Discussions

It's about time that this got changed.

I agree, it’s time to get rid of the Sunday/holiday shopping restrictions!! Those are a thing of the past!!

The only good thing about this is that there will be some more hours available to those who need them for income.  
 
Other than that, I just don’t understand the need to be able to shop 24/7. Gone are the days of Sunday family time, etc. People are too busy consuming greedily rather than being able to actually occupy themselves for a whole day finding other things to do. Really, with the world of online shopping I’m sure people are still shopping anyways even when the stores are closed. Seems like unless people are out spending money they aren’t satisfied.

For the poor staff expected to work Sunday so that other people can indulge theirselves.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2020-10-14 14:41:08

Have you ever been in a mall on a Sunday before noon? it is DEAD. Many stores do not often make any money before noon.  
 
How about after 5? Again, DEAD. Unlikely it pays to have staff in after 5 on a Sunday. Now they want to make it longer. Timing is also the worst. Stores have struggled this year, due to Covid. Now, if the mall opens longer, they will have to pay out more in salary, without the extra money coming in.  
 
Note - Late November and December are exceptions to the above comments, but they are still the quietest part of the week.

Why would stores open if they're going to lose money?

A lot of retailers have figured that longer opening hours = more customers through the door= more sales=more profit. Some of them are starting to find that is not always the case though.

So as long as there is no silly plebiscite regarding the issue that means Brandon will limit the hours municipally then the markets will decide. If there is a profit to be made then stores will take advantage of the removal of the ridiculous restrictions. If there is no profit they will not.  
 
There may even be those who opt to close for “Pollyanna” style ideals ( some examples can be inferred from statements up stream). That is their choice. Just like it is for all of us. Don’t wanna shop on Sunday? Don’t. Really hate shopping on Mondays? Don’t do it.  
 
Let the markets decide. That’s the way it should be. That’s the way it is in most of the country. We’re just a little late in our backwater province.

It is not like a store in the mall can just set their own hours. A few can, but it has to be negotiated when you go in (rarely it can be done after). For the most part, when the mall is open, your open. Period. Even if you know between the hours of X and Y, you will lose money.  
 
Right now, due to Covid, there is some flexibility, but usually there is none. If you are not open when your supposed to be, you pay a fine.

I would have never thought of Sunday shopping as indulging myself. No matter what the hours are someone will complain. Hours haven't changed yet and people are complaining. I would love longer hours on Sunday. If I am camping on the weekend it is nice to come home usually around Sunday dinner time, eat, then want to go shopping for the weeks groceries. Did it all the time in Alberta. Was wonderful. I guess family time on Sunday needs to be scaled back as to not over indulge myself in getting groceries too late in the day. Heck even doing projects around the house and find you need a cable, part, plug, whatever, but oh crap....after 6pm.

I think we should hold off changing hours for the stores right now when Manitoba has such an increase in covid cases. Also, the province needs to think about closing the borders (Sask and Ont) to keep our province safer. Also, implementing fines where needed for not wearing masks etc.....I'm sorry, we need to work together to suppress this,,,,

Right?! Like Dr.s, police, fire, cab drivers, nurses, gas stations, theatre staff, bowling alleys, fast food, etc.... wait they already all do work Sundays!!!! Why is retail so different?!  
Guess what, those families make use of the other days off during the week (as most usually have a different set of days off if working Sunday) for family time.  
And it’s ideal for students, etc, to have more working time available.  
And lots of people don’t celebrate holidays, due to religion, alone, etc. Sometimes they prefer to work and make more money.  
Stores shouldn’t be forced to open longer if they don’t want too. They should be allowed to have the option to choose their hours though. And the stores that do want to open longer and on holidays should be allowed to without fines!  
 
Edited by Cheezies, 2020-10-14 19:06:01

When I was a mechanic I worked six days a week and was on call Sunday and holidays which meant I was often out working those days. Now I don’t expect others to give up their Sunday or holiday on my account.

Lol. We are the province with the most cases per capita. We don’t need to be kept safe from other provinces. They need to be kept safe from us.  
 
I’m all for the changed sunday hours. Moving from a province where it wasn’t a thing, was pretty shocked to see it in a place the size of Brandon. Sunday grocery shopping is a total zoo and for many it’s the only day we can go.

hours shouldn't be based on religious beliefs. The hours be based on the market needs. The whole Sunday is "family day" comes from religious beliefs and a way to get people to church.

Someone who used to work in retail it was nice to have a set day ofc or evening off. Nothing to do with religion but just spending time with family/kids. Being able to do activities with them. Get to know them before they grow up and move away. Life is short. Is it the same entitled, social media addicted society who complains all their kids do is play video games or their kids be glued to their smartphones that want 24/7 shopping?? I guess things were different in the past but as someone who grew up in the past I can’t say the world has improved any spending less time as a family.

..... for an example of what I meant by “Pollyanna” thinking. Read the post above this one.  
 
I guess all them folks who have been working Sundays at the various jobs that, for some strange reason, are exempt from wanting to spend “ time with family/ kids.” And from “ being able to do activities with them.”  
 
Not only that,they are “ entitled, social media addicted” and complainers. And all this, apparently, comes from working on Sundays! What drivel!  
 
 
 
For the record, EVERYONE grew up in the past . That goes without saying. And the notion that because it HAS been done “this way” in the past it should continue is a ridiculous notion that only serves to stifle our society.

I read up on the term “Pollyanna thinking”. That is drivel !

Why not. The concept of Sabbath shopping restrictions is archaic, to begin with. Particularly in regards to holidays. If holidays are either not applicable to (or just don't matter too!) people, the option for making another days wage should be available.  
 
I guess it depends on whether the sales justify the move. Though I liked 24 hour Sobeys when I worked late, the sales obviously were not there. I suspect Sunday shopping won't have that issue though. Particularly in the summer months.  
 
Edited by Simonwalcal, 2020-10-15 09:14:11

so many consumers opting for online shopping this is the last kick at the can for many of these retail businesses. It really is just prolonging the inevitable.

I don’t get as a consumer is....where is the extra money coming from that you can spend on a 7th day of shopping? Most Businesses that increase hours will not increase employees wages or shift-time, they will just hire a few more people as part-time for near minimum wage. My expendable Cash does not change regardless of how much time I have to spend it. In fact, I don’t need anywhere near 6 days to spend it! Sure it’s a convenience thing for consumers (especially those who don’t/can’t plan and organize their time very well) but I don’t think it’s more than that. Expendable $$ for most people won’t change.  
As an owner of a small private Business, I see an additional challenge of even keeping the doors open... My sales most likely will not increase. Selling online is not a great option. If I want to have a fighting chance to stay in Business, I’ll have to compete with the Mega-businesses for sales, that translates to additional “open” hours. More wages, less profits, higher prices, less sales, another lost local Business. The Big Cats will continue to get fatter as they consume the smaller ones. Nobody will be better off- financially, nor any other facet of life- except the BIG boys who can and will swallow anything and anybody to increase their share of the consumer $ available.

More hours for students, etc, could create more expendable money to spend. Also the option to work on holidays, making more money for others as well? No it wouldn’t create more expendable money for those already working full time hours, but will for those that have more than one job, or part time/casual hours.  
I know my older kids/teens have always asked to work on the holidays, to make more money. They’ve worked at jobs that have been allowed to be open. We celebrate at other times. Not everyone celebrates the same ways.  
I think that businesses such as Stans that used to be here, should’ve been allowed to be open whenever they wanted on holidays/Sundays, without fines. Should be business owners choice, as long as they are following the labour laws. Just my opinion.

There's studies out there that show that extended Sunday shopping doesn't actually increase overall shopping traffic in a community, it only redistributes it. Because it increases expenses, the only ones who will be able to remain competitive are the big box stores, and of course we'll flock to them because they have better hours.  
 
Many retailers, to this day, voluntarily close at 6 p.m. on SATURDAYS in Winnipeg. My mother thought it was amazing when we moved to Brandon that things were open until 9.  
 
And I mean really, why close at 9? Or 11? Or ever? You needing a widget or whatnot at 6:05 p.m. on a Sunday is no less urgent than me needing one at 1:30 a.m. any other day of the week. Should stores not stay open to cater to our every whim? Who determines what are "reasonable" hours?  
 
I'm neither for nor against extending the hours. But if we're going to talk about it, let's have an intellectually honest discussion about what extended hours mean, what their impact actually is, who is ultimately impacted and whether or not it's beneficial to the community as a whole.

Doesn’t change the fact that there is no more money to spend right now, the economy is in the tank for the long term and retail, service, hospitality industries are unsustainable at pre covid levels and won’t be able to turn the economy around.

A lot of chain stores that will be affected by this (ive worked for a few) have the amount of hours they can schedule per week controlled by head office. Usually this is based on sales. To be able to schedule more on Sunday they will probably have to cut a couple shifts during the week. This will not create more work. It will just spread it out to reflect when the sales are.

I don’t know all the logistics. But I do know this is already happening in other provinces and has for years if not longer. We shopped on Good Friday & Easter in Alberta, 8 1/2 years ago, so it’s been around for awhile. If other provinces make it work, so can Manitoba.

Why does everybody think they can't live if they can't shop on Sun . or a holiday . The staff in these businesses would also enjoy a day to spend with their families and friends . If you have ever worked in retail as I did for 35 years you would realize they have lives too .

But restaurant staff, gas attendants, theatre staff, cab drivers, etc don’t have lives too?! Yet they are expected to work? They all (including retail) get another day or two off during the week in lieu of, to spend with family and friends. Same with emergency services too. Why is retail so special that they deserve a specific day to spend with family and friends, but these other jobs don’t? And yes I worked retail for many years, and I’ve worked in restaurants, hotels, a gas station, answering service (well past dating myself with that one), alarm monitoring, Security guard, etc. Where I had to work random hours all days of the week, including nights. And I had a child while doing it. Still managed to have family and friend time on my days off. Wether that be on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday!

Of course they can make it work lol. I'm just saying it won't have the benefits you think it will. And depending on where you were in Alberta, that might not be a great comparison. Was it in a city the same size as Brandon?