or something. My gripe is with the people who say these things while doing the opposite of what they're saying. Or people like my friend's MIL who does a massive shop on Christmas Eve and then is back in on Boxing Day doing another massive shop. I don't understand that. My friend thinks she's mad.

(I wouldn't shoot you 70, I love reading about your piggies!)

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