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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Opening at 11 on Sunday....

125 replies

00100001 · 22/09/2019 10:34

AIBU to find the trend for 11-5 opening hours in a Sunday a real PITA?

I'm up and about trying to get stuff done and half the bloody shops aren't open until 11

OP posts:
anothermansmother · 22/09/2019 10:35

I say the same thing each week then all of the retail park near where I live have moved their hours to 11-5.

Butttons · 22/09/2019 10:36

It's not a trend, it's a legal requirement (Sunday trading law). It's not so long ago that shops didnt open on sundays at all (many still dont). Retailers should still have the option of a day off at the weekend

YABU

DeadBod · 22/09/2019 10:38

I think if they are going to be open on a Sunday then they may as well do full hours like the rest of the week.
There will be posters coming along saying they feel sorry for the staff having to work Sundays but, as a 24/7 shift worker, I can't see any reason why they shouldn't.

Topseyt · 22/09/2019 10:38

Well, I think Sunday trading laws are antiquated and should be ditched anyway.

Staff could still have the same amount of time off each week, just not dictate by archaic laws, some of them religious.

Vulpine · 22/09/2019 10:40

Small businesses, fine - but massive super market chains? Sunday trading is archaic.

WhoCaresWins01 · 22/09/2019 10:40

It's because the shops will have more trade between 4pm / 5pm than between 10am/ 11am. Not everyone is up on Sunday morning!

Shakennotshook · 22/09/2019 10:41

I'm so glad to be in Scotland where those rules dont exist. It's absolutely crazy to go to the metro centre and see everything shutting at 4 or 5!

Wizzbangpop · 22/09/2019 10:41

I like 10-4 a lot better.
Yanbu I know the reasons behind Sunday opening hours but they do feel more old fashioned as times move on. Especially with many high street shops struggling, perhaps if they were open longer then they wouldn’t be as much. I know there are other factors involved but I think the ones which can be addressed should be

whatsthecraic91 · 22/09/2019 10:41

Here in Northern Ireland the shops don’t open until 1pm on a Sunday!

BlueBilledBeatboxingBird · 22/09/2019 10:42

Big stores can only open for six continuous hours on a Sunday and they must be taken between 10am and 6pm. Retailers choose the six hours with the greatest footfall and that generally means 11-5.

Wizzbangpop · 22/09/2019 10:43

In London some shops it’s 12-6 which is even more annoying somehow

IAmALazyArse · 22/09/2019 10:44

Buses are crap on Sunday morning in majority of areas. Better to open at 11 rather than having issues with staff not getting in on time.

dementedpixie · 22/09/2019 10:49

Also in Scotland so we don't have Sunday trading hours, thankfully. Although we cant buy alcohol before 10am or after 10pm any day of the week which can be a pain at times

Lunafortheloveogod · 22/09/2019 10:59

Also in Scotland and no where in our town besides one small shop opens before 10 on a Sunday. And it’s the only one open after 6.. with a supermarket keeping it company from 4pm but anywhere else is either 3/4 or shut completely.

Some places also open later because of public transport, you can’t get anywhere till 10/11 from here so logically the bigger town near by opening clothes shops at 9 would be an hour of really poor trade and possibly staff cover issues.

Teddybear45 · 22/09/2019 11:03

Sunday opening hours are shit and don’t make sense any more. Also, they don’t apply to small traders so in some cities you often see that the big shops in the city centre has closed but walk 15 minutes to a local centre and all the shops will be open until 11 or 12.

Ithinkwerealonenowtiffany · 22/09/2019 11:19

Its a PITA. Very outdated and no need for it this day.

duebaby2 · 22/09/2019 11:32

If you opened earlier as a trader it would cost a lot more to staff a shop and keep it going all day as you barely get the customers through the door on a Sunday as it is but first thing in the morning nobody is around until at least lunchtime so for the handful of customers who want something at 8am/9am they are paying more than it's worth in bills.

Large supermarkets, some large brand shops are open and so are coffee shops well before 11am. You can also view between 9/10am and 11am.

I don't see it as unfair really. What I see as unfair is working in retail on Christmas extended hours which a lot of the time can be bending/breaking the law on working hours.

In one job a few years back they used to open early in the Christmas period (August to January) and we'd get no one for the first two hours so one of us went across the road on a coffee run and we all sat around having a coffee until customers arrived then we actually started work but that was the managers day off so that's also probably why.

SimonJT · 22/09/2019 11:36

Lots of places are 12-6 here (London), it works brilliantly as we can do our morning swim, go to the park, eat out for lunch and still have time to go to the shops.

AlexaShutUp · 22/09/2019 11:40

I don't like Sunday trading hours but 11-5 is much better than 10-4 imo. The shops will presumably choose the hours that are most profitable for them.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 22/09/2019 11:40

Almost all supermarket workers have to do a weekend shift as compulsory. This means for many people they dont get much family time as of course their children are at school when they get a day off in the week. Shorter hours on a Sunday help towards this.

U2HasTheEdge · 22/09/2019 11:46

YANBU and as another shift worker I also don't buy the argument that it isn't fair on retail workers if they were to trade normal hours on a Sunday.

Boobiliboobiliboo · 22/09/2019 11:46

Almost all supermarket workers have to do a weekend shift as compulsory. This means for many people they dont get much family time as of course their children are at school when they get a day off in the week. Shorter hours on a Sunday help towards this.

So are retail workers some special group, then? Because setting aside those in public services, hospitality workers, entertainment workers (eg bowling, cinema, soft play), transport workers, recovery drivers, engineers (road works) etc are in the same boat but without the need for special dispensation, it seems.

janj2301 · 22/09/2019 11:48

Talk to staff in shops NO ONE WANTS TO WORK SUNDAY, suggesting a day in the week is no use, I can't see my family who are at school or work during the week. Most of these places are open from 8 am to 10 pm, can't you shop during those opening hours. I'd prefer ALL shops to be closed Sunday.

57Varieties · 22/09/2019 11:49

YANBU

Sunday trading laws in England are stupid. Plenty of people have to work Sunday as a normal working day, I don’t get why some people seem to think shop staff should be some sort of special case.

Biker47 · 22/09/2019 11:50

The sooner Sunday trading laws are binned the better.

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