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?

'Twas Boxing Dat at Tesco
(A truly terrible thought).
The checkout staff were near to tears -
The customers overwrought.

The manager got on the public address
To cheer them up a bit:
"What sort of day are you having?"
And everyone answered

Tidings of comfort and joy!

Not bad for an impromptu effort, I hope!

Cantspell2, so if we live in a 24/7 consumer world how come the rest of Europe doesn't? Lots of shops are closed Sundays and still have half day closing.

Do people in France, Belgium, Germany etc not work long hours and yet still manage to shop Mon to Sat?

Could it be because the British are so obsessed with shopping, spending and so materialistic? When I lived in France that is what the French thought of the British, that we are so materialistic.

I still maintain no one NEEDS to go shopping on Boxing Day to buy something they could not have bought on the other 364 days the shops are open.

Most sales are crap and if the shops didn't open BD then the sales would just start on the 27th still with the crap

I don't get boxing day shopping.
But then I don't get black Friday and cyber monday.

Britiah shopping traditions are quickly becoming like the never-ending DFS sale that will be ending soon.

To be honest, this is how I felt doing my normal supermarket shop in a packed supermarket this week.

Oh noooo. The shops will be closed for 1 whole day!!!!

I've shopped on Boxing Day before and I've worked in retail on Boxing Day before. I'd rather stick forks in my eyes than go anywhere on the 26th 27th 28th 29th these days. I like digging in and just hibernating between Christmas and NY. There will be shops, people, routines and obligations again soon enough #old 🎄🎅🏼

@ShotsFired

A strange post, but okay... my parents were divorced, so growing up, I had to go between their houses on Xmas day/ Boxing Day. That's how I remember the roads being deserted.

In Amsterdam a lot of the shops are open on Boxing day. Most of them open on Sunday. Public transport runs on Christmas day. So I don't think it's a given that European shops are necessarily open less frequently than UK ones.

All this “we live in a 24/7 retail consumer society” is to regurgitating marketing crap the shops want you to believe as a consumer. Many countries aren’t like this and believe it or not don’t have hordes of people fighting to get into the shops on Boxing Day. People seem to think the world is like the Uk . Step outside and you’ll realise it really isn’t l.

Yes, but the UK is like the UK. And on Tuesday a lot of people will vote with their feet to keep the shops open on Boxing Day.

I wish people wouldn't. My husband works in a shop and is there until late Christmas Eve and back early on Boxing Day 😔 for stuff that isn't a necessity, it just seems excessive.

I wouldn't dream of shopping on Boxing Day. It's a day for pyjamas, trashy tv, chocolate and family.

The fact that I have to set my alarm so I can be at work for 5am saddens me deeply.

I really wish if shops had to open then Sunday hours should suffice

ilovesooty, ok maybe shops are open in Amsterdam but they are not in other parts of Holland. Nor in France, Germany, Belgium etc

We are not just talking about London in the UK are we? Across the whole country shops are open on Boxing Day, almost all except M&S.

Consumerism gone mad...
But how many of us will look online?
I know I will

Why wouldn't shops be open though? I don't think it is necessarily because people in the UK are more materialistic. But maybe more multicultural? It s just a normal fucking day for many people.

lolita
So if it's just another day thrn why thr hell would it be horrendous for thr shops to be closed?

I can't believe people can't manage a bank holiday without thinking 'gosh i must go and buy even more stuff... what do you mean the shops are closed for a day!? That's outrageous. I must have my shopping hit'.

We do live in a consumerist society, and in an age of instant gratification. We also live in an age where increasing numbers of people don't live in family units any more.

On that basis, there is no reason why boxing day is anything special in terms of stopping everyday activities. In any case people moaning about shopping are often quite happy in indulge in leisure activities that wouldn't happen without people I service industries being at work.

Shops aren't closed on normal days though. Maisy

To me, the difference is that retail is notoriously awful in the run up to Christmas (and I accept it’s the same for pubs, restaurants etc and tbh I would favour them being closed to but hey) but in terms of gestures, I think it would be nice to have a couple of days off for retail staff after the manic run up to Christmas and a proper unwind.

I ruddy love christmas sales. Lovely stuff at a cheaper price

An estimated £850 million will be spent on online shopping today according to an article in the Guardian yesterday.

They reckon online shopping on Christmas day is more popular than watching TV.

I am totally against it. The poor retail staff should be at home with their families. I say this as someone who has just worked Xmas eve and had people saying how unfair it is we have to work....they didn't seem to grasp the concept that if people didn't shop last minute then others wouldn't have to be at work!

Shops close 3 days here (Germany), 24 - 26 December

I went out 7pm on the 23rd to buy fruit & yoghurt, expecting it to be crowded hell ....

Instead, the lovely food & drinks hypermarket literally had only 1-2 customers per till, many tills closed
The customers, like me, just had one small basket, no trolleys

It was very quiet and stress-free, so a bit of cultural shock
How do they manage it !

Confession time.

Having coffee in Starbucks. I hope the staff are volunteers and getting premium pay.

The DC and I will be eating lunch in the Sainsbury's café, spending Christmas money, doing the usual food shop, then home. This is only because Christmas day falls on a Monday, which would be our normal Sainsbury's café day.

Love it Andrew!