Sunday trading reforms approved
Friday 22nd July 2011, 2:58PM BST.
This was the scene in King Street the day after Liberation Day – a Sunday – in 2009 when the shops were allowed to open
THE most far-reaching reforms of Sunday trading laws for 50 years were agreed yesterday and could soon mean all but the Island’s biggest 36 stores being allowed to open.
The States approved the changes despite fears that they would destroy what was still special about the Jersey weekend and that shop workers would be forced to work rather than be able to spend time with their families.
In just 14 days’ time, when the new regulations come into force, the owners of any shop under 700m² in floor area will be eligible to apply to the relevant parish Constable for a permit to open.
That would leave just three dozen stores – including garden centres, supermarkets, department stores and DIY stores – being barred from opening on 90 per cent of Sundays and many bank holidays throughout the year.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Just watch the introduction of Sunday parking charges follow. Makes sense that we are permitted to shop on the only day that some of us get off. The UK have Sunday shopping from 10 – 4 and it’s very civilised being able to shop at your pace on your day off rather than rush round after work.
Can’t say I understand the restriction of shop size, it just means we can’t go to the Co Op or waitrose, the main 2 shops I’d like to be able to visit on Sunday – ah well small steps.
Report abuse
What a missed opportunity! Why not all stores?
Nevertheless we must be grateful for the crumbs tossed down from on high.
Report abuse
Excellent news, a step in the right direction for “stuck in the dark ages Jersey”.
Report abuse
Nice piece of spin on this article. Seeing as the Constables have to approve openings it would seem to me that there will be very little change to the status quo. If anything this gives more power to parishioners to lobby their constables to open or close shops and that is surely a good thing.
Report abuse
I think its a real shame and completely pointless.
There is more than enough time to shop during the week and on a saturday with out eroding one of the nice plesantries of Jersey. Sunday closing.
There really cant be the demand for all shops to open on a sunday, and there are already more than enough places to grab that emergancy pint of milk or loaf of bread, along with a copy of the sunday papers.
Sunday opening should have been kept special, run up to christmas, and the odd weekend where there’s a massive event taking place (such as liberation day parade) but no more.
the only explaination must be the greed of a very small number of retailers who want this to happen, the result is only going to be reduced profits or higher pricing.. watch that space!
Report abuse
OK so can the schools open as well so that all those now forced to work Sundays can have the same childcare as those lucky enough to still work Monday to Friday. And perhaps provision could also be made so that all those kids whose parent now have to work all weekend can have the same day off as their parents. No wonder our society is breaking down. This is just sacrificing family life for greed and consumerism.
Report abuse
That’s a shame… once of the most useful shops for me would have been B&Q. Does anyone know why square metres dictate permission to open?
Report abuse
“This was the scene in King Street the day after Liberation Day – a Sunday – in 2009 when the shops were allowed to open…”
So the above picture states.
The reason that it was this busy was because the shops were closed on the Saturday before. Hardly a good day to make an accurate assessment.
Report abuse
#5 Innocent bystander
You should change your username to Dinosaur
Report abuse
As someone who is fairly new to the island, I cannot work out the factors behing determining what is allowed to be open and not.
As an example you have Waterstone’s open yet not Blockbuster. Likewise you have Mark’s and Spencer’s stores out of town open but not in St Helier.
Open them all up and then make it easier for people visiting or working Monday to Saturday to shop.
After all you don’t have to visit if you don’t want to
Report abuse
Opening 7 days a week means more costs for the retailer without any increase in turnover, just a quieter Monday to Saturday trade. Therefore prices will rise and more businesses will become unprofitable and close. Then the people will start complaining about lack of choice and how there are no local shops left.
Let us hope that the States offices, solicitors, doctors, Pasish Halls and schools will also open as we need these on our day off as well.
Report abuse
To Sanity (comment 6) Firstly,schools are NOT childcare! Secondly,many people have always had Sunday included in their working week (police,nurses,doctors,waiters,chefs,firefighters etc etc) so why are shop workers any different?Living in the UK I often choose to work Sunday as it is busy and more enjoyable and obviously you have a day off in the week instead so better all round.I would imagine young mothers/fathers could benefit from working Sunday when perhaps their partner can look after the children and so extra money coming in to the pot?Seems to me it could benefit many people and drag Jersey in to the current century!
Report abuse
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
This is the worst decision, where was the consultation?.
There’s enough pressure on families without losing the ONE day in a week when MOST can spend time together. I’m gutted.
As a shopkeeper, i am constantly complimented on Jersey’s traditional Sunday closing, ( yes – it’s true !! ) and how pleasant it is to see a high street that’s not a clone of the UK.
I would close my business rather than open on a Sunday, and as Mr Pearce says, turnover will simply be spread over 7 days. – This will finish some shops.
In the UK sunday is like any other day. Why do we have to ape the UK.?
Report abuse
Has anyone actually asked their staff whether they’d be willing to work on a Sunday, or will it become a foregone conclusion by employers that their staff work Sundays (whether they like it or not) or lose their job?
Report abuse
No 12. Julie.
We are not the UK and are fed up of having to change our way of life just because it is done elsewhere.
You should realise that there is not a large enough indigenous population to sustain 7 day a week trading.
All that will happen is adiminution of choice through the inevitable gradual reduction of retail outlets.
We are the size of a very small UK town, not a large metropolis where thousands of shoppers are drawn in from the outlying areas.
Check your small local town/village for a true comparison.
Report abuse
Nigel Pearce (11) Opening 7 days a week means more costs for the retailer
Yes Nigel, let the retailer chose when he wants to open, if at all.
After all why open at all?
Report abuse
Makes no difference as the spread will be the same. Same amount of people on the island shopping over 7 days now instead of 6. I cant see the reasoning for Sunday shopping.
Report abuse
Garden centres, DIY stores and large supermarkets are what a significant amount of people want open on a Sunday, look at the rest of the developed world.
If you don’t want to shop on Sunday; don’t.
Churches are allowed to open seven days a week, why not everything else.
Finally, bookmakers should be able to trade on Sundays, there is a fair amount of sport on Sundays and at least you get to know the final result with most sports (unlike the hope of eternal life where there are no reliable post match reports).
Report abuse
shame no b and q .
but will we all rush to the shop.
most have much less to spend these days , for me i only want food and lecky there is not mcuh left over for much more , these days .
Report abuse
Sanity
How many parents really spend the weekend with their (school age) kids…….judging by the large gangs hanging around town and various other areas….not many!!
Besides, employment law states:
a) two uninterrupted rest periods each of not less than 24 hours in each 14-day period, or
b) one uninterrupted rest period of not less than 48 hours in each 14-day period.
Therefore, opening on a Sunday should not interfere too much…..most parents will probably be thankful to have another day off instead when the kids are at school so they can relax themselves!
Report abuse
#7 True, the shops that it would be useful to have open on a Sunday are all too big to be covered by this.
Sunday parking charges will also be brought in, so those of us who periodically find our paid for spaces taken up by selfish idiots on a Saturday are going to have the same problem on a Sunday. Any way the States can bring in a law that allows us to pass our parking fine onto the selfish morons?
Report abuse
To Nigel Pearce (comment 15) As I understand it no retailer will be forced to open-it would be individual choice so if a retailer truly believes that his sales will simply be spread over 7 days instead of 6 then he would be mad to bother surely?I am well aware of the size of St Helier as I lived there for many years.Since moving to the UK I am not a regular Sunday shopper but it’s nice to have the choice and as I said earlier I often volunteer to work Sundays as it is usually a busy day.I am well aware that being a shopkeeper in Jersey nowadays is not much fun as internet sales are becoming more popular so I would have thought this change in the law could help plus perhaps creating a few part-time jobs?
Report abuse
Visiting shops is becoming more outdated now what with the internet and all that. Why bother having to waste time, money, effort, wear and tear on your car and nerves and having to mix with glum uninterested people who don’t want to be there on a work day let alone a play day?
Report abuse
At least Sunday opening would give the very few unfortunate souls, who choose Jersey for a weekend break, something to do!
Report abuse
Jonathan Marshall – just one element missing in your argument & I would consider it an important one – although you clearly don’t.
The missing element – meeting your customer needs. Sounds like meeting your needs far out weigh your customers. Not a great retail model.
Report abuse
#23 It’s just another reason to move out of town, who wants to deal with queues of cars and tooting horns every morning of the week?
Still, I am moving more and more towards internet shopping, and once I find somewhere decent outside town I doubt I’ll ever have the need to be in town. Can’t wait.
#13 “Why do we have to ape the UK.?” Because the States can’t think for themselves. They’ve allowed people ot badger them into this idea that being closed on a Sunday is down to religion and is behind the times. Yes it was once to do with religion, so what, that’s hardly the case anymore. I’ve also heard lots of people who like that there is just one day of the week that is quieter than the rest. The UK is suffering for 24-hr shopping, it would take a real idiot to see it and still go down that road.
Report abuse
12 Julie
There are more important things in life than money. Some jobs are unavoidably necessary 7 days a week, but retail isn’t.
13 Jonathon Marshall
I’m pleased to see someone can see beyond the ‘convenience’ of shopping 7 days a week.
16 Mark
Who do you think will pay for the extra costs?
22 Julie
Equals higher prices,leads to eventual les choice.
23 Adrian
Though I am now retired, the internet is not the answer to all but basic shopping. The number of internet shoppers who came to me for help with their internet purchases would surprise you.
24 Parktown Prawn
Is shopping the only thing you can entertain yourself doing? Try something intellectual or more entertaining.
25.God’s Mentor
Good service and competition are what the client requires. Something that will diminish with more opening hours (pressure on caring retailers).
To those who advocate more shopping hours I suggest they really think through the whole implications. As Jonathon Marshall states, many UK visitors remark how lovely it is to have a different day in the week and how they regret Sunday opening. Variety is what makes life interesting, the last thing we want is to become a clone of England.
Report abuse
26 > Spot on, sadly there are too many idiots both in the States and Out.
25 > Grow up.
Loosing the one day a week when MOST can spend time with their families is such a bad decision. There are far more presures on families now, and if people cannot defend the little that makes Jersey different, it’s a sad day.
Report abuse
@23 Why would you shop on the internet? I sell the same things online as in store but the price is higher online. (+17.5% on Amazon, +13.5% on eBay and postage as well).
Not only that but the service is so much better in store and you get the benefit of informed and knowledgeable staff to assist you.
Granted mine is a small business and you get to see the boss and haggle over the price, and not a UK chain where you are served by 15 year olds or those who barely speak English but…
@15 I agree with you Dad, Nigel Pearce & Son Jewellers will never open seven days a week.
@25 by closing one day a week and lowering prices that is meeting our customers needs, personally I think the town should still close Thursday Afternoons too.
Report abuse
In fact these changes are most harmful to small businesses as a one man business cannot operate seven days a week – therefore the UK chains who do not pay any tax will have an unfair advantage over local businesses.
Report abuse
Darius. Before posting, you really need to do some research. Most products are cheaper onine FACT. I know, as I always try and buy local, but have saved myself hundreds, probably thousands of pounds over the last couple of years by online shopping. The latest example, £165 saving on a new camera last week, over £200 on a new laptop last month. Both identical products. And before you post back and start arguing about gaurantees etc, both have waranties and online help service should I need it.
For your information, Amazon take off the VAT. I understand that you are a local businesman, but my priority has to be saving a few quid so I can afford the odd luxury for myself or my family, not to line your pockets. If you want me to shop in your store, lower your prices!
Report abuse
Darius (comment29) Please don’t be one of those people who like to make sweeping gereralizations about the entire UK.I can say honestly that the only time in the last 5 years that I have been served in a shop(chain) by a person who could barely speak English was in Jersey last summer but that doesn’t make me think that all shop assistants in Jersey can’t speak English!Also I would like to point out that many (possibly most?)places deduct VAT and offer free postage in some cases if you order from Jersey or indeed if you order from the UK to be delivered to Jersey (except if you do this as I recently did as a gift for my son in Jersey your parcel will be held until the recipient fills in all the details online for the GST people which spoils the surprise as you have to then give them all the details of the gift in advance!!!)To Nigel Pearce-you say there are more important things than money and I thoroughly agree but then perhaps you,like me,are in the happy position of not having any debts or money worries whereas I thought that Sunday opening may offer up some part-time jobs for young parents perhaps to get some paid work which could help them make ends meet or even reduce the amount of benefits which get paid out nowadays.Your family are obviously staunch supporters of Sunday closing and I respect your views and I would say again DON’T bother if you don’t need to/want to but perhaps others would like to make their own decisions.
Report abuse
I would like to see the garden centres open, as well as B+Q.
Report abuse
Darius, sorry to be confrontational, but you’re deluded!
So, you think Jersey has no issues with customers being served by people who can’t speak English? Really? I think you need to get out more.
You are looking after your own interests, which is fair enough, I understand that. However, to suggest your shop is cheaper than Amazon, eBay, or any other online supplier, is insulting our intelligence
Report abuse
Nigel 27
I was speaking on behalf of the unfortunate weekend tourist to this island!!
30 Darius
What is it you don’t get?
Nobody is forcing 7 day a week opening…..you won’t HAVE to open….but you will have the option!!
Understand now?
Report abuse
Is Holme Grown a Garden Centre or what?, open every Sunday and you can buy anything there, and get fed!
Report abuse
34 Beaumont
I have to support my son’s statement that his shop sells at lower prices. As stated he does sell items cheaper through his shop than he does online because of the charges by Amazon and e-bay and postage which he does not incur otherwise.
The same can be said for Thaddeus, my other son’s business. Check before you buy.
Report abuse
@31 & 34 I’m sorry but I was merely quoting the prices I personally sell things for on eBay and Amazon. My online turnover is 50% of my sales.
@34 When did I say that Jersey has no issue with being served by people who can’t speak English? As a customer I like to be able to talk to the assistant in a shop.
@31 I cannot speak for professions other than my own. But I find that if I research the best price online and then go into a local business and speak to the boss, I can usually get it cheaper just by asking.
Report abuse
I was all for Sunday opening believing there were lots of young people out there who may appreciate a Sunday job – that was until my partner took a job in a large supermarket. He finds it really hard getting a Saturday off and as I work Monday to Friday, Sunday is the only guaranteed day we get to spend a whole day of quality time together. If they were allowed to open Sunday he would probably be made to work all weekend regardless of having week days off. All those that work in retail outlets should have a rota so that if you work Sunday you get Saturday off and the other way round – if you work Saturday you get Sunday off – but I know it doesn’t work like that if you haven’t a large staff working to a rota. Not grumbling though as we are both grateful to have a job at all in the current Jersey climate!
Report abuse
“#
Mark
Posted July 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm
What a missed opportunity! Why not all stores?
Nevertheless we must be grateful for the crumbs tossed down from on high.”
Mark,
I would suggest you be more grateful that you’re not one of the unfortunates employed in retail who will be expected to work this extra day.
Report abuse
35 Parktown Prawn
Obviously you either have no experience of retailing or are a selfish retailer who only looks to profit and not the welfare of your salespeople. Try to think of the wider issues.
One tourist who cannot survive without shopping is well outnumbered by those who can and do.
You also don’t appreciate that very few retailers would be able to give a days trading free to their competitors and would have to open.
As I have said before, 7 day trading leads either to raised prices or fewer surviving retailers which leads to increased prices. (I think I have just made a case for 5 day trading).
39 Cazza
You have grasped the reality of the situation.
If trading on Sundays took off, shop assistants will be forced to work Sundays as part of their contract and given two of the quieter weekdays off instead, (that is if they are on a five day week and not split shifts). Those who couldn’t/didn’t want to work Sundays would soon be without a job.
Report abuse
Agree, why size is a determining factor I have no idea, can anyone explain, it’s a shame that the shops we really want to use will be closed.I don’t understand the objection, if you don’t want to shop on a Sunday don’t but don’t prevent me from having the choice. As for those who work in retail, you don’t have to open, it’s the shop owners choice. As for people who work for larger outlets, you are in the business of providing a service, get another job if you don’t like the hours, you wouldn’t be a decorator and complain about the smell of paint.
As for the self promoting Mr Pearce – Amazon are massively cheaper, plus you don’t pay VAT and get free delivery. I recently bought a new desktop pc, JEC are selling it for £1000, I paid £450. Likewise a tv, JEC £1400, Amazon £650, the local shops are a dying breed, why would you struggle to find a parking space, pay for it, jostle with the unwashed masses and pay double for the privelage. I buy everything online except food and fuel, the local retailers have had it too good for too long, their demise can’t come soon enough for me – greedy buggers.
Report abuse
As a side issue – which will really set the cat among the pigeons, how many of the people objecting to this potential Sunday opening are church goers or shop owners as they seem to be the only groups that would be against this.
If a shop owner does not want to open they do not have to (and that is fair enough) – but if they want to open, it should be their own choice and not blocked by the States.
Likewise if a worker does not like the fact of working different hours, they are not obliged to stay there – if they are good members of staff etc, the boss would normally be flexible to their wishes anyway.
Report abuse
continuation from 41
Likewise if church goers are objecting to this – again you are not forced to participate.
To reverse the situation I do not go to church, but it doesn’t mean that I want them to close – I JUST DON’T USE THEM
Report abuse
Jonathan Marshall said – ‘grow up’.
Nigel Pearce said – ‘Good service and competition are what the client requires. Something that will diminish with more opening hours (pressure on caring retailers).’
Jonathan words fail me – suggesting that you are ignoring the requirements of a large part of your customer base is hardly immature!
Nigel – add convenience to your good service & competition & you are getting closer to understanding what the ‘client’ requires.
If both of you are representative the Retail trade on this island I can understand why more and more customers are choosing the convenience and competitive prices to be found when buying online & not on the high street.
I think that the real reason smaller retailers don’t want the bigger retailers to be allowed to open on a Sunday is because they know on that particular day they have a monopoly – where the poorer retailers can offer their substandard service, inferior product range at an inflated price.
Report abuse
Nigel
I don’t work in retail, however, I am a CONSUMER. A customer to the likes of you…..your bread and butter
Again…..I repeat what I said to your son…..if YOU don’t want to open your shop then don’t….simple. People will shop with your competitors instead.
As a consumer, I would like the choice to shop whenever I can get a spare moment…..not all of us have time to go into town on a Saturday….and when we do, do not like the crowded high street.
Failing this, I will continue to shop online when it is more convenient for me…..any more often than not…. a lot cheaper too
Report abuse
@42 If you don’t want to use local retailers then why do you want them to open on Sundays.
I think you missed the entire point – Amazon does not sell to you, sellers sell through Amazon. If Mr Pearce sells through Amazon and is telling you the price is cheaper in store then how can you doubt it? Just check on amazon
Report abuse
@38 Darius
“My online turnover is 50% of my sales.”
I see – but you are totally against opting to offer consumers the option of shopping in person on a Sunday? So you’re basically happy to cherry pick which elements of modern retail you want involvement with? To be true to your cause, can we expect you to cease on line trading on a Sunday? Feel free to elaborate..
Report abuse
Continuation of 35…..,
It is a regular comment in this Island that people would like to see Garden Centres open on a Sunday.
As I have purchased plants, shrubs, and even a piece of garden furniture from “Holme Grown” in Grouville (open every Sunday) can somebody please clarify matters to me, what is “Holme Grown” if it is not a Garden Centre as it sells everything that is on sale in any other Garden Centre.
Do the others stay closed by choice, or does Holme Grown have special permission from the Constable of Grouville, someone must know?
Report abuse
Whoever wants to open on Sunday should.
Might get more tourists to shop on Sunday, more space to park for shoppers without a stressful parking deadline.
Shame for the one to work on Sunday, but qualification needed between restoration and retail are close to none.
So to avoid a crap job where you have to work on Sundays: Study at school
It s up t the employer to make the choice and organize the staff rota. All shops are different:It will work for some and not for others.
A tourist shops(La mare Vineyard, Jersey Potteries), will be better open on Sunday and closed on Monday.
I did my share of Saturdays and Sundays.
I am not complaining as I could be working in a mine or gutting dead fish all day long.
If you don’t like what you do, do something about it.
Do I want shops open Sundays : yes.
Do I want to work Sundays : No, but if I have to I will.
There is always going to be cheap labor, or youngsters (TBC) willing to work.
Report abuse
45 God’s Mentor.
When I was first a sole trader, I worked 84 hours a week in my shop (14 hours a 6 day week) to build up my trade and did my paperwork on Sunday mornings giving me Sunday afternoon’s free. Eventually I was unable to work to my best ability due to tiredness.
I was talking about quality rather than quantity.
How many complaints do you read about poor service?
46 Parktown Prawn.
Will you say the same when your trade/business is required to open on Sundays? Don’t say it won’t. Banks, States departments and offices would all be more competitive if they opened 7 days a week and a lot more convenient. The demand will eventually come. Why should it only be retail that is a necessity?
48 J cat.
I presume there is no possibility of you even working Saturdays. I’m sure if you did you would find that your clients would be grateful for the convenience.
Report abuse
@48 I remember when King Street was open from 9am to 9pm Mon to Sat through the summer, when there was enough business to justify it.
Jersey people have very little money to spend due to continuous tax rises, there really are no tourists compared to the days when longer opening was prevalent.
There is no business case for Sunday opening.
Online retailing is a totally different affair, those customers are not wanting to speak to me to ask for a better price, to get the benefit of my knowledge and experience, to take up my time. They are handled by my staff with minimal supervision from myself.
My in store customers have higher expectations, prefer to see me personally and want the best prices which are only negotiated at the till, all of which they get but only in the 42.5 hours that I currently work.
My clients will still want to see me, so Sunday trading will not actually affect my business personally.
But as an islander I want my day of peace and quiet, I want to socialise on a Saturday night knowing that all my friends and family are not working the next day. I want to retain the shared sense of community that having a unified day off affords.
Modern does not equal better, this is not London.
Report abuse
Nigel
Finance often has to work on bank holidays, weekends and often 24hr banking to satisfy international client needs…..it will not be anything new.
We will still have the same hourly contracts but the days off may change….so what!
This is a changing world…..you either change with it or fall behind.
Your choice
Report abuse
Darius & Nigel Pearce
I admire your stance, and many aspects of what you say are true.
However, the world has changed, and Jersey and yourselves need to change with it.
Darius, just don’t open your shop, you won’t be forced to. If you want to be a martyr then actions speak louder than words. If you’re convinced the trade won’t be there, then you won’t be missing out will you?
Report abuse
Darius why do you think your customers get a better grade of service because they see you face to face as opposed to ordering online? I have never had a bad experience online but have had dire service in shops in Jersey. Maybe you are an exception?
As for your prices are they cheaper than that which could be found online for the same or similar items?
What happens when someone wants something you haven’t got in stock? How long does it take to get one down from your supplier? One or two days?
Do you charge extra for shipping, GST etc?
I am puzzled by your bargaining process. It implies you are selling at a higher price than is necessary, so that those not haggling will pay more for the same item. Why not just have a best price so people know what they have to pay end of, or is it a case of getting people in and using your charm to make a sale. People like to think they have got a bargain is this your reasoning for this?
You are quite right modern doesn’t equate to better. Often it means degraded service, extra hours of work, extra stress, less time off and a general worsening of the quality of life. This is not progress in my book.
J-cat do you honestly think in this current climate that more staff will be taken on?
The answer is most likely to be no all that will happen is that the employer will pressure their staff to work with the tired cliche “if you don’t like it you can find another job… blah! blah! blah!..” knowing full well their workers have no option but to obey. I would put money on it that no extra incentive is given wages wise for this extra inconvenience. Sunday’s are worth much more than a weekday.
As for working Sunday’s there is no need people already have 6 full days to shop in. If they can’t organise themselves to do it in 6 do you think they will be able to do it in 7?
All this is doing is paving the way for 24/7/365 working for all. This is not good from a family point of view if you want to spend time with your children or your spouse or friends. You can’t spend time with them if they are at school/work when you are off.
At least in the old days you could organise a BBQ on a Saturday afternoon/Sunday knowing full well the only thing stopping it was foul weather, now there is the foul boss making extra demands on your time as well.
From a quality of life perspective this is a poor decision, as usual work comes before enjoyment these days for the vast majority.
PP online is going to gradually do away with local retailers regardless of how loooong retailers open for. They can’t compete with the likes of Amazon who offer free delivery to your doorstep, no GST or VAT charged if under £240.
Tourists spend much less now as it is an arm and a leg to get to the island and things are expensive not like in the good old days when it was a shoppers paradise. Many can only stump up the case for the travel and accommodation with no money left for the luxury of shopping in a crummy town.
At the end of the day IF someone wants to waste their Sunday working for basic wage that is their choice but it SHOULD NOT be forced on them.
Report abuse
53. Parktown Prawn.
We are not talking about international trade, we are talking about local trade which will not benefit from any increase in the spending power of purchasers by opening 7 days a week.
Those odd Saturdays you worked were to cater for a specific need. You were not working 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, dealing face to face with casual callers, which is what you are expecting from from one man and small retailers who are already open 6 days a week.
54 Jean.
Why should we be forced into copying the rest of the world? It isn’t really always better world outside Jersey.
Report abuse
@51, you presume wrong bruv, because you think I work in Finance and have just the one job. You’d be wrong on both counts, but I won’t hold it against you.
53 – Prawn raises a good point our key sector, Finance is a global business with demanding global clients. There isn’t a Finance worker on this froum who hasn’t pulled an all nighter or done a full weekend at some point. It doesn’t take a massive leap of thought to realise that these people might then expect to be able to buy a sofa, rent a DVD (does anyone actually do that anymore?) or do the weeks shop on a Sunday.
Report abuse
Poor finance workers occasionally pulling an all nighter or working a weekend.
They are talking about making it the norm, not just a 2 or 3 times per year occurance.
Just hold off until the weekend after to buy your sofa when you are not *shock horror* working on the weekend.
Would be interersting to see if the finance workers would actually work on weekends if they became the norm, without kicking up a stink.
Report abuse
#43 Plenty of church goers aren’t even religious enough to care if there is trading on a Sunday, and some retailers welcome it. It seems to mostly be those that have already experienced this 7-day per week opening in the UK, and have come to see that it’s not a good thing, that are actually against it. But perish the thought the States would ever learn from other country’s mistakes.
Is it really so hard to see that this isn’t just about one group of people having more access to shops? These kinds of changes to the opening hours of shops and eating places (when that is the case) have a psychological effect on the entire population, it’s not just as simple as considering the practicalities, the effect this will have is far more complex than that.
Report abuse
@53 & 57
Why would finance workers get the same service as finance clients?
Are the finance workers paying the equivalent of £500 per hour like their clients? That is a ridiculous argument.
@ Adrian,
The manufacturer has a RRP, we do not have to follow it but they do not have to re-supply us. So in effect we cannot simply make up our own prices. We certainly cannot advertise lower prices on the internet.
All that happens here is that the manufacturer tightens their margins to keep the price up.
Would a Rolex have the same worth if they started selling for £50 even whilst the RRP was in the £thousands- no they are ‘reassuringly expensive’ and owning one becomes an aspiration.
Report abuse
Oh Leah
We are only talking about opening more shops on a Sunday than currently allowed….there are some already open you know.
How on earth can you relate this to a breakdown in society which will have a “psychological effect on the entire population”.
Grow up!
Report abuse
Darius
Your ignorance astounds me.
“Why would finance workers get the same service as finance clients?”
Because, dear Darius, finance workers are also customers too!!
Good luck with your business because you are doing yourself no favours on this forum!
Report abuse
I see that Parktown Prawn has now started to insult Leah because she has ideas which do not concur with his.
Despite all the increases in shopping ‘opportunities’ that have come to pass, the public regularly register less satisfaction than people from years passed who did not have the so called ‘benefit’ of being able to buy a loaf of bread on a Sunday.
I have been dealing with the public (first in bars and then in the jewellery trade) all my life and I know that if you find some other interest than shopping, you will be a happier more fulfilled person.
Report abuse