Stores closing earlier than advertised time

[Deleted User]

IT is really annoying when you are running a shop and you go to lock the door at closing time and as you are just about to lock it, someone slips through. Then they dither about the shop for 10 minutes meaning I can't cash up and go home.

When I used to be in charge of a high street store on Sundays, our advertised closing time was 3pm but I would always make sure the door was locked early depending on how many people were still in the shop.

I didn't get paid any more for staying back longer.

geordie_joe

11 years ago I had a second job as a janitor in out local tesco on a Sunday.

They used to let people in right up till 4.00pm and the checkout assistants had to stay until everyone had been served.

At the time one of them told me that they were often serving people until 4.30pm, even though they stopped getting paid at 4.00pm. If they complained about having to work without being paid they were told that the rest of the team were doing it, and if they didn't they would be letting the team down and tesco didn't want people who let the team down working for them.

thatguy1

I work in Sainsbury's and normally some staff are scheduled to work past the time when the store shuts. We close at 4pm on Sundays and I'm contracted to work until 4:30pm.

We let people in right up until 4pm, that's when security stops letting people in(although they are idiots sometimes & let people in AFTER 4pm!!)

nnik

I work in a shop and I cannot even believe that anyone would be that selfish as to say that customers should be allowed to enter right up until closing.
Where I work it's quite a bit smaller than Tesco so we usally lower the shutters half way at about 5 minutes before. Some people will come in and spend ages just browsing and don't even buy anything. This can be quite frustrating when most staff only get paid until closing but cannot leave until the shop is empty.

prowla

If the shops don't want your custom, then they can stop you going in at any time.

jenniewb

I shop across different stores and quite often have seen what seems to happen with closing times and it does seem to be more or less the same.

With about 10-15 mins to spare you can see a security guard or staff member reminding customers coming through the door that the "store will be closing in 10 minutes".

5-10 mins to go and its looking like you will need a bit of pleading with the man at the door to let you past, the difference in time depends on how big the store is. Eg Tesco Extra would do this earlier then a Tesco Metro.

2 mins to closing you can often still get in but its normally a case of "I just need a pint of milk and I know exactly where it is".

Its not abnormal to still be in a queue after the shop has 'closed' but customers trying to get in will be refused entry. Staff members will always be complaining about having to work over time and be shouting things about pay and extra pay or being too late/never again (I did too when I used to work in a store and I don't think its fair if your not getting paid for that extra time, we never were). I can understand this may change per store and per manager within that store. I'd also imagine different times of the year and even how many staff are left to clean up afterwards also matters.

If your unhappy OP, you could try speaking to the manager and asking for more justification if you feel its not right, if you don't feel your being taken seriously or have a problem you could try going one step above but to be honest I can see why they'd do this and its not abnormal.

anamenottaken

anatomical wrote: »

This may be because it was christmas eve, and shops are only allowed to trade for a certain number of hours, the same as sunday trading laws.

No law for Christmas Eve (unless it were to be a Sunday). My local large Tesco advertised being open until 10 pm.

ellies_angel

Christmas eve I begged at my local Tesco store (live in a small village and know most of the staff by name) to let me in at 6.55 tbecause we had come home to discover the dog had eaten the turkey and I needed something anything for dinner the following day, turkey, chicken joint of meat. I was told sorry, not letting you in, no turkeys left. I said I would take anything but told no. I then spent the next 90 mins traveling around, calling (bluetooth) till I found a tesco extra which was open when I called and had a crown left who said she would put it aside for me and stay still I arrived. 5 mins after their closing.
I think it is up to the individual store. Really disapointed that this one Hitler wouldn't help. Can't wait till I go in next and he greets with a smile. Next time its !!!!ing down with rain when he's walking home, I won't be stopping and offering him a lift!

Middy

About 6 years ago, me and my ex returned from holiday on Sunday. We did some shopping at Asda and left the store at 3:55pm. We don't normally shop on Sundays as he worked most Sundays There was a security guard turning away customers. One customer I can recall was pushing a large empty trolley saying 'I just want a pint of milk' - erm why was he pushing a large trolley?

Also, why can't supermarkets have a small chiller at the front of the store for milk?

Middy

thatguy1 wrote: »

I work in Sainsbury's and normally some staff are scheduled to work past the time when the store shuts. We close at 4pm on Sundays and I'm contracted to work until 4:30pm.

We let people in right up until 4pm, that's when security stops letting people in(although they are idiots sometimes & let people in AFTER 4pm!!)

Its the same people week in week out that take forever and don't think about shop staff have a life.

My ex works for Morrisons and he said the store manager took customers and trolleys to the tills at 2 mins to 4. When customers said they haven't done all of their shopping - he said 'We are open again at 8am tomorrow'

Some people need to plan their days better.