Why does the UK close so early?

pineapple

Altarf wrote: »

If only that were true.

There is a never ending supply of examples of businesses that fail due to the blinkered approach of their owners, whilst other businesses in the same line who do do adapt and change go from strength to strength.

I know of businesses going strength to strength through innovation as you say. But innovation doesn't necessarily equate with opening hours. By the same token don't equate business failure with 'short' opening hours! There are myriad possible factors in why businesses fail.
I know a barber who doesn't open till 11.30am. Could he make a few extra bob by opening earlier? Probably. But he operates in a country town notorious for it's long 'lie in'. And it's probably not worth his while coming in earlier for the pittance he would make. Plus he has a load of faithful clentele who adapt to his hours. Enough to earn him a comfortable living. He's been going for years - doesn't look like failing any time soon. :T

Enterprise_1701C

I for one love my country and how it works. I am English through and through, personally I would love to go back to how it was in my youth, when only garden centres were open on a Sunday and we had time to spend with out familes.

It has now been ruined with too many immigrants that expect us to conform to their standards. As far as I am concerned (and this applies to us going to their country) if you live in a country you live as the natives live and do not expect them to live as you live. That applies to everything.

As for american tv, I think the programmes are about 10 minutes long after all the advert breaks!

Oh, and we operate our own business, have done for 20 years, and we do help people out by being flexible with our working hours, have been known to even work on Sunday, but it is just us anyway.

We all know the times the shops close and we all know the times the attractions open. I am amazed that coachloads of people turn up to attractions after they close, personally I would do a little homework and find out the opening hours first.

Instead of expecting everyone to open 24-7, have a little consideration for employees and do your homework.

Altarf

custardy wrote: »

well thats your opinion. you made a statement of RM not getting money from you,then described using Amazon lockers.....

And whenever I have had a delivery to a locker, it has been delivered by TNT or Yodel, so your point is?

custardy wrote: »

however RM offer various methods of delivery,redelivery etc

I can have it redelivered to the address that they failed to deliver it to the first time, a local post office that is also closed when the commuters are around, or the sorting office that is closed most of the time. Great choices.

custardy wrote: »

you seem to be driving on a tangent towards RM

They seem a good example of a company failing to acknowledge their customers needs, and are suffering because of it.

custardy wrote: »

which is pointless

Seems bang on point to me.

custardy wrote: »

RM have legal requirements that lead to the business being based around certain times

So the law tells them to only open the sorting office at inconvenient times? Being the knowledgeable sort of person you are, perhaps you could point to that section in the act.

custardy wrote: »

outwith that it involves staffing an office purely for collections

Fail to see your point. It would need to be staffed either at an inconvenient time, or a convenient time. Costs are the same.

custardy wrote: »

big offices do it because its feasible
with smaller offices the costs are too high
my old office is open 12 hours a day during the week

So Royal Mail obviously perceive that there is a commercial benefit to opening at convenient times in some places, something you were denying earlier.

custardy wrote: »

however thats not the debate here.

I think it is.

custardy wrote: »

If you are happy to remove RMs legal requirement then you can start comparing them to a 'normal' business

Again the legal requirement prohibiting them to open at convenient times?

And if Royal Mail don't compare themselves with a 'normal' business then they will soon be out of business.

Altarf

pineapple wrote: »

By the same token don't equate business failure with 'short' opening hours!

Don't mistake long opening hours with the correct opening hours.

pineapple wrote: »

I know a barber who doesn't open till 11.30am.Could he make a few extra bob by opening earlier? Probably. But he operates in a country town notorious for it's long 'lie in'. And it's probably not worth his while coming in earlier for the pittance he would make.

So they have determined the correct opening time, good.

pineapple wrote: »

Plus he has a load of faithful clentele who adapt to his hours. Enough to earn him a comfortable living. He's been going for years - doesn't look like failing any time soon.

A nice situation to be in, provided nobody comes along and upsets things.

In my town, up until earlier this year there was one barbers, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5, queue on a Saturday, and not very good prices. And the business was happy.

Other business people have seen the niche and two other barbers have now set up, one undercutting the prices and opening longer weekday hours, the other opening late and on Sundays. Judging by the empty chairs and lack of queues in the original barber, they are not so happy now.

pineapple

Did you get up the wrong side of the bed today Altarf?
I am simply pointing out it is too simplistic to equate business failure with opening hours and that a good many traders have learnt from experience when it is profitable enough for them to open. What you personally want is irrelevant.
As for the barber I mentioned, he has already found his 'niche' in that he does a good professional job (both male and female clientele) at £3.50 a go and has people queuing round the clock (his clock). So I don't think he is going to be supplanted any time soon. Though it's always possible I guess that someone will match his price and throw in a 3 course lunch and maybe a couple of cartwheels to boot :rotfl:.

Altarf

pineapple wrote: »

I am simply pointing out it is too simplistic to equate business failure with opening hours and that a good many traders have learnt from experience when it is profitable enough for them to open.

And it is pretty simplistic to use as your argument an example of a niche hobby business.

StrongWork

goater78 wrote: »

American office (better than the uk office)

I can't think of a current British comedy program that is good? Maybe outnumbered but that's coming to an end (and its not great)

Never in a million years.

Btw check out the American version of the 'Inbetweeners' to see another vastly inferior example.

StrongWork

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

I for one love my country and how it works. I am English through and through, personally I would love to go back to how it was in my youth, when only garden centres were open on a Sunday and we had time to spend with out familes.

It has now been ruined with too many immigrants that expect us to conform to their standards. As far as I am concerned (and this applies to us going to their country) if you live in a country you live as the natives live and do not expect them to live as you live. That applies to everything.

System

StrongWork wrote: »

Never in a million years.

Btw check out the American version of the 'Inbetweeners' to see another vastly inferior example.

Don't be ridiculous the American office is far superior

StrongWork

goater78 wrote: »

Don't be ridiculous the American office is far superior

Profoundly disagree.