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Original poster

How early do I need to be at Tesco to avoid ALL the people?

31 replies

utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 20:46

Last time I was there at 5am and it was bliss. As I left the store at 6 the shoppers were crowding in - thinking they were the early birds but I had the worm. I went home, put it all in the fridge and went back to bed.
I just can't face it this time. What time in the morning has anyone been and how was it for you?!

OP posts:
CharlieAndLolasMummy · 22/12/2007 20:50

interesting

But it does not open til 10am tommorrow, (or is it 9am for browsing?) and I imagine it is the same on xmas eve? And then it is xmas.

So....

What I am REALLY wanting to avoid is the queue OUT of the car park. Aaargh.

ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 20:50

when are you planning???

obviously tomoorow is going to be hell, as no-one can get ther early. our tesco is opening at 9am for browsing/loading your trolly, and then the tills go 'live' at 10am.

and so I have heard, they are then opening xmas eve morning at 12.01am.

now, If that is true, then that is the time I would go.

shelves will be very well stocked, and hopefully all the people there then will be calm and xmasy spirited as they will have not gone at all during the hell that was the sunday shopping!

HTH

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 20:52

It's a 24 hour Tesco. Does a 24 hour Tesco not open 24 hrs on a Sunday?!

OP posts:
Alambil · 22/12/2007 20:54

No - not allowed due to Sunday Trading Laws. Only allowed to sell for 6 hours.

Tesco had an advert on the radio I think the other day saying they are opening earlier tomorrow and Monday for browsing/trolley filling, then scramble for the tills when it goes live at the normal times.

Alambil · 22/12/2007 20:55

Oh, if you go to www.tesco.com the front page has a postcode thingy that shows when your local store is open over Christmas - may be helpful?

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 20:56

Yeah. Just checked. It's 24 hours every day. I'm going tomorrow, just getting the fresh stuff for Xmas day, veg and dairy etc. I am totally averse to crowds and to queues so it really matters to me that I time it right. BUT I need to pick up my turkey at 9 so would really like to go to tesco at 7 and be out by 8 and then go to the loacl village for the turkey - want to be at the butcher pre-queue as well. Anyone any thoughts?

OP posts:
ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 20:57

our tesco is a 24hr one, and they still have to abide to the sunday trading laws!

they are open 24hrs from (normal week this is) 8am monday morning until 10pm saturday night.

then normal sunday is 10am till 4pm.

obviously xams makes them open earlier, but only for browsing, not shopping.

they are tho getting round the monday by opening just after midnight!

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 20:57

Scotland. That change things?

OP posts:
WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 20:58

3am today was the time to shop, according to an ex-Tesco employee on another thread today.

Bum!

WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 20:59

Oh well, if they are opening at midnight on Sunday then 3-5am Monday looks good!

ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 20:59

it shouldn't do. sunday trading laws are sunday trading laws AFAIK.

ring them.....they will still be open now anyway and the customer desk will be manned!

ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 21:00

wendy......ex tesco employee was me

CharlieAndLolasMummy · 22/12/2007 21:00

am confused

thought sunday trading meant they couldn't open til about 8am on Monday?

Am I talking bllx?

When I lived in Edinburgh, Tescos etc seemed to apply normal sunday trading rules.

it has occured to me that I have no idea what I am talking about here...

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 21:00

Nope. 3 am I don't do. Early is fine. Middle of the night is not.

OP posts:
ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 21:01

obviously missed the today slot tho, so next best one is as they open xmas eve

dooley1 · 22/12/2007 21:01

they will only be open 10am - 4pm tomorrow
don't get up at 5am for nothing!!

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 21:02

Well, just checked again and it is open 24 hrs all week, until 1800 on Xmas Eve. SO, lucky me, I have a free choice of when I go. Just can't buy booze until 12 but don't want any anyway. (Not because I don't want any, you understand...)

OP posts:
PartridgeinaRustyBearTree · 22/12/2007 21:03

Yes,the 1994 Sunday Trading Act only applies to England & Wales - I think in Scotland it's up to individual councils, but I'm not sure.

ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 21:03

21st Dec: 0001 - midnight
22nd Dec: 0001 - midnight
23rd Dec: 1000 - 1600
24th Dec: 0001 - 1800
25th Dec: CLOSED
26th Dec: CLOSED
27th Dec: 0800 - midnight
28th Dec: 0001 - midnight
29th Dec: 0001 - 2200
30th Dec: 1000 - 1600
31st Dec: 0800 - 1800
01st Jan: 1000 - 1600
02nd Jan: 0800 - midnight

just copied from my tesco site

Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 21:04

Hurrah for Scotland!

OP posts:
Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 21:05

Must depend on the store. Put in PA14 or Port Glasgow and tell me if I'm going mad.

OP posts:
Original poster
utterlyconfused · 22/12/2007 21:06

21st Dec: 0001 - midnight
22nd Dec: 0001 - midnight
23rd Dec: 0001 - midnight
24th Dec: 0001 - 1800
25th Dec: CLOSED
26th Dec: CLOSED
27th Dec: 0800 - midnight

OP posts:
ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 21:07

with your special laws!!!!

soooooo.......go as early as possible

WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 21:07

I think psycho's are England hours and yours are Scotland, uc

ChristmasSendsMePsycho · 22/12/2007 21:09

I am in bournemouth!!!!

pah for scotland