Christmas Sales

thee glitz

Will you be hitting the shops today, maybe having a look online? No way for me - I've some family to visit, then it's all about the football, maybe a bit of the racing, and a few beers. The last few days have been stressful preparation for hosting Christmas dinner and getting this place presentable. St Stephen's is reserved for relaxing and picking at the leftovers. Also, I don't think it's fair on retail staff to have to work today (esp if the shop is open).

The Raptor

I've never been shopping on St Stephen's day before but what kind of shops would I expect to be open?

The_Valeyard

Never. Always avoid shops.

Copper_pipe

The bookies will be busy today!

whoopsadoodles

The Raptor wrote: »

I've never been shopping on St Stephen's day before but what kind of shops would I expect to be open?

Pretty much all of them.

I'll never go to the shops on St. Stephen's Day. I wish no one would. Leave retail staff have the extra day off.

And before people argue that not everyone has the luxury of having Christmas Day off, I know, I was on call yesterday but there's a need for me to be available, there's no need for shops to be open.

markc1184

I'm after a new fridge freezer so if not today I will during the week.

theteal

I struggle to think of a worse way to spend today!

The flying mouse

Nope never.

Patser

Years ago I worked in toy shops at Christmas time. I dreaded Stephens Day. It was a non stop line of parents blaming you for ruining Christmas because Santa's toy was faulty or kids with Christmas money and no concept if what it was worth - 'My uncle gave me this £5 note and I want to buy this playstation'. So non stop arguments with people, all stressed after a long queue.

And the extra sting of knowing all your mates were off, relaxing.

Rumpy Pumpy

I can't think of much more depressing than spending Stephen's Day wandering around a retail park looking for supposed bargains. And I intend to spend the day in the bookies.

jimmy blevins

There now seems to be more days with sales than without.

Turtyturd

I like going into town over Christmas but have never been in on Stephens Day, traditionally that was pub and house party. Shops should be closed alright, staff have had weeks of dealing with stressed out shoppers, they could do with an extra day off.

Clonmel1000

Should pub stuff not be allowed today off too?

Alf Veedersane

There's very little on sale on Stephenseses Day that won't be on sale at the same or better price another time in the not too distant future.

Not my main reason for not going but I just don't see the point in shortening Christmas for people.

JeffKenna

Black Friday has replaced most of these sales no?

Wanderer78

More to life than buying crap

Alf Veedersane

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

Should pub stuff not be allowed today off too?

Pub stuff and the staff looking after the stuff should have today off too.

dudara

All this sales furore on St Stephens Day really irritates me. Why not let the shops stay closed one more day and give retail staff another day off? Spend the time instead with friends or family, watch some sport or have a drink. It's consumerism gone mad and out society is an ass for endorsing it

Clonmel1000

The irony here. What's the difference between mass consumerism on the 24th than the 26th? We get it some people hate ahopping. I think pubs and shops should be closed today as it happens. Today encompasses a lot of what Christmas is these days one big piss up.

feardeas

Don't know how anyone could face shops again on Stephen's Day. Also think it's very unfair on the staff, they've been ran off their feet and then back after one day.

kenmc

Even my shopaholic mother-in-law doesn't go shopping on Stephens day. I'm actually surprised that has never been the lead story on six-one!

NIMAN

Wanderer78 wrote: »

More to life than buying crap

There sure is,but I'm afraid rampant consumerism is a tsunami that can't be stopped

We now live in a world where online sales start at 4pm on Xmas Day. People can't even take Xmas day off without buying stuff.

Many are convinced their sad lives might be made better if they buy something.

Not a chance, bookies in the early afternoon and big session in the pub from early evening until what ever time the night club closes.

Balmed Out

theteal wrote: »

I struggle to think of a worse way to spend today!

The bookies for me would be worse. Never understand the fascination and the number of them next to pubs....

BunkMoreland

So retail staff should have the day off, but **** the staff in pubs and bookies? What about guards, doctors, nurses, ESB workers, etc etc?

There's always going to be someone working whatever day of the year. If they don't like it they should find a different job. Also people do realise that these people do get time off, just not at the exact same time as you do?

mfceiling

Oh look...I bought a jumper for €10 less than its full price and I won't be wearing it in 2 months.

Wanderer78

NIMAN wrote: »

There sure is,but I'm afraid rampant consumerism is a tsunami that can't be stopped

We now live in a world where online sales start at 4pm on Xmas Day. People can't even take Xmas day off without buying stuff.

Many are convinced their sad lives might be made better if they buy something.

id have to agree with noam chomsky on this one, i.e. we are being told we live unfulfilled lives unless we consume. what a load of crap! spend some time with your families and friends instead. its far more important and worthwhile.

BunkMoreland wrote: »

So retail staff should have the day off, but **** the staff in pubs and bookies? What about guards, doctors, nurses, ESB workers, etc etc?

There's always going to be someone working whatever day of the year. If they don't like it they should find a different job. Also people do realise that these people do get time off, just not at the exact same time as you do?

the only problem, reality is far more complicated than that, in this world of increasing 'worker insecurity'.

fryup

whats the story with amazon do they have an online sale???

whoopsadoodles

fryup wrote: »

whats the story with amazon do they have an online sale???

Hang on there til I go on to Amazon and find out for you....

GritBiscuit

Shopping? Ugh....but there's food and tv and games and all kinds of fun things to do today that don't involve sharp elbowed bargain hunters. :cool:

whoopsadoodles

Sorry fryup. Took me a while to log on to the Internet there.

Amazon do indeed have a sale. Sponsored by Vodafone for some reason.

andekwarhola

Don't go near the shops myself today but I'm not going to take up the cudgels on behalf of retail workers in the name of striking a blow against 'consumerism'.

I don't know every retail worker in the country or their views on doing a shift today. Maybe a lot of them don't care or want to earn a few quid or more commission, who knows.

Oodoov

No thanks. I have a life.

SteoL

In town ATM and its packed. You'd swear they were giving stuff away for free. Not hanging around.

andekwarhola

SteoL wrote: »

In town ATM

Are you handing out money?

_Kaiser_

Nope, never. Aside from the fact that there's rarely any real bargains I never have any money after the Christmas spend anyway and 5/6 weeks to payday.

By which time of course the "sales" are over anyway.

KERSPLAT!

I'm in work today... i'd prefer that to a day of shopping to be honest!! I'd prefer to be on the piss too but sure, you can't have it all

SteoL

Balmed Out wrote: »

The bookies for me would be worse. Never understand the fascination and the number of them next to pubs....

That's because alcoholism and Gambling addictions go hand in hand.

The Black Oil

Oh God.

https://twitter.com/DaraghBroph/status/813319889557524480

Widdershins

For that you need money

thee glitz

andekwarhola wrote: »

I don't know every retail worker in the country or their views on doing a shift today. Maybe a lot of them don't care or want to earn a few quid or more commission, who knows.

Shops should sort that out by asking staff of their availability, and a decision on opening being made at least a month beforehand. I know a lot of people where I work said they wouldn't mind going in today - it's tomorrow they want off.

fly_agaric

Wanderer78 wrote: »

the only problem, reality is far more complicated than that, in this world of increasing 'worker insecurity'.

It's fairly simple really. Needs some govt. regulation to stop it because otherwise the shops that do open get 1st mover advantage. That is what has happened over the years as these stock sell offs moved earlier and earlier (anyone remember the "January sales"?). [edit: and as you point out most workers are quite powerless at the moment, and have no collective ability whatsoever to prevent these demands from employers].

Had this discussion here last year, but most seem to think it "nanny-statism" or somehow a slippery slope to full (play evil music theme) "communism" to have the govt. stop people shopping for few days.

KERSPLAT!

Someone told me yesterday that Next was open at 5am... what mad eejit would be out shopping at 5am on St Stephens day ffs!

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^^

its the staff i feel sorry for, do they have any choice in the matter??

Arghus

Well I'm working today.

And it sucks.

_Jamie_

No way. Not that I never sales shop but there's much better things to be doing at this time of year, like working on building up my ass adiposity.

My rule for sales shopping: if you wouldn't want the item at full price, don't buy it at sale price.

purplecow1977

Clonmel1000 wrote:

Should pub stuff not be allowed today off too?

No. It's the one night of the year I go to my local!

the groutch

fryup wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^

its the staff i feel sorry for, do they have any choice in the matter??

I'm pretty sure they would know the score before applying for such a job, the early morning Next sales are hardly a recent phenomenon.

Capt'n Midnight

Copper_pipe wrote: »

The bookies will be busy today!

wanna bet ?

suicide_circus

I'm in the market for a small/medium tv for under 400 quid, if anyone spots a deal let me know plz xx

Capt'n Midnight

suicide_circus wrote: »

I'm in the market for a small/medium tv for under 400 quid, if anyone spots a deal let me know plz xx

:eek:

Target price for a 40" bargain is a little over two fifty, you just have to wait and wait and then pounce. Amazon / Tecso.co.uk

£400 or even €400 you'll pickup from Argos / Lidl / Aldi / Tesco on a regular basis , keep an eye on BA.