will we ever have a 24 hour economy? and is there a requirement?

[timwilky]

So I went to do some maintenance on the wife's car. I discover an anti roll bar stabiliser link is broken. A common fault and explains the knocking sound she described. But I have to wait till tomorrow to source one, within 3 miles of my home there are factors that I know have this part. But they are closed.

I am p1ssed that I asked my local pharmacy to collect my prescription but when I went yesterday to collect it, they close at lunchtime on a Saturday.

I expect my staff to work weekends and roster accordingly, why shouldn't retail establishments. I had to wait till 11 this morning for Asda to open to buy tea bags. Why? they open 24 hours during the week. Why not Sunday?

Yes I understand staff don't like working weekends, evenings etc. But if you are in a customer facing environment you serve them or loose them.

Should be some sort of callout system where you pay more for what you require and thus call in a member of staff.

Out of interest how much would you pay extra to get that bit today?

To be honest, a 24hr economy is already there if the need dictates it, and has been for many many years, something like a 24hr petrol station will always have a customer base, something like a 24hr motor factors won't. Most spannermen will want their weekends off, there's some saturday mornings in work I don't see a sinner, the only reason I do it is so when it's quiet I can give the shop a good clean and fix any anything broken on the workshop. There's no point paying a wage if nobdy comes in and buys anything.

I believe Asda, Tesco etc use the downtime to restock and clean the store thouroghly, there's usualy a "local" branch nearby open on a sunday morning.

Be careful what you wish for as you might get it.
I have to admit that it is handy being able to pop to the shop at stupid o clock and get something trivial.
However, if I had to choose I would prefer to be made to wait til the next day. After all, there's nothing wrong with waiting if you haven't had the good sense to plan ahead.
I work shifts and do weekends and nights but half the time I am there "just in case". I would much prefer to be able to spend my working time working and my non working time enjoying life.
Bring back a "no where near 24hr economy" as I think that people in general had a far better social life.
Just my 2d's worth.....

[timwilky]

A number of workshops locally operate night time servicing. Granted they tend to be the big dealers who probably have all the bits in stock for a service. But I guess they too are screwed if a fault is discovered and a part needed.

There is a serious need by companies who run their vehicles during the week to get them serviced/repaired nights weekends. But where the feck is the backup service to support the enlightened customer focused businesses.

As for Asda/Tesco etc. Are they not big enough to take on the government and say our customers want 24 hours service and to be able to shop normally on a Saturday night/Sunday

Originally Posted by timwilky

A number of workshops locally operate night time servicing. Granted they tend to be the big dealers who probably have all the bits in stock for a service. But I guess they too are screwed if a fault is discovered and a part needed.

There is a serious need by companies who run their vehicles during the week to get them serviced/repaired nights weekends. But where the feck is the backup service to support the enlightened customer focused businesses.

As for Asda/Tesco etc. Are they not big enough to take on the government and say our customers want 24 hours service and to be able to shop normally on a Saturday night/Sunday

I've worked for a few companies who had a nightime spanner man, but they always had a spare vehicle, there simply wasn't the urgent need to have somewhere open 24hr, if the fault was serious enough to need a part the service manager didn't have on site, it wouldn't have been fixed before the working day started anyway. I can only speak from the experience of the firms I worked for, but there was always a spare truck/van lying about, any REALLY unforseen breakdown was only a matter of a phone call to the local hire place.

The Tesco thing is more about practicality, most big Tescos have a 24hr petrol station with a smaller range of stock, if you have to do major rearranging or replenishing in the store it's a hell of a lot easier without Joe Public walking about. You pass buy the place at 4am on a Sunday morning and there's about 100 people working away flat out.

I felt a bit lost when staying in Englandshire for a week last year.. can't go shopping on sunday evening drove me mad! (forgot to buy beer) 4pm close or something?
I have 2 Tesco and an Asda 24/7 stores within 4 miles and pubs that open real hours, most parts suppliers are still 8-5/ 9-12 though.
Halfrauds open till 5 on sunday up ere.. parts do cost more from them compaired to the other factors though, but if needs must it is handy.

There are several 24 hour Tescos and Asdas around here. Can I buy my stuff to make lunches with for the week on Monday morning? Can I bullox. They don't open until 6am on Monday, even though the place is absolutely crawling with staff, the same amount of staff doing the same work they are doing when I am able to go in at 5:15am on Tuesday (stacking shelves and ignoring me). Likewise, if you realize you need something on Sunday you'd better hope it's before 4pm or you're stuck with whatever your local dodgy Spar has.

I can think of one convenience store that's open until 24 hours, it's on City Road in Cardiff and unsurprisingly it does a roaring trade.

Remember when shops shut early on Wednesdays and town centres were dead on a Sunday? I kind of miss that, slows the pace of life, what's the rush?

[L3nny]

I went to Tuscanny last month and nothing at all opens Sunday. We were staying in self catering accommodation and arrived on the Saturday night so couldn't get any supplies until Monday. And even then the supermarkets are only open 9-12 then 4-8.

I do really wish that the stupid outdated Sunday trading laws were scrapped. If Tesco wants to stay open 24/7 then what's the problem? I have to work a 12 hours shift on a Sunday and no bible bashing loonies jump to my defence!!