Sunday Trading

DOS

Rightio, I am here to post this out of what I precieve to be total greed in today's Ireland. Sunday Trading.

I work in a electrical shop and it trades every Sunday 2pm to 6pm. I have no problem with the management about opening Sunday, but I do with the greedy customers who support the Sunday trading regieme.

I work every Saturday, and have to work every second or third Sunday. My time with my family is very restricted. So, when you are bored stiff of a Sunday and decide to visit the shops to pass some time - think of how many people you are keeping from spending time with their kids growing up...

What the hell do people want in looking at washing machines, tumble dryers et all of a sunday, are yea really that Sad? Why not go visit friends, relatives, elderly neighbours? Your actions are destroying family life.

Rant over.

Hanley

What about all the people working 9-5's, spending 2 hours a day communting and only just making it in the door to see their kids before they go to bed for the night? Only to get up on a Saturday morning and bring them to their football or GAA game and try to spend some quality time with them afterward... It's not like they've a bucket load of time to go shopping either!!

One could argue that these actions are preserving family life!!

Guy:Incognito

Get off your box OP. If you dont like it, change to a job where you dotn have to work wekkends or even just Sundays.

jimmycrackcorm

I thought it was pretty good for Des Kellys to advertise that they were closing on sundays to allow family staff time.

Anyway as for the OP, how about insisting while you are at it that no-one get sick on sundays so that the other half doesn't have to work as a nurse too and get more family time for us.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

But I have no friends, and my fmaily kicked me out ages ago. looking at washing machines is all I have.

You're not just selling stuff, you're providing an essential service there!

Xavi6

Hanley wrote: »

What about all the people working 9-5's, spending 2 hours a day communting and only just making it in the door to see their kids before they go to bed for the night? Only to get up on a Saturday morning and bring them to their football or GAA game and try to spend some quality time with them afterward... It's not like they've a bucket load of time to go shopping either!!

One could argue that these actions are preserving family life!!

Why not spend that quality time all day Sunday instead? Bring them to the games Saturday morning, do your shopping Saturday afternoon then have sunday completely free.

I disagree with Sunday trading, especially now that I've seen the benefits of it over here. Sunday is a proper family day, everyone goes out together, brings a picnic, etc.

Sunday trading smacks of greed but people will wander aimlessly around shopping centres buying stuff they don't need so there's no reason for places to close. A lot of people go shopping on a Sunday as there's pretty much feck all else to do if it's pissin rain outside.

sweetie

that's smart, blame the punters and not the owners. get a life (or a better yet, a job that doesn't require you to work on sundays)

MOH

DOS wrote: »

I work every Saturday, and have to work every second or third Sunday. My time with my family is very restricted. So, when you are bored stiff of a Sunday and decide to visit the shops to pass some time - think of how many people you are keeping from spending time with their kids growing up...

What the hell do people want in looking at washing machines, tumble dryers et all of a sunday, are yea really that Sad? Why not go visit friends, relatives, elderly neighbours? Your actions are destroying family life.

Rant over.

Eh, maybe people that work long hours all week with long commutes need some time at the weekend to go and buy stuff? As well as fitting in everything else they need to do at weekends?

I'm sorry it doesn't suit you, but it does suit many other people. If you think your job is destroying your family life you should definitely bve looking to work somewhere else.

How is this a consumer issue anyway?

jor el

DOS wrote: »

I work in a electrical shop and it trades every Sunday 2pm to 6pm. I have no problem with the management about opening Sunday, but I do with the greedy customers who support the Sunday trading regieme.

So it's wrong for me to browse or shop on a Sunday, one of only two days in the week where I get a chance to do this, but it's perfectly OK for the owners to open their shop and for you to work in it. Hypocrite.

I work every Saturday, and have to work every second or third Sunday. My time with my family is very restricted. So, when you are bored stiff of a Sunday and decide to visit the shops to pass some time - think of how many people you are keeping from spending time with their kids growing up...

Oh boo hoo. Won't somebody please think of the children! What about people who bring their kids with them while shopping, as most would do on Sunday?

What the hell do people want in looking at washing machines, tumble dryers et all of a sunday, are yea really that Sad? Why not go visit friends, relatives, elderly neighbours? Your actions are destroying family life.

What are you doing selling these items on Sunday? Why aren't you out visiting friends, relatives, etc? It must be lonely up there is it? As I said, hypocrite.

Doctor DooM

I get the distinct feeling the vast majority of people who are berating the OP have never had to work a Sunday in retail. there's something extra vacuous and greedy about the shoppers you get in.
I know exactly what the OP is saying, and yes I think Sunday trading should be restricted.

Or perhaps some law enforced for all people who work Sundays with young families, etc.

However I think this is prob more of a humanities thing.

Xavi6

sweetie wrote: »

that's smart, blame the punters and not the owners. get a life (or a better yet, a job that doesn't require you to work on sundays)

No need for the aggressive tone. Ever had to work EVERY Sunday? I have and it's no fun.

Some people can't afford to just up and leave a job if they have a family to support. They may have two or three weeks without pay while going through the process ofg etting another.

eve

I used to work Sunday's in retail but I still support people's rights to shop on a Sunday.

At the time I was in school and the only the days I was able to work were Saturday and Sunday-without Sunday I would have lost half of my wages. I disliked doing it but it had to be done. We worked 8-2 two Sundays out of 3. The other Sunday you were in 8-7.

But for all the people who work 9-5.30 Monday to Friday, Sunday trading makes our lives easier. It gives us 2 days at the weekend rather than saying we have to do everything on Saturday or take time off work. In this country I can't even get into my local bank branch because I work the hours they are open. I've grown up with Sunday trading and I want to keep it.

Doctor DooM

eve wrote: »

I used to work Sunday's in retail but I still support people's rights to shop on a Sunday.

At the time I was in school and the only the days I was able to work were Saturday and Sunday-without Sunday I would have lost half of my wages. I disliked doing it but it had to be done. We worked 8-2 two Sundays out of 3. The other Sunday you were in 8-7.

But for all the people who work 9-5.30 Monday to Friday, Sunday trading makes our lives easier. It gives us 2 days at the weekend rather than saying we have to do everything on Saturday or take time off work. In this country I can't even get into my local bank branch because I work the hours they are open. I've grown up with Sunday trading and I want to keep it.

.... so you didnt like it when you had to do it, but now you don't its ok.

eve

SDooM wrote: »

.... so you didnt like it when you had to do it, but now you don't its ok.

Not exactly. I accepted that that was the way it was and if I wanted to earn the money I was earning (and not half the amount) then I had no choice.

Doctor DooM

eve wrote: »

Not exactly. I accepted that that was the way it was and if I wanted to earn the money I was earning (and not half the amount) then I had no choice.

When I first started in retail, late night shopping was considered the way to do this. I used to work 3 hours on Thurs and Fri. There are other ways!

Anyway, your's is not really the case this affects: For someone like the OP, it ruins their quality of life.

Xavi6

eve wrote: »

Not exactly. I accepted that that was the way it was and if I wanted to earn the money I was earning (and not half the amount) then I had no choice.

I'm presuming you didn't have a husband/kids to leave behind every Sunday though. Sunday's are great for students with double pay but not for a family person.

jester77

After living in Germany for a few years where there is no Sunday trading I must say I think it's great. Everything is just so relaxed on Sunday, people are relaxed and everyone is just chilling out, it's a nice way to finish the weekend. Seriously if you can't manage to get in your shopping the other 6 days of the weeks then you seriously need to reorganise your life!

Beano

jester77 wrote: »

... Seriously if you can't manage to get in your shopping the other 6 days of the weeks then you seriously need to reorganise your life!

I think you mean the other 1 day of the week. Most of us work monday-friday.

jester77

Beano wrote: »

I think you mean the other 1 day of the week. Most of us work monday-friday.

What's wrong with shopping after work during the week? When I lived in Ireland I had no problem getting my shopping done, used to do it on either a Monday or Friday evening after work which left Saturday and Sunday for doing what ever I wanted!

BeansMeansHynes

Saturday and Sunday are the only days I can shop for clothes electrics etc. Work 9-5.30. Most places close at 6 except of a Thursday and Friday when I have a course so am I grateful for Saturday and Sunday shopping.

I dont just randomly walk around electrical shops and carpet shops on a Sunday just because I have nothing better to do.

Beano

jester77 wrote: »

What's wrong with shopping after work during the week? When I lived in Ireland I had no problem getting my shopping done, used to do it on either a Monday or Friday evening after work which left Saturday and Sunday for doing what ever I wanted!

Well then maybe i'm not as blindingly efficient as you. I apologise if my lack of efficiency inconveniences those who choose (and choose is the right word, nobody is forced to work in a particular job) to work on a sunday.

jor el

SDooM wrote: »

I get the distinct feeling the vast majority of people who are berating the OP have never had to work a Sunday in retail.

I have, and never thought too much about it. It was just another day to work and get paid. I never thought there was anything wrong with it, either the working or shopping.

SDooM wrote:

there's something extra vacuous and greedy about the shoppers you get in.
I know exactly what the OP is saying, and yes I think Sunday trading should be restricted

Or perhaps some law enforced for all people who work Sundays with young families, etc.

I don't quite understand that, but I certainly don't believe there should be any law imposed on people who have families to stop them from shopping/working whenever they want. Sounds a bit fascist to me. Why just pick on Sunday too, why not restrict Monday trading, or Wednesday trading?

However I think this is prob more of a humanities thing.

Definitely.

Xavi6

BeansMeansHynes wrote: »

Saturday and Sunday are the only days I can shop for clothes electrics etc. Work 9-5.30. Most places close at 6 except of a Thursday and Friday when I have a course so am I grateful for Saturday and Sunday shopping.

I dont just randomly walk around electrical shops and carpet shops on a Sunday just because I have nothing better to do.

And don't forget most open Wednesday night too.

Surely Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and all day Saturday are enough to get the bits and pieces done. There was me thinking that people might actually prefer to have their Sundays free.

sweetie

Xavi6 wrote: »

No need for the aggressive tone. Ever had to work EVERY Sunday? I have and it's no fun.

Some people can't afford to just up and leave a job if they have a family to support. They may have two or three weeks without pay while going through the process ofg etting another.

if you think that's aggressive then you need to recalibrate your emotional thingummies. Seriously, I just echoed what other users (stekelly) already said and I don't shop on sundays myself (I generally work 6 days a week and need the downtime.) The OP was slagging the people who avail of this service instead of the people who provide it and that got my goat. I don't remember the referendum asking the nation to vote for sunday trading and I would think it was adopted from the uk/us by money hungry retailers to make those extra euros. Without sunday opening there would be thousands of students going without their social lives/games consoles/books and parents would have to make up the difference.

It's still a choice, dammit.

Xavi6

sweetie wrote: »

if you think that's aggressive then you need to recalibrate your emotional thingummies.

It was unnecessarily aggressive towards the OP. You told him to get a life. That's attacking the poster not the post and not really fair. Anyway......

sweetie wrote: »

Seriously, I just echoed what other users (stekelly) already said and I don't shop on sundays myself (I generally work 6 days a week and need the downtime.) The OP was slagging the people who avail of this service instead of the people who provide it and that got my goat. I don't remember the referendum asking the nation to vote for sunday trading and I would think it was adopted from the uk/us by money hungry retailers to make those extra euros.

He's right in a way about the people who avail of the service. I remember as a kid pre-Sunday trading I used to go to my grandparents all the time. Then Sunday trading came in and we stopped going on a Sunday and crammed it in to another part of the week. Thousands of people have done the same. Why did they change their routine? If everyone kept what they were doing companies would have seen it wasn't in their best interests to stay and the whole idea would have folded.

To be fair, if only Cork had Sunday trading you'd have a mass exedus from every other county on that day of the week.

sweetie wrote: »

Without sunday opening there would be thousands of students going without their social lives/games consoles/books and parents would have to make up the difference.

So students never had lives before Sunday trading?

sweetie

Xavi6 wrote: »

It was unnecessarily aggressive towards the OP. You told him to get a life. That's attacking the poster not the post and not really fair. Anyway......

So students never had lives before Sunday trading?

Fair enough, I retract the 'get a life' statement.

I meant students can earn money at weekends to pay for
these things.

Why stop there, we should only let shops open between 9
and 5, mon-fri and feck everybody who can't manage to use them
then. Evening times should be family time and their should
be a 'family inspector' who can fine you if you are not
spending 'quality' time with your family. No more watching
soaps, football or games consoles. There would be a set
rulebook of family activities that are allowed and recommended.
Failure to do so will result in death. Big brother anyone?

Guy:Incognito

Xavi6 wrote: »

No need for the aggressive tone. Ever had to work EVERY Sunday? I have and it's no fun..

SDooM wrote: »

I get the distinct feeling the vast majority of people who are berating the OP have never had to work a Sunday in retail. .

I spent 8 years working crap hours. 7 pm - 4 am shifts 5 days a week in one job and then in retail working every Saturday and Sunday. I didnt mind it for a long time, then I did so changed. I now work Mon - Fri and am home by 5 everyday.

Again Boo hoo to the OP.

Guy:Incognito

SDooM wrote: »

Anyway, your's is not really the case this affects: For someone like the OP, it ruins their quality of life.

I'd say losing double time on a sunday ( I used to do it as a 6th day so it was well worth while) would have a bigger effect.

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

Stekelly wrote: »

Get off your box OP. If you dont like it, change to a job where you dotn have to work wekkends or even just Sundays.

sweetie wrote: »

that's smart, blame the punters and not the owners. get a life (or a better yet, a job that doesn't require you to work on sundays)

nice to see the art of politeness is officially dead. OP - hope these aren't the customers coming in your shop on a Sunday!

faceman

I dont see an issue with opening sunday hours. Its convenient for me. I only wish banks would do the same!

As with any job, if you dont like the conditions then change jobs.

Doctor DooM

faceman wrote: »

I dont see an issue with opening sunday hours. Its convenient for me. I only wish banks would do the same!

As with any job, if you dont like the conditions then change jobs.

It's nearly impossible for people in the retail industry for people to find jobs with no sundays now.


*Que the two people who have *

Doctor DooM

jor el wrote: »

I don't quite understand that, but I certainly don't believe there should be any law imposed on people who have families to stop them from shopping/working whenever they want. Sounds a bit fascist to me. Why just pick on Sunday too, why not restrict Monday trading, or Wednesday trading?

Because Sunday has different legal and social conditions to late trading.

You have a funny definition of fascist, so. Bank holidays are fascist?

Design_Dude

I think sunday trading has gone over the top, do we really need to go shopping every day of the week, give the people a rest one day in a week.

themadchef

I work 50 out of 52 Saturdays / Sundays a year. it's my job.

I have a husband and kids but this is my line of work, i knew what i was getting into. No point complaining about it now.

If you choose a career that involves weekend work how can you then turn around and complain about it?

Design_Dude

Because it can be very hard to get a job you like, that doesnt envolve Sundays. And the more companies/business that open on Sundays, the more pressure there is on the other companies/businesses to do the same, making it harder for everyone.

Danno

I agree with the OP here. Sunday trading is a bummer. Out of principle I would not purchase anything on a Sunday really. I feel sorry for people's family lives that are ruined by it. A friend of mine who worked this regieme gave it up because he only got to sit down and have a family meal on a sunday with his family once every 21 days.

Design_Dude

same here, i take a break from shopping etc on a sunday, and would advise more people to do so as well.

Sam Vimes

when i worked part time, i needed to work sunday to get any kind of decent wage.

OP, you claim that you want sunday trading abolished so that people can spend time with their families. Can i ask you what is currently preventing people spending time with their families?

is bertie ahern showing up at people's houses and whipping them until they go out shopping?

no one is forced to go shopping on a sunday but some people want to and you have no right to force them to stop just because you don't like working that day. if you don't like working sundays, get a new job. don't try to force me to stay at home because you want to

dudara

Design_Dude wrote: »

same here, i take a break from shopping etc on a sunday, and would advise more people to do so as well.

I agree with you in principle, and I would also advocate people to undertake other activities on Sundays. However, I still believe that shops and other retails industries should be open to cater for people who want the service. The consumer drives the industry.

The consumer makes the choice ultimately.

And I would love it if all banks actually opened on a Saturday.

jor el

SDooM wrote: »

Because Sunday has different legal and social conditions to late trading.

You have a funny definition of fascist, so. Bank holidays are fascist?

I didn't say Sunday was fascist, I said that imposing your moral, social or religious beliefs on the masses (banning Sunday shopping) was fascist. I'd consider fascism to be a political ideology that considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state based on cultural, social or religious attributes. Leaving the legal aspects of Sunday trading aside, because that already curtails the hours that a shop can open on Sunday, you're saying that nobody should be allowed to work or shop on Sunday because of your social or cultural beliefs. I believe that everyone should be allowed to choose for themselves. As others have said on this thread, they choose not to shop on Sunday and encourage others to do the same which is fair enough, but there should be no legal restrictions placed on them.

If you work Monday to Saturday and are up at 6AM for work, then the last thing you want to do in the evening is go shopping. If you live outside a main town or city then it may also require traveling a long distance to do it, so Sunday is the obvious, or only, option.

The original point raised by the OP in this thread was that people who have to work on Sunday, in the retail sector, were having their families destroyed by Sunday shopping. I don't buy that for one minute, but if there is any substance to it, why Sunday in particular? Why not close the shops on Monday, when the least number of people would be effected, and allow this day for the workers to spend time with their families, etc? Also, there are a lot more people working Sundays than just the retail sector. What about closing down the hospitals on Sunday so the doctors and nurses can spend time with their families? What about restaurants, pubs, fast food outlets, newsagents, local shops, etc?

At the end of the day, everyone has a choice of when to do the shopping, and when they work. It may be difficult to change jobs, require new training, schooling and so on, but it's not impossible for anyone to get away from a job that requires weekend work if they really want to. Saying that people who shop on Sunday are destroying the lives of people who have to work on Sunday is just a nonsense.

Doctor DooM

jor el wrote: »

I didn't say Sunday was fascist, I said that imposing your moral, social or religious beliefs on the masses (banning Sunday shopping) was fascist. I'd consider fascism to be a political ideology that considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state based on cultural, social or religious attributes. Leaving the legal aspects of Sunday trading aside, because that already curtails the hours that a shop can open on Sunday, you're saying that nobody should be allowed to work or shop on Sunday because of your social or cultural beliefs. I believe that everyone should be allowed to choose for themselves. As others have said on this thread, they choose not to shop on Sunday and encourage others to do the same which is fair enough, but there should be no legal restrictions placed on them.

If you work Monday to Saturday and are up at 6AM for work, then the last thing you want to do in the evening is go shopping. If you live outside a main town or city then it may also require traveling a long distance to do it, so Sunday is the obvious, or only, option.

The original point raised by the OP in this thread was that people who have to work on Sunday, in the retail sector, were having their families destroyed by Sunday shopping. I don't buy that for one minute, but if there is any substance to it, why Sunday in particular? Why not close the shops on Monday, when the least number of people would be effected, and allow this day for the workers to spend time with their families, etc? Also, there are a lot more people working Sundays than just the retail sector. What about closing down the hospitals on Sunday so the doctors and nurses can spend time with their families? What about restaurants, pubs, fast food outlets, newsagents, local shops, etc?

At the end of the day, everyone has a choice of when to do the shopping, and when they work. It may be difficult to change jobs, require new training, schooling and so on, but it's not impossible for anyone to get away from a job that requires weekend work if they really want to. Saying that people who shop on Sunday are destroying the lives of people who have to work on Sunday is just a nonsense.

Two points.

Firstly, I think you are picking me up a little wrong- I don't think people shouldn't have the choice to work on Sunday- I just don't think they should be forced to. I don't think the country should be shut down- I just think the wheels of commerce should perhaps allow for the work life balance we keep hearing about.

And ireland lasted for a long time without Sunday. People used the wonderful day known as Saturday, the "Sunday is the only option" argument just isn't true.

Secondly, if you have children of school age, a mid week day off does not substitute for one at the weekend.

And yes, I do feel sorry for barmen/ nurses/ taxi drivers etc, and if I talk to them while in work I usually sympathise with them over their working hours.

Design_Dude

People arent physically forced to work on a Sunday, but with more and more business opening on Sundays they have little choice. Ireland is getting way to too consumeristic and it would be healthy for us to give it a break for one day in the week, and spend time doing something else for a change

Alun

Design_Dude wrote: »

... it would be healthy for us to give it a break for one day in the week, and spend time doing something else for a change

I do, on Saturday

watna

Alun wrote: »

I do, on Saturday

+1. Saturday is the day I relax at home with the paper and nice food and go for walks an switch off.

Sunday is the day I go shopping, if there's things I need to get. I worked in retail for years and working Sunday was fine, it was part of the job and expected. In fact, in college I liked it because it meant I had Saturdays off to do what I needed/sleep and still earned money for college by working Sundays. I suggest if you have a problem with it, you get a different job. It's your choice to work Sundays (to a certain degree) and my choice to shop on them. I'm sure there's lots of students who'd be happy to work on Sundays. If you're such a family man get a job that gives you the time to spend with them, the same way working mothers try and adjust their schedules by working, say 7 - 3.30. If there was no demand for it the shops wouldn't open. People have two days over the weekend to do it and Saturday is not always feasible.

Design_Dude

Family man, haha, im 18! Im a christian and believe in not working on sundays as a principle ans so do many in my family circle but over the last few years it has been getting increasingly hard to get jobs that dont envolve sunday work. I find it a good principle for life. Sin ea!

Wertz

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I thought it was pretty good for Des Kellys to advertise that they were closing on sundays to allow family staff time.

Really? I took it for the cynical advertising ploy it was, brought on by a downturn in consumer spending and hence less weekend business for Mssrs Kelly.
I notice when times were a wee bit better Des had no problem opening on Sunday...but suddenly once he and his family have made a packet, he suddenly "finds God" and decides that his grandchildren are more important than his business.
...and TBH that's fine...so why did he need to make issue of it with radio ads and an interview on liveline?


To the OP; go get a real job. The rest of us who work during the week have no bloody time to do everything we'd like to do on a saturday, hence sunday opening is a blessing (pardon the run)....I couldn't really give a damn about those working there...that's what they get paid for...
I'm old enough to recall when everything shut on sundays except a newsagent or a petrol station or the pub...and they were depressing days indeed. Go to a smaller town in the North sometime to see the effect sunday closing has....

Design_Dude

Wertz wrote: »

To the OP; go get a real job. The rest of us who work during the week have no bloody time to do everything we'd like to do on a saturday, hence sunday opening is a blessing (pardon the run)....I couldn't really give a damn about those working there...that's what they get paid for...
I'm old enough to recall when everything shut on sundays except a newsagent or a petrol station or the pub...and they were depressing days indeed. Go to a smaller town in the North sometime to see the effect sunday closing has....

Get a life

DublinWriter

DOS wrote: »

think of how many people you are keeping from spending time with their kids growing up...

Like the rest of us are away off in la-la land and not doing at least eight hours work on a weekday on top of a daily two-hour commute and that's not factoring in school-runs either.

You said you work four hours on a Sunday. Well Kudos to you mate. I bet the traffic is pretty light on a Sunday too.

DOS wrote: »

What the hell do people want in looking at washing machines, tumble dryers et all of a sunday, are yea really that Sad?

No, just cash-rich and time-poor.

I thought it was ironic that Irish people complain about immigration, now here's someone complaining that they have a job. Jesus wept, we're never happy.

Wertz

Design_Dude wrote: »

Get a life

lol Way to go champ, you sure told me!

ztoical

without sunday trading I never would have had a job while I was a student - I was in college monday - friday from 9am till nearly 10pm so working weekends was the only option to get some cash.

I've no pity for people working sundays - most people who work retail sundays don't work during the week. I work as a freelance artist so I'm self employed I don't have weekdays or weekends I just have days. My mums a GP and people have no shame arriving up to her house on a sunday and expect her to see them, just be glad people aren't showing up at your house asking to buy stuff.

Design_Dude

well in all fairness wertz, telling the OP to go get a real job and sayin you dont give a damn about the people working in the shops just becasue you want to go shopping on a sunday isnt very mature now is it?