Page 14 | Do you really need to visit shops on Boxing Day?

kolpa · 2025-12-26T08:26:38+00:00

Before you decide to go to half the stores which are open today, think - do you actually need anything? If not, stay away from them. Those supermarkets that are open would have very few deliveries. Perhaps milk n bread as majority of these are delivered by the bakery and dairy. It depends on if they worked yesterday. As some distribution centres were closed yesterday. I personally believe that people only shop because the shops are open. If some were open yesterday, they would have gone in. A good number of the retail workers today are people who don’t have a car who usually bus it in. But no buses means either get someone to drive them in or get taxi/uber which are 1.5-2 times more expensive. So if you can survive a day of visiting about half the stores which are open today, stay at home or go to others’ homes.

intrepidpanda · 28/12/2025 11:47

So why are you posting on social media that require staff to be working. You should be sitting in darkness with no internet or TV. Don't do anything that you might get hurt and need A&E

Alpacajigsaw · 28/12/2025 11:49

Thanks for the lecture.

I went to the EE shop on Boxing Day as the new iPhone I had bought my son for Christmas wasn’t working. That alright with you?

Nsky62 · 28/12/2025 11:50

saveforthat · 26/12/2025 08:31

The retail staff are there anyway, whether we visit or not.

Without supply and demand they wouldn’t a

Nsky62 · 28/12/2025 11:52

Mikabli · 26/12/2025 08:33

As someone who works in retail we are there anyway and you will never stop people coming out on boxing day. We have enough of people thinking closing in Christmas day is too much 😂

Madness

latetothefisting · 28/12/2025 13:18

NemesisInferior · 27/12/2025 12:36

I used to enjoy working boxing day in retail.

Everyone was in a good mood compared to the clusterfuck that was the few days before christmas, it got me out of the house and the triple time pay was always appreciated. Don't assume that all retail workers are seething for having to work.

Edited

Another one commenting from 1982.
Do you think that many people working in retail (or at all) in 2026 are getting triple pay for working boxing day?
Many won't be getting a penny more than if it was a random Friday in March!

latetothefisting · 28/12/2025 13:23

intrepidpanda · 28/12/2025 11:47

So why are you posting on social media that require staff to be working. You should be sitting in darkness with no internet or TV. Don't do anything that you might get hurt and need A&E

Of all the stupid analogies I've ever read this probably the dumbest.

Yes of course, if that poster wasn't using social media all electricity and essential services would be shut down. Because it's completely doable to split electricity to necessary/non necessary usage by household, and they aren't used anyway for anything else - like in hospitals, power plants, traffic lights or, indeed, shops!

Whereas if someone wasn't able to buy their 25% off t shirt on boxing day they can just buy it on the 27th with absolutely no negative impact on them.

For the hard of thinking:
Shopping is not an essential service that people need to do every single day. Having light and power is.

Nochoiceofuser · 28/12/2025 20:27

Grammarnut · 26/12/2025 10:36

It's a bit sad to go shopping on Boxing Day. And don't the shop assistants deserve two days for Christmas? The only people who NEED to be working are running power stations, staffing hospitals, a few buses to serve those people, police, armed forces, coastguard etc and hospitality e.g. hotels, pubs, brewers (my DS used to work for a brewer and this was their busiest time, so there was a rota for having Christmas/New Year off). Shops do not need to be open at all. Where it not the law that shops must shut on Christmas Day most would be open then, too, and staff get no Christmas!
You do you, the rest of us have better things to do.
And true, I am on my own today (big family Christmas yesterday and at the week-end). I will take my dog to the pub. If you are as concerned as you sound about people being lonely why not volunteer at one of the charities which visit lonely people (not only at Christmas) or provide Christmas Day meals and fun for the homeless and the lonely?
Shops are not charities and also afaik whenever I go shopping, human interaction is nil - even the check-out people don't talk to you, they are on their headset talking to colleagues about issues in the shop.

Edited

Show quote history

Do pubs, hotels etc really need to be open? Surely people using them have their own beds and ample opportunity to buy enough to eat and drink at home on Christmas day and Boxing day?

XenoBitch · 28/12/2025 20:37

Nochoiceofuser · 28/12/2025 20:27

Do pubs, hotels etc really need to be open? Surely people using them have their own beds and ample opportunity to buy enough to eat and drink at home on Christmas day and Boxing day?

Show quote history

My DP sometimes spends xmas at his brothers but stays in a hotel as they have nowhere in their house for him to sleep.
When he has not gone to theirs, he has gone to his local pub on xmas day. It is never quiet there, and he wont be on his own.

There are lots of reasons why someone might need to stay in a hotel, and lots of them still apply over the xmas period.

Nochoiceofuser · 28/12/2025 20:55

XenoBitch · 28/12/2025 20:37

My DP sometimes spends xmas at his brothers but stays in a hotel as they have nowhere in their house for him to sleep.
When he has not gone to theirs, he has gone to his local pub on xmas day. It is never quiet there, and he wont be on his own.

There are lots of reasons why someone might need to stay in a hotel, and lots of them still apply over the xmas period.

Edited

Show quote history

I was being sarcastic (sorry if that didn't come across) every year there are people up in arms because shops are open Boxing day but would be equally up in arms if pubs etc were shut Christmas day and they couldn't have a pint before their Christmas dinner. I'm a 'live and let live' type of person, I don't often go shopping on Boxing day but don't moan about anyone else doing so (whether it's to buy essentials they've run out of or just to buy next year's Christmas cards/wrapping paper at a bargain price)

figgyboos · 28/12/2025 20:59

There are lots of reasons why someone might need to stay in a hotel, and lots of them still apply over the xmas period

Yep- and there are lots of reasons why people might need to nip out to a shop- people have given ample examples in this thread of why they required a shop on Boxing Day and none of them were frivolous or unnecessary. Food, medicine and emergency toiletries/toilet paper being just some of them

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 28/12/2025 21:37

figgyboos · 28/12/2025 20:59

There are lots of reasons why someone might need to stay in a hotel, and lots of them still apply over the xmas period

Yep- and there are lots of reasons why people might need to nip out to a shop- people have given ample examples in this thread of why they required a shop on Boxing Day and none of them were frivolous or unnecessary. Food, medicine and emergency toiletries/toilet paper being just some of them

Yes

and the OP didn’t seem have a problem with that…

Grammarnut · 28/12/2025 23:33

Nochoiceofuser · 28/12/2025 20:27

Do pubs, hotels etc really need to be open? Surely people using them have their own beds and ample opportunity to buy enough to eat and drink at home on Christmas day and Boxing day?

Show quote history

That's a thought. Perhaps we should consider making them close. Mind, the hospitality industry relies on Christmas (and Easter) to generate a lot of income. But shops take all their money before Christmas, they do not need to be open over Christmas (and are shut by law on Christmas Day).
People going out for lunch on Christmas Day is generally unnecessary, I think. But many people will be alone and a restaurant or hotel offering a Christmas package alleviates their loneliness - if they can afford it.
Charities such as the Salvation Army work over Christmas. They offer help, good cheer and a Christmas meal to those who can afford very little.
An idea - let a portion of the profits shops make from being open on Boxing Day go to charity - I'm sure they would be all for it.

BuildbyNumbere · 28/12/2025 23:46

What does it have to do with you whether people want to visit the shops or not?!?

BuildbyNumbere · 28/12/2025 23:47

Alpacajigsaw · 28/12/2025 11:49

Thanks for the lecture.

I went to the EE shop on Boxing Day as the new iPhone I had bought my son for Christmas wasn’t working. That alright with you?

Apparently not.

BuildbyNumbere · 28/12/2025 23:49

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:47

My sister who worked for one of these supermarkets that is open today. If Boxing Day fell on a scheduled day in, there was a race to book it off. It really pissed her off when colleagues that worked 5 hours (8-13) with all their family living within 4 miles of their home got the time off. She - both sets of grandparents (all died) and her OH’s family lived 2 hours plus @drive in different directions. We live in the Midlands. Family lived in Surrey, Liverpool and Bristol . She hardly got it off. So unfair. Those colleagues could have gone home, dressed and be with their families within the hour of finishing work. My sister, finishing at 6pm, not a chance.

Some retailers don’t allow employees to book time off between Xmas and NY

Show quote history

That’s the job 🤷🏻‍♀️ what about nurses, doctors, police etc etc who have to work Xmas day away from their families?!? It’s the job you choose.

mondaytosunday · 29/12/2025 00:29

Well that wouldn’t have helped my son who works in retail! They rely on the post Christmas buyers! He had to work regardless of who comes in and it’s much better to be busy than staring at the clock. Are you suggesting that if no one goes in they will close the shop? My son needs the money thanks.

figgyboos · 29/12/2025 18:46

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 28/12/2025 21:37

Yes

and the OP didn’t seem have a problem with that…

Show quote history

Oh, how very gracious of her not to have a problem with it!

Hear ye! The OP (and presumably her sister?) has kindly decreed that we are allowed to visit the shops on Boxing Day for necessities.

I am so relieved I now have permission to go to the shops! 🤭

LlynTegid · 29/12/2025 18:46

mondaytosunday · 29/12/2025 00:29

Well that wouldn’t have helped my son who works in retail! They rely on the post Christmas buyers! He had to work regardless of who comes in and it’s much better to be busy than staring at the clock. Are you suggesting that if no one goes in they will close the shop? My son needs the money thanks.

Post Christmas buyers can almost all still come in on the 27th. I'm not advocating shops being open and no customers, I support all large stores being shut on December 26th as well as December 25th by law.

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 29/12/2025 18:50

figgyboos · 29/12/2025 18:46

Oh, how very gracious of her not to have a problem with it!

Hear ye! The OP (and presumably her sister?) has kindly decreed that we are allowed to visit the shops on Boxing Day for necessities.

I am so relieved I now have permission to go to the shops! 🤭

Show quote history

Yeah and she didn’t do that either but the dramatics are fun so stick with it…

joggingintherain · 29/12/2025 19:18

LlynTegid · 29/12/2025 18:46

Post Christmas buyers can almost all still come in on the 27th. I'm not advocating shops being open and no customers, I support all large stores being shut on December 26th as well as December 25th by law.

Show quote history

Just as well you aren't in charge then isn't it?

I love going shopping on Boxing Day.

ByKindOpalPoet · 29/12/2025 19:58

LlynTegid · 29/12/2025 18:46

Post Christmas buyers can almost all still come in on the 27th. I'm not advocating shops being open and no customers, I support all large stores being shut on December 26th as well as December 25th by law.

Show quote history

and I support all hospitality being closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day by law after all Christmas drinkers/eaters can come almost all still come in on the 27th.

oh wait it’s okay for someone lonely/on their own to go into a pub on Christmas Day but god forbid they go into a shop on Boxing Day after all poor perfect entitled retail workers can’t cope working Boxing Day can they now

S251 · 30/12/2025 21:36

December2025 · 26/12/2025 08:36

Right and the person who couldn't afford to bulk buy before Christmas?
Or who lives alone and needs to see people? Even just a passing good morning?
Or somebody like me perhaps my mum died 23rd I'm fucking desperate to get out and about and I didn't actually manage to get any fresh bits 23rd or 24th.

You can get out of the house without going to the shops. This comment just shows what sort of world we live in these days. There are so many things you can do outside of your home without it involving shops.

XenoBitch · 30/12/2025 21:46

S251 · 30/12/2025 21:36

You can get out of the house without going to the shops. This comment just shows what sort of world we live in these days. There are so many things you can do outside of your home without it involving shops.

Show quote history

My grandad lived alone and would go to the local shop every day to get his paper. I am just thankful he died before Covid because he would have struggled being trapped at home.
For some people, that little bit of interaction with another person in shops is the only interaction they get.
Also pretty poor form to have a go at a poster who has just lost her mum.

S251 · 30/12/2025 22:31

XenoBitch · 30/12/2025 21:46

My grandad lived alone and would go to the local shop every day to get his paper. I am just thankful he died before Covid because he would have struggled being trapped at home.
For some people, that little bit of interaction with another person in shops is the only interaction they get.
Also pretty poor form to have a go at a poster who has just lost her mum.

Show quote history

I wasn’t having a go at poster. But you do not need to go to the shops to interact with someone. Go for a walk, there are plenty of people walking who you can say “morning” to and strike up a conversation. As a society we have lost the inability to do this.

XenoBitch · 30/12/2025 22:34

S251 · 30/12/2025 22:31

I wasn’t having a go at poster. But you do not need to go to the shops to interact with someone. Go for a walk, there are plenty of people walking who you can say “morning” to and strike up a conversation. As a society we have lost the inability to do this.

Show quote history

I don't think it is up to you to tell people how they should interact with others.