Spending Christmas with the family.

Chaos Marine · 26-12-2015 11:10AM #1

I don't much like travelling. But every opportunity I can, I make the effort to visit my relatives, see my niece and nephew, my grandparents and my mam. I also work in retail and I'll bet anyone who works in retail knows exactly where this is going.

But seriously, **** St. Stephen's day. I worked up until Wednesday night, went home to fall asleep and then headed out to visit relatives. I got to meet my grandparents, one of my two aunts and my own mother. My sister and her partner were elsewhere so I missed them. If I'd had today off, I'd be able to visit them but I can't, I had to head back here yesterday afternoon so I could be in work this morning. I'm just about to head off shortly. But isn't fan-****ing-tastic that people can't stop shopping for two ****ing days?

Again, **** St. Stephen's day. Christmas day and St. Stephen's day should be in the same boat. Didn't you buy enough **** coming up to Christmas? Don't you have enough food? My grandparents always buy way too much, I have enough ham and turkey in my fridge to last me half a week if I ration it.

I can easily understand places like Penny Dinners opening today or civil services needing to be in operation, my grandmother's sister-in-law is a nurse and she works through every other Christmas. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who needs her help but seriously, going to some shop to buy TVs or batteries? Give us a break, don't go shopping today. Let retail staff have some proper time to spend with their families.

Please.

The Sun King · 26-12-2015 11:13AM

Can't read right now OP. Just on the way out the door for the sales. Will read and reply later.

Sam Kade · 26-12-2015 11:16AM

Will someone think of the poor workers that have to work during Christmas, please.

Mint Aero · 26-12-2015 11:16AM

3% off Tv's today. I've 6 already but I need another to fill a void in my life.

Sam Kade · 26-12-2015 11:19AM

Yesterday it was the poor esb workers today it's shop staff.

Chocolate girl · 26-12-2015 11:28AM

Totally agree with op. I worked in retail and it only opened a few years ago for first time on Stephens Day for a few hours. It's so busy now opens for 12 hours which means more staff needed more people pulled away from their families. Some choose to work but many don't want to but have no choice. If people didn't shop they wouldn't open.

Sunnyisland · 26-12-2015 11:32AM

Its all going way over the top with the whole opening of shops right after christmas day , we need another day of rest, tis crazy **** altogether.

when is the Easter eggs up for sale as I have to buy extra this year :-)

pickarooney · 26-12-2015 11:33AM

Your grandmother's mother in law is still working? She must be in her hundreds!

Ruu · 26-12-2015 11:33AM

But the sales!!!!

Hopefully in the coming years it'll all switch to online.

Chaos Marine · 26-12-2015 11:42AM

pickarooney wrote: »

Your grandmother's mother in law is still working? She must be in her hundreds!

Herp, I should have put down sister in law.

Bowlardo · 26-12-2015 11:43AM

I totally agree with you op. Shops were closed years ago on Stephens day and should be today. The only thing open today should be pubs and the only restaurants that should be open are ethnic restaurants that don't celebrate Christmas...chinese and the likes.... And some random petrol stations. I don't think any of the supermarkets or any retail shops should be open today. Alot of people have worked 3/4 weeks straight through and they should have a rest before the sale start.
God the sales the absolute mutants come out for those

John T Carroll · 26-12-2015 11:47AM

Bowlardo wrote: »

I totally agree with you op. Shops were closed years ago on Stephens day and should be today. The only thing open today should be pubs and the only restaurants that should be open are ethnic restaurants that don't celebrate Christmas...chinese and the likes.... And some random petrol stations. I don't think any of the supermarkets or any retail shops should be open today. Alot of people have worked 3/4 weeks straight through and they should have a rest before the sale start.
God the sales the absolute mutants come out for those

Pubs should also be given the option of opening on Christmas Day/Night which celebrates the most famous Birthday of all time.

Ruu · 26-12-2015 11:50AM

About to put the remote through the telly. Someone with 4 handbags, but its okay because they were half off.

Clonmel1000 · 26-12-2015 11:52AM

Don't disagree with the OPs sentiment but often find that people who spend from September to Christmas Eve shopping for one day seem to be the ones that have a problem with the rest of us going out to the sales on Stephens day. I can never get my head around why shoppers buy stuff in mid Dec that will be half the price by late Dec.

Tipperary Fairy · 26-12-2015 11:57AM

What about the people who need an excuse to escape from their families? Have you considered them?

Seriously though, if you don't like working in retail, go look for another job.

Menas · 26-12-2015 11:58AM

At least the BT queue only started at 6am this morning. It used to be from 10pm the night before IIRC. Saddos.

Annasopra · 26-12-2015 11:59AM

John T Carroll wrote: »

Pubs should also be given the option of opening on Christmas Day/Night which celebrates the most famous Birthday of all time.

Dont some nightclubs open at midnight Stephens day?

Cheshire Cat · 26-12-2015 12:02PM

That's one of the few instances when I really miss Gemany. There the shops are closed. Most shops would be closed by 4pm on Christmas Eve and if Stephen's Day happens to fall onto a Saturday, people would be without an open shop for 3 full days in a row!
Funnily enough everybody there manages just fine.

traprunner · 26-12-2015 12:36PM

Wow!! You got Xmas eve off!! I had to work that day. Weren't you a lucky sod getting 2 days off!

NachoBusiness · 26-12-2015 12:39PM

Chaos Marine wrote: »

Give us a break, don't go shopping today. Let retail staff have some proper time to spend with their families.

Please.

Yeah, cause if people don't go shopping today, they'll send the staff home.

Nice thought and all, but come on.

26-12-2015 01:03PM

I'm sorry but just do what you are paid to do? There must be other options for you than retail, if you don't like it

mohawk · 26-12-2015 01:28PM

I personally would prefer if the sales waited a couple days to start. But I don't want to pay full price for boots or coats so I usually go to the sales for an hour on Stephens Day.

user.name · 26-12-2015 01:37PM

I'm in work today, the main shopping centre is closed and we are the only shop open apart from a few fast food places. We don't have sales as we are a pound shop basically, but it is annoying people coming in buying toothpaste and looking for more junk that they don't really need. Its worse working in a shop that doesn't have sales, is dead today and I get to miss seeing some of my family. You can't even enjoy Christmas, working everyday coming up to it, and on the day you are just tired and have to prepare for work the following day.

jon1981 · 26-12-2015 01:39PM

When I was a student I was glad to be working at Stephens day to make a few quid!

Riverireland · 26-12-2015 01:40PM

Chaos Marine wrote: »

I don't much like travelling. But every opportunity I can, I make the effort to visit my relatives, see my niece and nephew, my grandparents and my mam. I also work in retail and I'll bet anyone who works in retail knows exactly where this is going.

But seriously, **** St. Stephen's day. I worked up until Wednesday night, went home to fall asleep and then headed out to visit relatives. I got to meet my grandparents, one of my two aunts and my own mother. My sister and her partner were elsewhere so I missed them. If I'd had today off, I'd be able to visit them but I can't, I had to head back here yesterday afternoon so I could be in work this morning. I'm just about to head off shortly. But isn't fan-****ing-tastic that people can't stop shopping for two ****ing days?

Again, **** St. Stephen's day. Christmas day and St. Stephen's day should be in the same boat. Didn't you buy enough **** coming up to Christmas? Don't you have enough food? My grandparents always buy way too much, I have enough ham and turkey in my fridge to last me half a week if I ration it.

I can easily understand places like Penny Dinners opening today or civil services needing to be in operation, my grandmother's sister-in-law is a nurse and she works through every other Christmas. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who needs her help but seriously, going to some shop to buy TVs or batteries? Give us a break, don't go shopping today. Let retail staff have some proper time to spend with their families.

Please.

I don't work in retail but I totall agree with you. I won't be shopping today or tomorrow for that matter. Unfortunately the only way for retail workers to change this is to refuse to work these days. Open the shops and people will go there unfortunately. You and the other retail workers certainly have my sympathy. I'd be getting out of that industry if I were you if possible.

Dricmeister · 26-12-2015 01:43PM

If you don't like it, don't work in retail. Without the punters spending their cash, your situation would be a lot worse.

26-12-2015 01:44PM

Bowlardo wrote: »

I totally agree with you op. Shops were closed years ago on Stephens day and should be today. The only thing open today should be pubs and the only restaurants that should be open are ethnic restaurants that don't celebrate Christmas..

And bookies of course.

Agricola · 26-12-2015 01:48PM

Agree with ya OP. It's two days of the year that everyone (with the exception of a few absolutely necessary services) should have off. After the glut of consumerism over the last weeks and months leading up to the 25th, it's not too much to ask that the likes of department stores stay closed til the 27th.

C.K Dexter Haven · 26-12-2015 02:01PM

Chaos Marine wrote: »

I don't much like travelling. But every opportunity I can, I make the effort to visit my relatives, see my niece and nephew, my grandparents and my mam. I also work in retail and I'll bet anyone who works in retail knows exactly where this is going.

But seriously, **** St. Stephen's day. I worked up until Wednesday night, went home to fall asleep and then headed out to visit relatives. I got to meet my grandparents, one of my two aunts and my own mother. My sister and her partner were elsewhere so I missed them. If I'd had today off, I'd be able to visit them but I can't, I had to head back here yesterday afternoon so I could be in work this morning. I'm just about to head off shortly. But isn't fan-****ing-tastic that people can't stop shopping for two ****ing days?

Again, **** St. Stephen's day. Christmas day and St. Stephen's day should be in the same boat. Didn't you buy enough **** coming up to Christmas? Don't you have enough food? My grandparents always buy way too much, I have enough ham and turkey in my fridge to last me half a week if I ration it.

I can easily understand places like Penny Dinners opening today or civil services needing to be in operation, my grandmother's sister-in-law is a nurse and she works through every other Christmas. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who needs her help but seriously, going to some shop to buy TVs or batteries? Give us a break, don't go shopping today. Let retail staff have some proper time to spend with their families.

Please.

That post is such a breath of fresh-air to read today, especially in AH- sorry to hear you have to work today.

Graces7 · 26-12-2015 02:18PM

Riverireland wrote: »

I don't work in retail but I totall agree with you. I won't be shopping today or tomorrow for that matter. Unfortunately the only way for retail workers to change this is to refuse to work these days. Open the shops and people will go there unfortunately. You and the other retail workers certainly have my sympathy. I'd be getting out of that industry if I were you if possible.

I will not be shopping until I run out of something needful. The way my cupboards etc are it will probably be coal. Another five days at least. No intention of going out.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 26-12-2015 02:22PM

Bowlardo wrote: »

I totally agree with you op. Shops were closed years ago on Stephens day and should be today. The only thing open today should be pubs and the only restaurants that should be open are ethnic restaurants that don't celebrate Christmas...chinese and the likes.... And some random petrol stations. I don't think any of the supermarkets or any retail shops should be open today. Alot of people have worked 3/4 weeks straight through and they should have a rest before the sale start.
God the sales the absolute mutants come out for those

What's the difference between forcing retail workers to work today and bar staff to work today.

Is it because you've no interest in shopping today but want to go for a few pints?

Spending Christmas with the family.

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