When is closing time...really?

[spuwho]

In the world of brick and mortar, they have hours of business.

8AM-8PM or whatever the case may be for that business.

But what is really closing time? Is it really 8PM?  7:55PM?  7:45PM?

I have been experiencing a run of stores that are locking their doors sooner and sooner before the advertised closing time.

Am I turning into Michael Douglas' role in the movie "Falling Down"?  I don't think I ask for breakfast 8 minutes after the serving time ends at CFA.

I once ran into a coffee shop that had locked their doors 25 minutes before the advertised close. As I looked at my watch and walked away, the hurried worker opened the door and asked me if I needed something? With a bit of a laugh I said "yes, a coffee shop that keeps their hours" and with a brisk apology she said, "our bosses said they won't pay us past closing time anymore, so to get the place clean and ready, we have to lock the doors 30 minutes before closing time"  My response was, "tell your boss to change the hours to close 30 minutes sooner".

I get it that some places have to literally kick people out the door and turn off the lights to get them to leave, Barnes and Noble & Borders (RIP) were prime examples.  But now I am seeing more and more retail lock the doors yet sooner than the time they say "we are open".

I used to think, well hard luck, come back sooner next time.

Now I don't. I think with Amazon, I can order it at a time of my choosing and have it in 24-48 hours. No scrambling to make the time, no guessing which ones will lock their doors early, and the most important, they just lost my business, all because they can't stay open until the time they say they will.

This isn't an ad for Amazon, its more a screed on the fact that if B&M don't see the benefit of their existence and are willing to skimp 30 minutes every day, they will all end up like Sears. They have cut corners for the last 25 years and they are about to cut their last one, forever. Judging by what I have been seeing recently, there are more to come.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Its the world we love in now.

[ProjectMaximus]

Just walked into a Trader Joe's that closes at 10p at 9:57p with no problem. At least 200 other people in there lol.

I have noticed this problem on occasion but not too often and never any major retailers.

[spuwho]

Publix is one of the few where I dont have the issue.

One night I was the last shopper and didnt notice until I saw the shelf guy fixing the stock behind me as I picked out things.

I apologized to the manager and he said it was not a problem at all. He kept a checkout line open just for me until I finished.

I dont think grocery is under the same kind of pressure other retail are.

[pierre]

Publix is the best I can think of. You can come in at 9:59 and they will let you shop as long as you need. ]

Target is one of the worst. I think they shut the music off 30 minutes or so before closing and make sure to announce every five minutes that they are almost closed.

[Lunican]

Publix does have an official policy to let customers in until closing time and let them shop until they are done. I suppose the limits of that policy could be tested though.

[funwithteeth]

I worked at Publix a long time ago—often the closing shift—and if any customer was still in there at 10:30, they could expect a different employee to come up to them every couple of minutes and nicely ask if they needed any assistance. It was as gentle a way as possible to get the late stragglers to leave.

Trust me: every single employee hated late shoppers, but we were committed to make Publix a place Where Shopping Is a Pleasure™.

[MusicMan]

Spuwho, you're gonna like this. From Rue St Marc press release:

The restaurant will open at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday and at 8 a.m. Saturday. It will be closed on Sunday.

"Our hours will say 'until close' because if we have customers, we'll be open," Saul said. "We want to be the neighborhood place that no matter what time of day, we'll be open."

[Adam White]

I worked at Publix a long time ago—often the closing shift—and if any customer was still in there at 10:30, they could expect a different employee to come up to them every couple of minutes and nicely ask if they needed any assistance. It was as gentle a way as possible to get the late stragglers to leave.

Trust me: every single employee hated late shoppers, but we were committed to make Publix a place Where Shopping Is a Pleasure™.

When I worked at Camelot Music at Regency Mall in the early/mid-90s, we'd play abrasive music to make them leave. It worked a treat.

[ProjectMaximus]

I worked at Publix a long time ago—often the closing shift—and if any customer was still in there at 10:30, they could expect a different employee to come up to them every couple of minutes and nicely ask if they needed any assistance. It was as gentle a way as possible to get the late stragglers to leave.

Man I simply cannot fathom being in a store 30 minutes after closing. Unless I've been mortally wounded and am laying dying on the floor.