Friday, February 27, 2026

Customers Deserve the Full Shopping Hour It shouldn't Feel Like Bedtime

Shopping on a busy Thursday night erev shabbos  before Purim  or  every week should not feel like children being pushed into bedtime. There’s no reason stores should begin shutting down 45 minutes before the official closing time  with nonstop announcements, dimmed lights, and sections closing while customers are still shopping with full carts.
It’s frustrating to be in the middle of shopping when lights suddenly go out and managers rush customers out of the aisles.
 Shoppers shouldn’t have to pull out their phone flashlights 20 minutes before closing just to find items, nor should refrigerator sections be covered while people are still inside trying to finish their purchases. 

If the store is open until 12 am or 1 am it should remain fully open until then. Yes, stores need to pay employees and staff want to go home  that’s understandable. But during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year, businesses should consider extending full service through posted hours or compensating staff accordingly so customers can complete their shopping comfortably.

People have very busy schedules with simchas and events  sedorim etc.. if they pick a time to shop it should be ideal for them. These weeks with snow  had many people trapped at home and unable to get out there should be some flexibility.

 In today’s competitive retail environment, customers should come first  especially during peak yuntiff shopping

6 comments:

  1. If a store is open till 12 AM, that means as a customer, you should be planning to be OUT by 12, not walking in 10 min before closing to spend 30 min loading a cart. That is a lack of basic derech eretz.

    Stores needed to start to doing this because the customers are increasingly insensitive.

    And no, I do not own or work in a retail.

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    Replies
    1. Thats an exaggeration . There's very few people doing that . Most customers plan ahead and start shopping an hour or more before closing time. And even those who run in for one item a minute before closing nu nu that's who we are let it slide.¹

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    2. Yes, most plan ahead, but unfortunately enough people have ruined it for the masses and the stores need to resort to such tactics.

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  2. Employees need to go home too. There is no reason for registers to have to be open 45 minutes after closing time because customers stroll in 5 minutes before closing. Just like toddlers who need cues for bedtime, if the stores need to start dimming the lights 40 minutes before closing for customers who have time management issues then so be it.

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  3. Stores should write open until 11:30 if they want their cashiers out by 12. if you say you are open you should be open.

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