To find Boxing Day Shopping a Bit Sad?

[Screepy]

Just that really!

I remember growing up, EVERYWHERE shut over the Christmas period. The roads were dead. It was very peaceful.

Now, it seems that the January sales have become the 'Boxing Day Sales'! I was chatting to some of my mum's friends and they were planning on going out shopping on Boxing Day!?! How can anyone be bothered?

If one of my relatives/ friends insisted on getting up at 4am on Boxing Day for the Next sale, I'd feel quite sorry for them. I understand that some people can't pay full price, but there are always charity shops? They're always cheap and open all year round!

My Mum used to get up for the Next sale in the 90s. She’d be back before we even got up. She was usually an early riser though so it didn’t bother her. I just can’t be arsed though!

The thing is, the staff who work there must have a horrible Christmas.

How much would you be able to relax knowing your working day began at 4?

Next advertise for staff spacificly to work Boxing Day, the bonus is they get first dibs on the sale items. I have been tempted to do it in the past, wouldn’t do it now as I like my bed too much.

Gillybeanz, I worked in retail because after working in an office for almost 30 years when I wanted to go part time it was the only job I could get. I needed to work so had to put up with working every bank holiday and not enjoying Christmas as much as I had previous years because I had to go to bed early to make sure I got up on Boxing Day.

Also no one should "need" to go shopping on Boxing Day. What exactly might they NEED to buy? Shops have been closed for one day not one month

whilst I sympathise with those having to work, they took the job.

Of course. Because everybody can pick and choose what job they take. I suspect that for many people, like myself when I worked in retail, it was as much about what work is available to them, that fits their circumstances, as about desperately wanting to work in retail.

I live on the coast and it seems everyone with in a 30 mile radius drives down for a walk on the sea front with kids and their new bikes and scooters. It is mayhem and I would rather shop than partake in a brisk seafront walk.
After everyone has had enough sea air they want to chill in the local pubs or get s hot coffee in the cafe so most are open as they want/ need the trade.
I am old enough that I remember shops being closed on a Sunday and half day Wednesday but times have moved on. I am sure we could survive if we went back to this but in truth no one wants to. We live in a 24/7 consumer world and so have to accept Boxing Day is another retail day.

Also no one should "need" to go shopping on Boxing Day. What exactly might they NEED to buy? Shops have been closed for one day not one month

I answered this upthread. The sales start on Boxing Day and people want the pick of the bargains. Anyone taking the moral highground by not shopping until the 27th will be left with the dregs that no-one else wants.

Many would be happy to wait a day if the shops forced everyone to wait by not opening.

After everyone has had enough sea air they want to chill in the local pubs or get a hot coffee in the cafe so most are open as they want/ need the trade.

I expect some on this thread would like the pubs and cafes forced to close too.

I like the use of "chill" which is just what they don't want to do

I wouldn’t go and personally think it’s a bit shit on the staff who have to work.

For as long as I can remember my mums best mate has been at Next on Boxing Day At 6 am to join the QUEUE to get in. That to me is fucking weird haha

I answered this upthread. The sales start on Boxing Day and people want the pick of the bargains. Anyone taking the moral highground by not shopping until the 27th will be left with the dregs that no-one else wants.

Maybe they might not even go shopping until the 28th or even the 29th or 30th, and they might not even be looking for a bargain...

They might just be going to shops for stuff they actually need, and are willing to pay whatever it costs.

It can all be done online
No need for retailers to enforce workers to give up their holiday time away from family

Emergency services etc do it but this obsession with shopping isn’t healthy

This

It can all be done online

So the people in the warehouses (Amazon call them "fulfilment centres" which I consider a hoot) don't matter?

Could it be just that you don't see them having to work but you see the people in the bricks-and-mortar shops and you feel embarrassed?

"The sales start on Boxing Day and people want the pick of the bargains. Anyone taking the moral highground by not shopping until the 27th will be left with the dregs that no-one else wants."

Nothing sadder than people who camp outside Next etc. waiting for the 'bargains'. Consumerism at its worst.

So the people in the warehouses (Amazon call them "fulfilment centres" which I consider a hoot) don't matter?

I get your point but if the 'fulfilment centres' were shut for the two days they wouldn't have to be working either.

At the end of the day it's the retailers that are pushing Xmas and Boxing Day sales down our throats but then trying to say that the public demands it. We all know that we would survive if the sales started on the 27th just like they did until a few years ago.

Andrew if the pubs and cafes were forced to close for Christmas they would probably be closed for good. These businesses need busy Christmas and summer trading or they don’t survive for the rest of the year.
Plus I bet half of those moaning about the shops being open Boxing Day are quite willing to have a pub lunch.

I agree with cantspell. Life has changed too. I work full time all the time, often 50+ hours a week, DH too except he's an actual workaholic. I could not cope if the shops only opened 9-5 Mon to Sat (and yes I remember Wednesday half days) and no internet.

I also enjoy a cpl of hours mooching at the weekend, often with a coffee and quiet think thrown in.

Would I go on Boxing Day? No, I have a house full of food and stuff on boxing day.

We are going Racing instead

And of course nobody has to work to make Boxing Day racing possible!

I hate it. I worked in retail all through college and uni and then full time after graduation. It was the Christmas where I was still putting the sale on at 11:30pm on Xmas eve and was back in my shop at 7am Boxing Day that was the most depressing.

I wish we could have the shops closed for one more day at least.

I'm in retail and I loathe BD trade and would happily ban it. People come in and throw tantrums over their unwanted stuff (not my fault your idiot husband didn't come in November/know your dress size/get a gift receipt) or bumble in for a mooch and duly destroy displays, ask are we in sale (did the windows yelling SALE not tell you?) where is sale (behind you under the fucking great sale sign, stupid), bleat that the one thing they wanted hasn't gone in (tough shit), complain that they don't see their size or whine that there's not enough money off. As for people who say "so awful you're working" perhaps if you weren't out fuelling the demand for BD opening, I might have a day off. Ironically it's never the people yelling that their missed postal orders will wreck xmas that come in. Wholeheartedly agree with PPs saying it's ridiculous that people mind about this but aren't half as bothered about the NHS running on skele staff at weekends. Mind you, I feel like this about the NHS and Sunday trading, too.

WRT to people saying you miss the best stuff if you don't go on Boxing Day, that's only true for retailers who whip up a frenzy about their sale and start their sale ON Boxing Day. Everywhere I've worked has always started their sale earlier and there's plenty of most things to go round after xmas returns come back. And retailers often add more lines and do further markdowns after Christmas so you can do well to wait. What goes in first wave often isn't best sellers and if an item is that popular it often gets sold out in popular sizes before it hits sale anyway. Most gift receipts also have long dates- so you don't need to come in on Boxing Day.

When I worked at River Island they had a whole stock room of clothes that were just for the sale. They never saw the light of day any other time of the year- truly gopping stuff as well.

I'll be eating left over turkey and having mulled wine no way I'm going near a shop!

@Screepy I remember growing up, EVERYWHERE shut over the Christmas period. The roads were dead. It was very peaceful

So presumably you were out and about to see these deserted roads then? Why were you authorised to use the roads and be outside when others were not?

More pertinently, why do you give a fuck what other people choose to do with their personal time?

My dsis works in the spar. Isn't working BD but is working CHristmas day. And she wanted that shift as they do short shifts and pay well above the normal rate. She'll be home by lunchtime and well paid for it.

Being paid normal rate to work on Christmas or Boxing day isn't on, in my opinion.

Dh is taking the boy to a football match so ill be taking the girls shopping. Weather us awful today and tomorrow willbe the same sonot a day for walking so shopping on Boxing Day it is!