Why do places close/close early on Sundays?

[Augustus]

Maybe so peopl;e could have some time off?

For the umpteenth time a sufficently staffed major business should have more than enough employees to run the store seven days a week and for each employee to have two days off.

Do you think people just work seven days a week otherwise?

Exactly, my local supermarket is open from 6am on Monday morning straight through to 10pm on Saturday night, and then only 10am - 4.30pm on a Sunday.

They employ hundreds and hundreds of people. There's absolutely no reason whatsoever apart from some ridiculous outdated religious laws for them not to be able to open 24/7. And it's not a cost/benefit thing either, nobody can tell me they make more money at 3am on a Tuesday than they would at 6pm on a Sunday.

They shut because the government tells them they have to, that is the only reason and it is firmly rooted in religious beliefs which are not my concern and should not dictate what time I can go shopping.

Why so offended??
They don't dictate when you go shopping. They are a private business that if they wanted and if they could afford it, could be open one hour a day if they choose. There is no such thing as a right to go shopping for food or anything at 6pm on a sunday or any time for that matter.

I do not understand how a business which chooses to be closed all or part of Sunday in anyway impinges on your rights or freedoms. You have the right to grow your own food, to stock up on food or to go monday morning, by which time I promise you will not starve.

To me, the only ridiculous thing would be to close facilities like hospitals or fire stations on Sundays. But retails stores and the like can be open for however long they like for whatever reason they like and we can choose to spend our money there or not.

It is interesting how society has evolved. If our local grocery store closed down, most of us would have no back up supply of food and die in a month.
Kind of depressing actually.

 

[Pingfah]

^ You obviously didn't read a word of my post. I suggest you try that next time before getting facetious with me

It is the law in this country (the UK) that supermarkets can not stay open all day on Sunday, as I quite clearly stated in the post that you didn't read before assuming I am getting offended at the free practices of private enterprises.

The store would almost certainly want to be open on Sunday evenings if they are prepared to stay open 24 hours a day for the whole rest of the week at far less profitable times, the government tells them they are not allowed to and that they may only open for any 6 hours between 10am and 6pm. They most certainly do dictate when I may go shopping.

 

[Augustus]

Well I apologize for only reading your post once. I didn't realize that in the UK they really have laws like that. But regardless, I still don't think they dictate to you when you go shopping. Shopping isn't a right. I just don't see it that way.

If a store is closed, it is closed, they are not denying me anything.

Guess that is just a point of view.

 

[Pingfah]

Blimey, how can I make this any more simple?

It's not about the store, the store can do whatever they want, I couldn't care less what time stores choose to open.

It's about whether it's any of the government's business to be telling private businesses what times of day they can open. How is that not dictating what time people can go shopping? It's the very definition of dictating when people can go shopping and it's dictating to people at what times of day they should run their businesses as well.

The fact that it is based on outdated religious laws just makes it all the more ridiculous, i'm not religious and I don't see why I or anybody else, or any business should be subject to arbitrary religious laws. If shops want to shut on Sundays that should be up to them, not the government.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Absolutely right.

 

[Augustus]

Blimey, how can I make this any more simple?

It's not about the store, the store can do whatever they want, I couldn't care less what time stores choose to open.

It's about whether it's any of the government's business to be telling private businesses what times of day they can open. How is that not dictating what time people can go shopping? It's the very definition of dictating when people can go shopping and it's dictating to people at what times of day they should run their businesses as well.

The fact that it is based on outdated religious laws just makes it all the more ridiculous, i'm not religious and I don't see why I or anybody else, or any business should be subject to arbitrary religious laws. If shops want to shut on Sundays that should be up to them, not the government.

Well, I agree with your basic premise, that it should be up to the owners of the businesses and not the government.
If I had a business I wouldn't open it on sundays, but if i was a senator or something, I wouldn't make others close on sunday.

I guess I can disagree though on how you get there. I do not think that they are outdated religious laws.
the principles behind the laws, (though perhaps their implementation is flawed) are just as important today as they were years ago.

 

[Pingfah]

And what would you say those principles are?

 

[John Picard]

Blimey, how can I make this any more simple?

It's not about the store, the store can do whatever they want, I couldn't care less what time stores choose to open.

It's about whether it's any of the government's business to be telling private businesses what times of day they can open. How is that not dictating what time people can go shopping? It's the very definition of dictating when people can go shopping and it's dictating to people at what times of day they should run their businesses as well.

The fact that it is based on outdated religious laws just makes it all the more ridiculous, i'm not religious and I don't see why I or anybody else, or any business should be subject to arbitrary religious laws. If shops want to shut on Sundays that should be up to them, not the government.

Well, I agree with your basic premise, that it should be up to the owners of the businesses and not the government.
If I had a business I wouldn't open it on sundays, but if i was a senator or something, I wouldn't make others close on sunday.

I guess I can disagree though on how you get there. I do not think that they are outdated religious laws.
the principles behind the laws, (though perhaps their implementation is flawed) are just as important today as they were years ago.

Sorry, but he's right. It's based on outdated religious influence.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Blimey, how can I make this any more simple?

It's not about the store, the store can do whatever they want, I couldn't care less what time stores choose to open.

It's about whether it's any of the government's business to be telling private businesses what times of day they can open. How is that not dictating what time people can go shopping? It's the very definition of dictating when people can go shopping and it's dictating to people at what times of day they should run their businesses as well.

The fact that it is based on outdated religious laws just makes it all the more ridiculous, i'm not religious and I don't see why I or anybody else, or any business should be subject to arbitrary religious laws. If shops want to shut on Sundays that should be up to them, not the government.

Well, I agree with your basic premise, that it should be up to the owners of the businesses and not the government.
If I had a business I wouldn't open it on sundays, but if i was a senator or something, I wouldn't make others close on sunday.

I guess I can disagree though on how you get there. I do not think that they are outdated religious laws.
the principles behind the laws, (though perhaps their implementation is flawed) are just as important today as they were years ago.

Sorry, but he's right. It's based on outdated religious influence.

I agree. Supermarkets especially are frustrating by only opening 10 - 4 on Sundays. You should see the queues of eager shoppers at 10am There are plenty of people willing or indeed only able to work weekends, students and housewives being immediate obvious examples.
To fit in around the normal 9-5, Mon-Fri workers all day Sunday shopping would be a blessing and ease the rush in Sainsbury on a Saturday

I've often wondered why libraries don't open on Sundays. What nicer way to pass a day off than perusing books or now-a-days using their internet facilities etc?

 

[Augustus]

Well, when you get right down to it, the principle behind a sabbath is to have a day of rest and a day of service to those around you. I think a business closing one day a week, Sunday in this case, is good for renewal, of employees, owners, and even equipment in some cases. I don't think there are many businesses that would suffer greatly by being closed on Sundays as evidenced by the great many businesses that choose to be closed that day.

Imagine if everyone took the day off from the more selfish (although not evil of course) pursuits of shopping and working and turned their attention to their neighbor and helped out in some way.

If as a country, Sunday was a day of rest and service, I think we would benefit greatly. That is the principle of the Sabbath. Of course you can't legislate this really. I think government can encourage it, but you're right in your point above that it shouldn't be legislated.

And to John Picard, these principles are "outdated" only we have chosen to leave them behind, not because they are no longer applicable.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

^ But then... Night is traditionally time to sleep. Tell that to the shift workers

As a civilisation we operate 24/7 now. And should it just be one defined day a week you do something for others?

 

[John Picard]

Well, when you get right down to it, the principle behind a sabbath is to have a day of rest and a day of service to those around you. I think a business closing one day a week, Sunday in this case, is good for renewal, of employees, owners, and even equipment in some cases. I don't think there are many businesses that would suffer greatly by being closed on Sundays as evidenced by the great many businesses that choose to be closed that day.

Imagine if everyone took the day off from the more selfish (although not evil of course) pursuits of shopping and working and turned their attention to their neighbor and helped out in some way.

If as a country, Sunday was a day of rest and service, I think we would benefit greatly. That is the principle of the Sabbath. Of course you can't legislate this really. I think government can encourage it, but you're right in your point above that it shouldn't be legislated.

And to John Picard, these principles are "outdated" only we have chosen to leave them behind, not because they are no longer applicable.

Actually, they are no longer applicable. We no longer celebrate Greek, Roman, or Egyptian holidays/festivals, not to mention the regular Pagan celebrations, so why should we be forced to conform to older Christian principles? Life today is much, much different than it was 20, 30 and even 80 years ago. When is the last time you witnessed the daily television broadcast signing off for the day or even beginning for the day? How about when almost no businesses were open past 7pm except for the bars? Society changes and evolves and as such so should certain laws/practices. If a business wishes to only operate during specific hours/days then it should be up to the owner, not legislators. If you want your "day of rest" then do it on your own time and not mine.

^ But then... Night is traditionally time to sleep. Tell that to the shift workers

As a civilisation we operate 24/7 now. And should it just be one defined day a week you do something for others?

Exactly.

 

[Augustus]

^ But then... Night is traditionally time to sleep. Tell that to the shift workers

As a civilisation we operate 24/7 now. And should it just be one defined day a week you do something for others?

I don't know how shift workers do it. My roommate works until 2am everyday and even that would kill me.

Like I said before, we are a 24/7 society because we abandoned those principles, not because it was a good or necessary thing.

Of course we shouldn't limit good deeds to one day a week, but I am a pretty sure that most of us could take care of all our business 6 days a week and leave sunday to being sunday.

But obviously that is just my opinion.

 

[Augustus]

Well, when you get right down to it, the principle behind a sabbath is to have a day of rest and a day of service to those around you. I think a business closing one day a week, Sunday in this case, is good for renewal, of employees, owners, and even equipment in some cases. I don't think there are many businesses that would suffer greatly by being closed on Sundays as evidenced by the great many businesses that choose to be closed that day.

Imagine if everyone took the day off from the more selfish (although not evil of course) pursuits of shopping and working and turned their attention to their neighbor and helped out in some way.

If as a country, Sunday was a day of rest and service, I think we would benefit greatly. That is the principle of the Sabbath. Of course you can't legislate this really. I think government can encourage it, but you're right in your point above that it shouldn't be legislated.

And to John Picard, these principles are "outdated" only we have chosen to leave them behind, not because they are no longer applicable.

Actually, they are no longer applicable. We no longer celebrate Greek, Roman, or Egyptian holidays/festivals, not to mention the regular Pagan celebrations, so why should we be forced to conform to older Christian principles? Life today is much, much different than it was 20, 30 and even 80 years ago. When is the last time you witnessed the daily television broadcast signing off for the day or even beginning for the day? How about when almost no businesses were open past 7pm except for the bars? Society changes and evolves and as such so should certain laws/practices. If a business wishes to only operate during specific hours/days then it should be up to the owner, not legislators. If you want your "day of rest" then do it on your own time and not mine.

^ But then... Night is traditionally time to sleep. Tell that to the shift workers

As a civilisation we operate 24/7 now. And should it just be one defined day a week you do something for others?

Exactly.

Did you read what I said that it should not be legislated?

 

[nevermore]

I don't think there are many businesses that would suffer greatly by being closed on Sundays as evidenced by the great many businesses that choose to be closed that day.

The only retail business I know that closes voluntarily on Sunday is Chick-fil-A, which is owned by a fundamentalist. The only other retail businesses I know that close on Sundays are liquor stores, and that is mandated by the city. The owners of those businesses are constantly lobbying for that last blue law remnant to die, as they lose huge amounts of business to the County stores and bars that sell package goods on Sunday. Thankfully, the recession seems to be the last straw and the city council appears to be moving forward with killing that idiotic law.

Imagine if everyone took the day off from the more selfish (although not evil of course) pursuits of shopping and working and turned their attention to their neighbor and helped out in some way.

If as a country, Sunday was a day of rest and service, I think we would benefit greatly. That is the principle of the Sabbath. Of course you can't legislate this really. I think government can encourage it, but you're right in your point above that it shouldn't be legislated.

Yes, very ideal. Now, when are people supposed to do selfish things like shopping if they work all week and have other obligations on Saturday?

 

[Augustus]

You find time to do the things you want to do.

I have found that to be true as I get older.

 

[nevermore]

What a comprehensive and brilliant answer.

 

[Augustus]

What a comprehensive and brilliant answer.

Well what else do you want me to say? What else is there to say? We all agree that this shouldn't be legislated. It is a choice.

I say that the principle behind the laws are correct, even if the laws aren't and you and others say that those principles no longer apply because we have "grown past them, "become a 24/7 society", and basically no longer have the time to do everything in 6 days. And that the religious ideas that this came from no longer apply either.

I just don't agree. I don't have any studies or surveys or such things to prove it. But I do know that leaving sunday to other matters generally helps me to be more efficient with my time. And just because people choose not to live by an ideal or principle doesn't make the principle invalid.

But anyway, if you don't believe me, just try it out for a month if you can and see if it works for you.

 

[Kestra]

Of course we shouldn't limit good deeds to one day a week, but I am a pretty sure that most of us could take care of all our business 6 days a week and leave sunday to being sunday.

For most of the people I know, that's not practical at all.

 

[John Picard]

What a comprehensive and brilliant answer.

Well what else do you want me to say? What else is there to say? We all agree that this shouldn't be legislated. It is a choice.

I say that the principle behind the laws are correct, even if the laws aren't and you and others say that those principles no longer apply because we have "grown past them, "become a 24/7 society", and basically no longer have the time to do everything in 6 days. And that the religious ideas that this came from no longer apply either.

I just don't agree. I don't have any studies or surveys or such things to prove it. But I do know that leaving sunday to other matters generally helps me to be more efficient with my time. And just because people choose not to live by an ideal or principle doesn't make the principle invalid.

But anyway, if you don't believe me, just try it out for a month if you can and see if it works for you.

I have better things to do with my time than practice someone else's "principles". As Sam Elliot's character, Wade Garrett said in the movie Roadhouse, " I'll get all the sleep I need when I'm dead.".