Page 8 | 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.

tripleginandtonic · 26/12/2025 10:35

I never shop on Boxing day OP.

musicalfrog · 26/12/2025 10:35

Absolutely not. I wish everyone had 2 full days off over Christmas. I know that's not practical for some industries but for retail it certainly should be!

CornishTiger · 26/12/2025 10:35

5128gap · 26/12/2025 10:23

I think there's valid issue underneath this, about the way workers are exploited for profit, and the way capitalism erodes family life/wellbeing of workers. However, you're coming at it from the wrong end of things. If everyone boycotted shops on Boxing Day, the loss of profit would filter is way down to poorer conditions for workers and higher costs for consumers. Because the capitalism that drives shops to open will feed itself first.
I think a better approach would be to campaign for better rights for retail workers. So working unsociable shifts was appropriately rewarded, and there was choice whether to work them. Lots of people would choose to work, if for example, they got double time. That way, the customer gets the convenience and the staff are not exploited.

This is an interesting perspective to give some thought to.

musicalfrog · 26/12/2025 10:35

Absolutely not. I wish everyone had 2 full days off over Christmas. I know that's not practical for some industries but for retail it certainly should be!

Grammarnut · 26/12/2025 10:36

TittyGajillions · 26/12/2025 08:29

You do you boo, don't try and dictate what others do.
Some people might need the human interaction that shopping provides 🤷‍♀️

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.

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 26/12/2025 10:37

When DC were little and we were hard up I was very grateful for Boxing Day and other bank holiday opening days in my retail job. They were paid at a higher hourly rate than other days and were a valuable addition to our income.

23doorsdown · 26/12/2025 10:39

@Grammarnut why is it sadder to go to the shops as opposed to a pub or restaurant or cinema?

Ironfloor269 · 26/12/2025 10:40

Hell no, OP, we are all over the
Boxing Day sales. Planning to hit the market shopping mall clothes shops and then the supermarkets for reduced Christmas decorations and food.

notimagain · 26/12/2025 10:44

ViperHalliwell · 26/12/2025 10:18

I'm not planning to shop on Boxing Day, but if your concern is for retail workers who are inconvenienced because there's no bus service, wouldn't it make more sense to ask people to petition the bus companies to offer service, even if it's on a reduced holiday schedule? Scotland seems to manage this, just for example.

Agreed.

As several pps have mentioned there are a large number of workers in many many industries, not just retail, the NHS or the emergency services, who are exposed to working 24/7/365.

Yet for some reason in the UK at least, even in London, it's deemed acceptable that large chunks of the public transport system should pretty much shut down completely over the Christmas period.

23doorsdown · 26/12/2025 10:44

Why are people using MNs on Boxing Day? Is that necessary? Someone will be working to enable that.

user33992020 · 26/12/2025 10:45

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?

Who says people don't already do that.

Why doesn't the same apply to you then? why are YOU going to the pub if those people working at the pub deserve two full days off? are they not as deserving as retail workers? No-one needs to go to the pub FGS. you are just as guilty as the people you are berating 🤣

ChangeIsDue · 26/12/2025 10:54

Good point about the empty supermarket shelves OP. We can certainly manage without going for a day or so. I wonder when they will get replenished?

Namechange568899542 · 26/12/2025 10:57

I don’t get why there’s always posts insinuating people in the supermarkets on Boxing Day are the devil and must be there on jolly because they’ve got nothing else to do. The supermarket is not an exciting experience, you can reasonably assume that if someone’s in one it’s because they need something. I know someone who’s oven broke yesterday, someone who’s fridge broke and someone else who’s microwave packed up. All of those people now need alternative stuff for dinner today.

The assumption that every retail worker is in dire straits, car-less, and sadly looking out the window of their Tescos store thinking of all their children at home missing out is also insulting. A lot of retail/hospitality workers like working bank holidays because their hourly rate is increased on those days. There are also plenty of other retail jobs that close on Christmas or bank holidays. The virtue signalling is ridiculous.

Natsku · 26/12/2025 10:57

5128gap · 26/12/2025 10:23

I think there's valid issue underneath this, about the way workers are exploited for profit, and the way capitalism erodes family life/wellbeing of workers. However, you're coming at it from the wrong end of things. If everyone boycotted shops on Boxing Day, the loss of profit would filter is way down to poorer conditions for workers and higher costs for consumers. Because the capitalism that drives shops to open will feed itself first.
I think a better approach would be to campaign for better rights for retail workers. So working unsociable shifts was appropriately rewarded, and there was choice whether to work them. Lots of people would choose to work, if for example, they got double time. That way, the customer gets the convenience and the staff are not exploited.

Agree. In my country the collective agreements that Unions have bargained for in the service sector makes sure workers get double time working on public holidays like Christmas, and some agreements also give an extra kick to the hourly rate before the double time. Makes it rather lucrative to work those days!
Don't know if other sectors that work during holidays have similar agreements but most likely, or some other form of compensation (I think it might actually be a basic law that working on a public holiday gets you the Sunday rate of double time)

PinkBuffalo · 26/12/2025 11:03

I need to go tescos cos my microwave did give up yesterday. I always spend xmas and new year and inbetween alone so I will go cos I need to get one

monchichilarue · 26/12/2025 11:07

Namechange568899542 · 26/12/2025 10:57

I don’t get why there’s always posts insinuating people in the supermarkets on Boxing Day are the devil and must be there on jolly because they’ve got nothing else to do. The supermarket is not an exciting experience, you can reasonably assume that if someone’s in one it’s because they need something. I know someone who’s oven broke yesterday, someone who’s fridge broke and someone else who’s microwave packed up. All of those people now need alternative stuff for dinner today.

The assumption that every retail worker is in dire straits, car-less, and sadly looking out the window of their Tescos store thinking of all their children at home missing out is also insulting. A lot of retail/hospitality workers like working bank holidays because their hourly rate is increased on those days. There are also plenty of other retail jobs that close on Christmas or bank holidays. The virtue signalling is ridiculous.

Yes, it's ridiculous. I am going to the supermarket later on today because I have run out of food, not because it's my idea of a wonderful, fun, exciting thing to do on Boxing Day. Good grief- bloody no-one thinks that.

Oh, and for people saying why didnt you get enough - I DID when I went shopping which was a week ago now. I am sticking to my same weekly scheduled shop because I was working all this week and therefore did not have time to do it any other day. Food doesn't miraculously replenish itself after a week and so that is why I am going later today.

Fuck me. It's not hard to understand that not all of us had the time to go shopping 5 times this week already in the run up to Christmas and some of us are running out of stuff now.

TittyGajillions · 26/12/2025 11:31

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.

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What the actual duck are you talking about?

EmBear91 · 26/12/2025 11:34

We have a tradition of going to the Waterstones hardback sale on Boxing Day - we’re big book worms and usually have some gift cards/Christmas money to spend. I also like stocking up on the sale kids clothes for the next season. It’s not that deep and for some people, being able to get things in the sales really helps.

autumn1610 · 26/12/2025 11:34

Having worked in retail on Boxing Day (which was a bigger day for meeting up with family so I hated it) i had a woman say to me while I was stood on changing rooms oh isn’t it a shame you have to work today….i was already annoyed so just snapped back well if people like you didn’t shop on Boxing Day I wouldn’t be here and she apologised (if she hadn’t made a comment like that I’d have go on with my day as I normally would, I’m a very passive person but what was the point of it. Yes it was a shame) I won’t go shopping in store on Boxing Day I find it unnecessary, if shops are closed people will just go in the days after so just give people a 2 day break

Namechange568899542 · 26/12/2025 11:36

monchichilarue · 26/12/2025 11:07

Yes, it's ridiculous. I am going to the supermarket later on today because I have run out of food, not because it's my idea of a wonderful, fun, exciting thing to do on Boxing Day. Good grief- bloody no-one thinks that.

Oh, and for people saying why didnt you get enough - I DID when I went shopping which was a week ago now. I am sticking to my same weekly scheduled shop because I was working all this week and therefore did not have time to do it any other day. Food doesn't miraculously replenish itself after a week and so that is why I am going later today.

Fuck me. It's not hard to understand that not all of us had the time to go shopping 5 times this week already in the run up to Christmas and some of us are running out of stuff now.

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I took myself to the supermarket on the 23rd (not hosting anything so no “big advance shop” needed) and on arrival there was not a single parking space so I drove straight out the exit and went home. Someone else later in the day kindly drove me back, but had to sit on double yellows ready to move off if needed whilst I ran in and grabbed something I could have that day. No time for me to get extras as I didn’t want to risk the person who’d helped me getting a ticket.

I’ve been at someone else’s house for the last two days, but as of today have nothing in again. I’m not going shopping because I’m exhausted and can’t be bothered. But I don’t think I’d be an awful person if I did go. Friend who’s oven died yesterday immediately after cooking dinner will need to go because she’s got small kids and despite buying their food for the week already, now doesn’t have anything to feed them. I don’t know anyone who “wants” to be in the supermarket today or really, ever.

Sartre · 26/12/2025 11:37

For starters some people enjoy working Boxing Day, either because it gets them away from their annoying families or because they’re lonely and it’s something to fill the day, or they don’t even celebrate Christmas. Not everyone hates it. For those who do, maybe find a different job.

Boxing Day sales used to be brilliant when I was a child, literal highlight of my Christmas going to a big shopping centre with my cousins to blast our Christmas money on absolute shite. Tend to avoid them now because it stresses me out but I will be visiting a book store today because we’re seeing family on Sunday and I haven’t got them gifts yet.

Netcurtainnelly · 26/12/2025 11:38

Pointless arguing.
The shops are open, so some people will go. Some wont.

Wishing14 · 26/12/2025 11:38

I’ve been working since 4:30 am (from home) so can’t unfortunately. I am getting paid for it though, hopefully they are too. 🤞

Katemax82 · 26/12/2025 11:39

I had to get emergency greek yogurt this morning from the m&s garage

monchichilarue · 26/12/2025 11:40

Namechange568899542 · 26/12/2025 11:36

I took myself to the supermarket on the 23rd (not hosting anything so no “big advance shop” needed) and on arrival there was not a single parking space so I drove straight out the exit and went home. Someone else later in the day kindly drove me back, but had to sit on double yellows ready to move off if needed whilst I ran in and grabbed something I could have that day. No time for me to get extras as I didn’t want to risk the person who’d helped me getting a ticket.

I’ve been at someone else’s house for the last two days, but as of today have nothing in again. I’m not going shopping because I’m exhausted and can’t be bothered. But I don’t think I’d be an awful person if I did go. Friend who’s oven died yesterday immediately after cooking dinner will need to go because she’s got small kids and despite buying their food for the week already, now doesn’t have anything to feed them. I don’t know anyone who “wants” to be in the supermarket today or really, ever.

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Yes, very true.

I'd actually far prefer to go shopping today than a day or two before Christmas Day because everyone said the shops were horrific then- no parking spaces, huge queues etc

I despise weekly food shopping at the best of times- its tedious, repetitive and boring, so the idea of going just for "something to do" on boxing day is laughable 🤣 I can think of a million things I would rather do. Its only the prospect of not eating thats making me go!