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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you really need to visit shops on Boxing Day?

352 replies

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:26

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.

OP posts:
HaveaVeryMerryBerryChristmas · 26/12/2025 08:43

Yes, because we have ran out of bread; we forgot an extra loaf before Christmas. Why do you care? The staff are there regardless.
I do agree though that they should all just be closed boxing day.

Heidispep · 26/12/2025 08:43

I think all supermarkets and retail should be closed for the two days over Christmas but like you said if they are open people will go. I actually need to pop out myself for some bread so….

BunnyLake · 26/12/2025 08:45

I need to go to the shops today as I have no ‘proper’ food in. It’s all left over buffet type stuff that I’m sick of the sight of.

EleanorReally · 26/12/2025 08:45

i need milk and will pick up some presents ordered for people seeing at the weekend.
still want that panetonne

lastminutepicks · 26/12/2025 08:45

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:37

Then don’t say it’s a dreadful thing to open today to staff as it’s people like you that make head offices of these companies to continue to open in future BDs

My parents’ neighbour is a manager of Home Bargains. The store is shut for customers but they have a few people in to condense Xmas lines, move stock about etc

Why do you think I have any interest in telling people working today that it’s dreadful their shop is open? I don’t care if it’s open or not but if it is the only thing I will say is ‘thank you’ when I pay.

it’s really weird of you to assume everyone going to a shop will be telling staff they think it’s dreadful their shop is open. I don’t give a fuck. I have also worked my fair share of Boxing Day so who are you to tell me how I feel about it? It’s not dreadful at all, of shops want to open on Boxing Day that’s entirely up to them.

NightIbble · 26/12/2025 08:46

I work retail and it always annoyed me when people would come in and say how sorry they were that we had to work Boxing Day! If people didn't come in we wouldn't have to! If it is not profitable and they made a loss then the shops wouldn't be open!

Original poster
kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:47

Crofthead · 26/12/2025 08:37

The people working Boxing Day getting taxis to work arranged this from their own free will. No one forced them to work in that role so presumably it’s their choice. If they didn’t like it they wouldn’t work there.

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

OP posts:
NameChangeElaine · 26/12/2025 08:47
  1. Buses ARE running depending on where you live, they are where I am
  2. Retail workers (and bus drivers) get paid more today so I know several people who WANTED to work it and actively volunteered because they could do with the extra money - don’t assume all workers are there against their will
Original poster
kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:47

NightIbble · 26/12/2025 08:46

I work retail and it always annoyed me when people would come in and say how sorry they were that we had to work Boxing Day! If people didn't come in we wouldn't have to! If it is not profitable and they made a loss then the shops wouldn't be open!

This!

OP posts:
Grapewrath · 26/12/2025 08:49

I won’t be shopping today but I have people to talk to, a budget to do a bulk shop and nobody who needs anything.
Not even everyone celebrates Christmas, let them live. I’d go to the gym today if it was open. It’s just a bank holiday

Changingplace · 26/12/2025 08:49

MakeTeaNotWar · 26/12/2025 08:32

i’d like to get out of the house for half an hour and have a change of scenery. I’ll be popping in

I want to get out of the house too, going shopping is very very low down on my list of things I considered doing.

Crofthead · 26/12/2025 08:49

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

Yea but she would have known that before as and still decided to remain in the role. The point I am making is she he people working all made the choice to be there, it’s not slavery they were not forced.

figgyboos · 26/12/2025 08:49

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

So what? the world doesn't revolve around your sister.

I used to LIKE working on Boxing Day when I worked in retail as I enjoyed the extra cash and frankly, I needed a break from my family by that point.

You don't get to decide what other people should or shouldn't do. You aren't God.

LlynTegid · 26/12/2025 08:49

Eviebeans · 26/12/2025 08:37

I think you’re approaching this from the wrong angle- if the shops weren’t open no one could go into them- there would be no choice
We will be going out for a walk later and if any shops are open we might go in 🤷‍♀️

Any campaign should be aimed at the supermarkets etc

I think the large shops closure on Christmas Day should be extended to Boxing Day. Also New Years Day.

By law.

Original poster
kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:50

NameChangeElaine · 26/12/2025 08:47

  1. Buses ARE running depending on where you live, they are where I am
  2. Retail workers (and bus drivers) get paid more today so I know several people who WANTED to work it and actively volunteered because they could do with the extra money - don’t assume all workers are there against their will

Not in many places. Certainly not in the county. My sister worked for 13 years for the supermarket. Her base salary went up almost annually. The premium which was a set amount didn’t. She started it was time and a third. Now it’s time and a fifth. She left last year

OP posts:
Changingplace · 26/12/2025 08:51

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 26/12/2025 08:33

I can't imagine anything worse than going shopping in Boxing Day. But if the shops are open, then some people will use them.

Same, I had quite enough of busy shops pre Christmas, the idea of going shopping today fills me with dread.

bleakmidwintering · 26/12/2025 08:51

Do you like telling people what to do op? I think I might actually go shopping today now just to piss you off!

Original poster
kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:53

Crofthead · 26/12/2025 08:49

Yea but she would have known that before as and still decided to remain in the role. The point I am making is she he people working all made the choice to be there, it’s not slavery they were not forced.

Show quote history

There was tears everytime the colleagues didn’t get BD

Job market is crap for the past 6 years

OP posts:
ButterflySky · 26/12/2025 08:54

I got everything that I needed so that I wouldn't have to go today...

BUT I wouldn't begrudge anybody going today, you don't know why they are going, they might just want to get out of the home, need a little interaction. And even if they just fancy a packet of monster munch, the shops are open anyway.

Also, I worked for years in a restaurant that between the hours of 2-4 was completely dead. Very rare to have any customers turn up, I was so bored all of the time & if somebody did come in it was like 'Yay! I didn't just come in for nothing!'
(So the staff in the shops today might actually not mind having some customers)

Also, my child had a projectile vomiting incident on Christmas eve which lost us a 4 pack of toilet roll & 3 packs of baby wipes, so I'm now not sure if I will have enough for today, & maybe need to go to the shop. So something like that may have happened, for others.

Original poster
kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:54

I believe those who never worked in retail are shopping today.

OP posts:
figgyboos · 26/12/2025 08:55

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:54

I believe those who never worked in retail are shopping today.

I posted upthread, I've worked in retail. Used to like working Boxing Day.

Not everyone is the same as your sister. HTH

ByKindOpalPoet · 26/12/2025 08:56

i have and I will be. Life doesn’t stop because your sister couldn’t cope working on Boxing Day. Good job she wasn’t working for the emergency services then, if she couldn’t cope working today then jeez how would she have coped working Christmas Day.

greenwithglee · 26/12/2025 08:56

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:50

Not in many places. Certainly not in the county. My sister worked for 13 years for the supermarket. Her base salary went up almost annually. The premium which was a set amount didn’t. She started it was time and a third. Now it’s time and a fifth. She left last year

Show quote history

This happened to me- I used to get double time on bank holidays. As minimum wage went up, they said it was no longer double time, just enhanced pay. Eventually the two amounts met. Sometimes I would then choose to work bank holidays if I didnt have plans, but it was no longer a no-brainer.

Lots of complaining and muttering from boss that no one was stepping up to do bank holidays anymore and it wasnt like that when they started, and they were grateful for the work... errr well of course, you got paid well for it!!!

FromageTime · 26/12/2025 08:57

I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less than go shopping today, nor on any day of the next week.

LlynTegid · 26/12/2025 08:57

kolpa · 26/12/2025 08:54

I believe those who never worked in retail are shopping today.

Or never worked on a Sunday or Bank holiday.