Businesses and their crazy hours

[mac78]

I live in a town of about 10,000. We have your basics, grocery, Super Walmart, Ace Hardware, expensive shops uptown on the square, etc. The city is about 50 to 60 miles, depending on which one you go to.

This weekend, hubby and I was talking about new furniture. Ours is 13+ years old and in sad sad shape. So I thought ok, I will go see what is out there and how much it is. Our town has a furniture store, it was closed on Sunday, the next town has a furniture store, it was closed on Sunday, the next 2 towns have furniture stores, and they are closed on Sunday too. You get my drift. They all close at 5:00 during the week. So I ask. With the way society is today, with most families/couples have 2 parents working, just how are people supposed to "go shopping". Our local Chamber of Commerce is constantly putting things in the paper about "Shop Bryan". Well gees, I would if I could but I can't. Anything that is uptown closes it's doors at 5:00. Never open on Sunday. Only open Saturdays till 3 or 4. I work everyday till 5:15.

So I say, I will take my business to the city, where they accomodate working people with the hours they are open.

Times have changed the past 25 years. There was a day when mothers didn't have to work and could do their shopping on the typical Mon thru Fri 9 to 5 day. But not anymore, and I can't believe how many businesses close at 5 and arn't not open convenient hours on the weekend for the working class.
My vent for the day.....:mad:

[ChapterTwo]

I have a better one for you, Marie. Here, in one particular county in New Jersey, we have antiquated rules called "Blue Laws". They were originally meant to denote Sunday as a "day of rest", and the idea was that no clothing/shoes/furniture or certain other items are allowed to be sold on Sundays.

It's really ridiculous nowadays, when even drugstores sell socks and maybe tee shirts or whatever, but no one polices stores like that. All of the malls in our county are closed on Sunday, driving people to go to neighboring counties if they need to shop on that day.

Every so often, this comes up for a vote and as of now, people have not yet voted to repeal this outdated law! It's insane...:rolleyes:

[mac78]

That is just crazy....they need to get into the real world.....it is not the 1950's anymore.

[ChapterTwo]

That is just crazy....they need to get into the real world.....it is not the 1950's anymore.

That's exactly the way I feel! And for those who live near the malls and say they don't want the noise/traffic on Sundays...they knew where their houses were located when they bought them!

[Gigi]

I problem here in my little Eastern Shore town too :rolleyes: The main street has quaint little shops with very odd hours like open Tues., Wed, Sat. from 10-2, etc...

I have the hardest time shopping because I never know who is going to be open, what day, time---it drives me crazy. And no Sundays- except for a restaurant or two.

[vintage girl]

I live in Southern CA, so everything is open basically all the time. But recently I have noticed that some of the smaller, speciality shops are closing on Sunday's. I think some of this has to do with the economy. Too expensive to keep stores open if you are not selling anything.

[CohenCottage]

Wow! I didn't realize anywhere outside the South still had blue laws. Some stores are open here on Sundays, and the local business seem to stay open until 6 or 7 at least. I wonder if that's because we are a college town? We still can't buy alcohol on Sundays though!

[mac78]

I understand store employees needing a break, but, you have to be open hours the working people can patronize your store. Instead of being open from 9 to 5, be open from 11 to 7, be open later than 3 or 4 or Saturday....as I can only do so much in 1 Saturday morning, and be open Sundays, as that is when many working people take off and do their shopping. We can drive 50 minutes to the city and be at a mall, or any other type of retail store by 6:30 and still have 2 1/2 hours to shop, leave to come home and be in bed by 10 or 10:30. I will be taking my business to the city I guess.

[Gigi]

I suppose that is one of the reasons I really LOVE having a small biz without the "brick & motar" part- I'm lucky that I can sell 24/7- answer emails, questions at anytime of the day or night. I really do love this part of the business.

[chyna]

I've got a skull scratcher for you, the bank I had my checking and savings accounts at is only open from 8:30-5. Now when it was a small credit union I could see that but now they are a large credit union with branches all over the place and still have those crazy hours (oh and closed on Sat and Sunday). When exactly are you supposed to be able to visit the bank itself? You could take time off from work and go at the end of the day or come in an hour late or hope you can make it in on a lunch break. That is one of the reasons we moved the checking account to another bank where at least the drive-in is open on Saturday. Only problem is that my personal savings is still at this cu, I wanted to make sure my dh could not raid the savings. No his name is not on the account. Guess who has a nice nest egg and who still can't figure out how to put a few bucks away each week.:rolleyes:

[ChapterTwo]

Good for you, about the nest egg, Chyna!

Why not call to speak with either the manager of your bank or the closest you can get to the President of the bank, and tell him of your dilemma. (Hmmmmmm...When? When you're on lunch? Perhaps you can email?)

Explain the situation and say that unless there can be some way that you can actually do your business at hours that accomodate working people, you are sorry but you will have to take your business elsewhere. Banks don't ever want to hear that, and especially in these hard times. Good luck with that!

[chyna]

they already lost my checking account, I have the savings there for the most part because I can't get to it easily. :p so far it is working out for me, however when I really do want some money it is such a pain!

[mac78]

I went to a little shop yesterday after work....5:45, it is a little antique shops, gifts, etc. Sign on the door says....hours....t w th 10 to 6, closed Friday, not sure if open Sat........i walked away before i read the whole sign. Just when do these people think the working class people is supposed to patronize their stores?

[yarborough house]

I know it is frustrating that the hours do not work for working people but obviously the hours work for them and they are making money..so that is all they need. Usually the extra hours after 5 do not afford them the profit margin to justify it. Of course not being open on a Saturday is strange. But being closed on a sunday is pretty usual in small towns or small stores. Those stores dont' have a great number of employees and as it is your day off it is theirs too.
Gotta remember that most small antique and junk stores are run by one person with at the most 1 employee so they stay open the hours that make them the most money..
It doesn't work for everyone but it is what works best for them.

[vintage girl]

I agree with Tammy. Right now in this economy, stores, even larger ones, are having to adjust their hours. Staying open means paying utilities, employees, etc etc. If they are not making the money to justify this, than they will have to adjust their hours. Is it frustrating? Yes. Is it a necessary evil in today's economy? Yes. I have a couple of friends that own antique stores, and believe it or not, they have been closing early on Saturday or sometimes, not even opening. They simply do not have the business. They are also closed on Monday and Tuesday and only open until 5:30pm. For several years they stayed open until 8pm, so the working crowd could shop. But over the past two years, they only had 1 or 2 people coming into their stores, so they started closing earlier. Times are definately tough, and it is not "business as usual".

[memmey]

Well....I decided this year to open my salon late in the morning and work later into the evening. I will work till 7 or 7:30 every Wed. and. Thurs.. My salon is open Wed. thru Fri.
It is better for me to book solid for three days than to spread them out all over the place. I have dressed hair for 36 years and the thrill of it is sorta waning:(.
I would rather have time to do some house chores in the morning so when I finally finnish work I am done with everything. Plus it saves on utilities in the salon.
Most of my working customers don't want to sit in the salon on Saturday morning. They like stopping on their way home from work.
Everyone needs a little trim now and then but colors and highlights are declining in this little area.....they are expensive on a regular basis.

I LIVE the Steel Magnolia's scenario everyday...:p

[vintage girl]

Memmey,

Is that your house in your avatar? Oh my gosh it is darling. I would love to see more pics of it. I love color and have always loved the homes in Louisiana. They are so colorful, bright and "happy". Everytime one is featured in a magazine, I cut it out and keep it. I told hubs our next house will be either bright red or yellow. Right now I have beige stucco (boring), with green trim, roof, and red shutters. It is cute, but I really wanted the stucco to be red, but hubs is a bit more conservative than me:D

Okay, I just found your album under your profile. Girl, your house is darling. When can I move in????

By the way I say "Hey" also instead of Hello. Everyone is always asking me if I am from the South. I have lived all over the world, and part of that was in the South, so maybe that is where I picked it up. Also love your collection of parrots. I have a collection of parrots also (paintings, porcelain hanging parrots, several antique hanging parrot cages). I run a parrot rescue, so they are near and dear to my heart.

[Gigi]

Oooooooooo Memmey's cottage! All I have to say is that it's darling ~ southern charm all wrapped up! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the red color she chose to paint her exterior.

Ms. Memmey- post, re-post some pics- please!

[memmey]

Thank you both I appreciate it. Decorating with no money...that's me!

Vin..I just lost my little parrotlet on Christmas Eve :(. She died lying on my bed...God love her little soul. I had her for over 10 years and the vet said she passed of old age. We figure she was about 13 or 14 years old. Little Bitsey Jo was a rescue. I feed a Nun's animals while she went out of town.. Sister was an extreme hoarder of pets. EXTREME. Anyway Joe had mice in the cage with her and I took her and didn't give her back. She was starving cause they were eating her seed. She was the best little friend I ever had. I loved her with all my heart and soul and I will miss her till I see her again one day.
I understand birds very well but my heart will not let me get another one. It hurts too bad to lose them. Soooo I have the bonehead cat that I am trying to figure out. Cat language is getting clearer everyday. He has almost turned me into his Zoombie........:p



http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o243/memmey/Bitsy010.jpg

[vintage girl]

Oh Memmey I am so sorry that you lost your little bird. Parrotlets are wonderful birds. Big birds in a little body. I have an outdoor aviary with my rescue budgies, finches and one cockatiel. In my indoor birdroom (which hubs and I built onto our house), I have 1 Blue Front Amazon (Taco), 1 African Grey (Maui), 1 Sun Conures (Sunny), 1 Peach Face Lovebird (Peachie), and one ornery little Cockatiel (Zach). Up until a couple of months ago, I had an additional 4 birds, but I managed to find them good homes. The ones that I have left are permanent residents of the rescue. I have had up to 20 birds at one time. I used to do cat rescue also, so I can understand how your cat has "taken you over" Ha Ha. I have always had a great love of animals. One of my favorite sayings is that I love most animals, and tolerate a few humans.

Here are pics of some of my birds:)

[memmey]

AHHHHHH!! They are soooo cute. I love love a sun conure but they are SO LOUD.

My first bird was a dwarf Macaw. You know the littlle conure looking one with the bare face patch? Tootie Marie.
My X husband let me get her and she was wonderful. She stayed out always and slept under a little blanket at night. Anyways when I got pregant my X:mad: and my parents thought she would bite my baby since she bit everyone BUT me. So my parents took her from me and she grieved herself to death and died. It was totaly ridiculous that she would have bitten Emil. She loved me and would have loved him. I never forgave my X for that and my parents thought they were doing the right thing but my Dad did not take good care of her.

Tootie was precious and funny and sweet. Every morning...Hello melinda , Hi MaMa....I said never again till I saw Bitsey Jo and her living conditions. This time for sure never again. Jo and I ran from 3 hurricanes together. She loved a road trip. I was biting my finger nails and she was chirping and happy. I had 4 dogs and a bird in the car fleeing the storm...we looked like Ringling Bros. going down the road...;)

So now I am down to Ms. Runt (13) and Chev (7) and Yow, alias Kit Kat ( age- who knows?)
They all die of old age. I think by the time they all leave me , Emil will be married and I can look forward to a grandbaby one day.

I really really "get" birds. I just love them. Bitsey Jo's may have lasted longer but I could NOT and I mean NOT get her to eat anything but seed mix. I made birdie bread you name it. NO! She loved white bread or biscuits or toast or a plain cookie but try to hide anything in it....NO!! I always said if she had a gun she would have shot me for offering. I think it was advanced age and her liver.
Ahhh Vin she was so wonderful. I took her around the house with me. if I cooked she was there, watching TV she was there. On the porch...there. Every night I put her cage on a little white table by my bed and we a had nite nite talk then I covered her warm and out went the lights. I know she had a good life but I had a better one for having known her.......

[vintage girl]

Oh Memmey, you really do "get" birds. Not many people do. They are so intelligent and amazing. All of my rescue birds have been in at least three or more homes before ending up with me. My little cockatiel Zach was almost starved to death, because the wife thought the bird was too loud, so stopped feeding it! My conure is a riot. Very very picky about who she likes. I have a friend who is a professional photographer and he has won many contests with his pics of her. One day he said he just had to hold her. I warned him. He said, nothing that beautiful could bite. Five minutes later he was dripping blood and had the most stunned look on his face. I warned him;) And yes Sunny is very very loud. I had a Nanday Conure as a foster for a few months. Now that was loud:eek: Right now we share our home with the 5 parrots, 14 birds in the outdoor aviary, 6 dogs and about 70 pigeons. We have a white dove (really white pigeons) release business for weddings, funerals, etc. Hubs and I have always loved animals, especially birds. We have had to evacuate a couple times due to fires and let me tell you, it is like noah's ark on crack:D Luckily we have a motor home, and I have cages all ready with emergency supplies in them. So we just shove everything in a cage and run for the hills:D

[mac78]

I had a parakeet for over 10 years. It was my baby. It sat on its cage and I left the door open most of the time. It was so tame. Then when I had my first child Austin, 21 years ago, that bird laid 3 eggs. It was so weird. Of coarse they wern't fertilized, but after all these years it laid 3 eggs. My little birdie died from some kind of respiratory thing, I even took it to the vet a few times trying to save it. Some day I want another one.....hmm, that would really peeve hubby off it I went and bought me one. ;)