General Chat

Is it really necessary for shops to be open on Sundays? I hate shopping and only go once a week, and certainly not on Saturday or Sunday. For those who are working, surely they could make do with one late-night shopping evening, or not?

Sylvia - our local supermarket is open 24 hrs (Mon-Sat 10pm) and 10am-4pm on Sunday and yet it is ALWAYS busy on a Sunday! It's nice to have the option to shop on Sundays, especially for people with full-time jobs, but must admit I try to avoid shopping that day!

There are a lot of people who don't have to shop on late-night evenings and Sundays, but think it necessary to do so. When I was working I used to get annoyed when older men and women would be at the cash desk dithering over paying whilst I only had an hour's lunch break. I do know what you mean Terri. It's a case of "is your journey really necessary", which used to be a slogan during World War II. In your case it is. Greetings, Sylvia

I love shops being open on Sundays. When I was growing up, the only thing open were the newsagents in the morning till about 1pm. Then the Offy would open for a couple of hours in the evening. I hated Sundays, I still do. There was nothing to do. Tv was bbc1 & bbc2 & Itv. We used to have an old black n white film on in the afternoons & songs of praise in the evening !. Not a lot for kids of the day ! On a fine day we could go to the park, but if it was wet, that was that, all day boredom ! But its nice to have the option to go out to the shops, if you want to these days.

Elaine, Yes, I also grew up without shops being open on Sundays, but it is funny but I cannot remember being bored at all. I suppose I've always been active. As a teenager I was always cycling and swimming - never at home! Ice skating, folk dancing were also pastimes. My mother used to walk to the shops every day, but I considered that a waste of time. It just goes to show how varied we all are, fortunately. Sylvia

Sylvia, Im talking about the 70's. As an only child, if my friends were out somewhere, if the park was too wet to play in, I had to amuse myself playing with my toys in my bedroom. Oh yes, my friends & I also played in the street. Going up & down on our rollerskates. But in the gloomy winter months it was like I felt trapped. Everything was so quiet on a Sunday. Mum & Dad diddn't drive. So visiting anyone who lived more than a couple of miles away was a hassle. ( Sunday busses were very few & far between) As I said before it's nice to have a choice now to be able to go out & enjoy ourselves, or even (with 2 young kids ) to get out & walk around the shops & see the world has not gone to sleep !...... as it seemed to be when I was young ! Elaine x

As far back as I remember we've always had Sunday shopping in Scotland. I remember a time when lot's of folk used to drive up from down south to shop on a Sunday. I've also got Asda's open 24/7 and I love shopping at 2am when it's so quiet.

I won't start a 'religious' debate on here, only to say that I was brought up a churchgoer and therefore we didn't shop on a Sunday. I've shopped on Sundays myself on occasions, either for an emergency pint of milk or loaf, or when we've just got back from holiday and the cupboards are bare. I fully appreciate and sympathise with people for whom Sunday is the only day to do their shopping, I just try not to if I can help it. In an ideal world, it would be nice to have a 'day of rest' or 'family day' but I know this is 'in my dreams' :))

Sorry guys but what about those that then have to work in these shops on Sundays!?!? Me included!?! Luckilyi'm one of five mgrs so only have to do two a month, my partner works mon-fri. And sundays in my store (clothing retailer wmns, mens and kids and baby) are just like a creche with parents letting their children run riot, then they wonder where their kids are when they can't find them! I am a mgr not a babysitter please! Sundays are for parents to go out after having spent saturday in with the kids and they need a break!! Bank holiday monday was exactly the same, screaming kids and then when I tell the kids off for running the parents give you the dirtiest look but who would they sue when little johnie breaks his arm! Had to get that off my chest thanks zoë

Christine in Edinburgh I'm glad there's someone else like me! I usually do my Asda shop at 6am, but have been known to go at 3am. It's certainly the best time to go. Shelves are full, no crowds, no queues, plenty of parking spaces. Sunday at our local Asda is a nightmare! You'd think the world and his wife and kids were there. Not much better in the evenings, and there's never any bread! I tried doing my Asda shop online, but you have to book a delivery at least 4-5 days in advance and I'm not organised enough for that! I have been known to shop in other stores on a Sunday, but most of Epsom is shut so normally it's not worth the trip! Son now moaning because the shop he works in (Epsom Photovideo Centre) is open on Sundays. Is that a big enough plug James? LOL Sue

Hi Sue, I find most of Epsom is open on Sundays. dixons is closing down though. I tend to do food shopping on an evening. Hubby can't drive so it's my job to do it. PS: Epsom photovideo centre is the most expensive place to get your photo's developed in Epsom!

Naomi That's because it's the only place in Epsom you can get photos developed on a Sunday! LOL Sue

Predictable debate! I agree with Many and Zoe. Brought up in a vicarage in the 1950s, Sundays were definitely for church going etc, and none of the shops were open anyway. Teenage years at boarding school, Sundays were unutterably boring, with crocodile walks in the afternoon, plus being frog marched up to the parish church in the evening, then homework session before bedtime! I like to think Sunday is a special day of rest etc in the midst of this high pressure world, but sometimes it's necessary to pop down to the superstore, garden centre, DIY store etc, feel guilty when I do. I feel sorry for people required to work on Sundays, appreciate the emergency services, but do we really have to run the temple of mammon so blatantly? The car park outside any superstore is the busiest place around! However, do appreciate those people who can only fit in Sunday shopping with their working shifts etc. Oh dear......., no easy answer. Better retreat behind my Sunday paper again! Lol! Philip

Sorry, Mandy, left your "d" out! Philip

being "non religious", I don't see why Sunday should be different to any other day, so am glad the shops are open. HOWEVER I appreciate that there are many for whom it IS a "special" day, so I don't think anyone should be FORCED to work on a Sunday if it's against their wishes. NB I quite often have to work on Sundays.