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Author Topic: Sunday Shopping Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-29-2004 02:08 PM                        Manitoba's law states that retailers are open allowed to be open on Sundays from 12pm thru to 6:00pm. Since this past Sunday was Boxing Day, the Chamber of Commerce was trying to get the law amended for the day, but it was rejected. On Sunday, many shops were opening at 11:00am to offer a sneak peek at the items available, but we're quickly visited by undercover cops and police officers to ensure the "cash registers weren't ringing". We are one of the last places in Canada to scrap this legislation. If the stores can open to show their items an hour early, and employees are being paid while the customers are browsing, why can't the owners ring up sales? This law seems to outdated. What do you think of this law and do you see any advantages/disadvantages? Keep in mind that Canada is a mixed-economy, not free enterprise like the US.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 12-29-2004 02:25 PM                     Sunday Blue laws I remember doing a show in Winnepeg as a stage electrician ( 1969 ) and we had to finish at midnight Saturday...so the producer ran the show at "march time" to compress the entire show...60 minutes...into 45 minutes...fun doing 140 light cues by hand with 5 kw Superior rotary dimmers The police where at the exits to make sure we "closed" on Sunday  |  IP: Logged Aaron Mehocic Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 804 From: New Castle, PA, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-29-2004 02:42 PM                     In the United States we refer to such legislation as "Blue Laws" and even though they are still technically in effect, nobody challanges them. Growing up in a Democrat household my grandparents hated free enterprise as it "made the rich richer and the poor poorer". They would tell you that no stores need really to be open on Sundays (or holidays), since it only seemed to proove their initial beliefs. Albeight, as more stores opened on these questionable days they had no problems stopping for a needed purchase or good sale. Now with that being said, I have come to respect the free market as probably one of the best creations humans have developed in their history. Not to go against my family, but lets face it - what do you really know with 5th and 10th grade educations. Having stores open at 11:00 and not permitting sales is stupid to say the least. Not only are those shop keepers running up payroll, but also their utility bills as well. Frankly, where the hell are their brains for being open one hour early just to show customers what they have. I'm a customer, I was in your store three days ago, I think I have an idea what you carry. I'm not saying business needs to be open 24/7, since I scold that idea too. But I am saying if the Canadian police forces don't have anything to do, then perhaps they should come down here and assist with our shoplifting problems around the holidays. I gotta tell you -- I love Canada, but I can't understand you guys at all.  |  IP: Logged Ken Russell Film Handler Posts: 23 From: Smyrna, GA USA Registered: Jun 2004 posted 12-29-2004 02:44 PM                     Missouri had the same kind of blue laws into the 70's. With the largest cities bordering Kansas and Illinois the loss of sales tax revenue convinced the state to back off. It was a pain but living in Kansas City with Kansas almost literally across the street it was a nice place to visit and shop on a Sunday afternoon.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-29-2004 04:11 PM                        Canada is stupid. Why would anyone even bother to make a law saying that stores could only be open during certain times on Sunday? What a waste of government. Canada should be carpet bombed with nukes as a result. Sunday is a day like any other day. We just happen to treat it as one of our weekend days.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Mehocic Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 804 From: New Castle, PA, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-29-2004 05:05 PM                     I think Sunday has a more important place among the days of the week from a religious standpoint. I don't think we need to treat it entirely like a weekday whether we worship or not. A private acknowledgement of its importance and then onto business.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-29-2004 05:07 PM                  JEEEZE! That's IT! I'm telling Daryl on yous!  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 12-29-2004 05:23 PM                    In Illinois some years back the car dealer lobby got a law passed forcing them to close on Sundays thus saving themselves money without allowing a competitive edge for those who wish to be open 7 days. So much for free enterprise let alone any prohibitions on special legislation. (One assumes that car buyers will still buy even with the inconvenience so why not force all sellers of non-impulse items to close?)  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 12-29-2004 06:14 PM                        We do that here too--car dealerships are closed on Sundays. It's nice to be able to kick the tires without some annoying parasite of a salesman hovering around. Much of everything else runs 24/7 here, due to the nature of the work shifts here, all in the name of keeping the marks, 'er tourists happy. It is nice to be able to grocery shop or pick up dry cleaning at 2am or 4am when you're on your way in or home.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-29-2004 11:54 PM                     quote: Andrew McCrea Keep in mind that Canada is a mixed-economy, not free enterprise like the US. Not with the intent of making this political but this what happens when a government is leaning more towards a Socialist ideal..... Out here everyting in Utah is closed on Sundays... they literally roll up the sidewalks, so much so that I'm surprised that the Churches are not beginning to close on Sunday. At least the mountains continue to remain "open" and buisness up there is usually fairly brisk on Sunday with picnic areas being at a premium by lunch time. Mark  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2004 12:07 AM                     So, tell me... Is there so little crime in Manitoba that the cops don't have any criminals to catch? Do they have to resort to enforcing blue laws to justify their paychecks? During those hours, 12:00 Noon through 6:00 PM, I betcha' they set up road blocks to make sure all the drivers are wearing seat belts too! Right? Appearently, they have nothing else to do during those hours because it's LEGAL to be open for business then! Do they cops wear shiny, black knee boots?  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-30-2004 03:14 AM                        quote: Mark Gulbrandsen Out here everyting in Utah is closed on Sundays... they literally roll up the sidewalks, so much so that I'm surprised that the Churches are not beginning to close on Sunday. you ain't kidding. after college i greyhounded cross-country. i made a stop in slc on what happened to be a sunday. what a drag! even buses were shut down, and i couldn't get to the salt lake (actually i was trying to get a shower). i did go to the tower theater to see pink flamingoes though. carl  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-30-2004 10:09 AM                        Last time I heard, Winnipeg was the murder capital of Canada. They also seem to have very large marijuana grow-op busts on the news every other night. Not that Winnipeg can't be a nice place, but last Winter, former Mayor Glen Murray tried to introduce a car idling ban because the polution was so bad for our environment. We are also suppose to be the coldest Canadian city, and having a ban on letting our engines warm up in -50 degrees celius weather is just insane. Here's an article from Monday's Winnipeg Free Press. Due to the fact that their website is subscriber restricted, I cannot provide a link, but the website is http://www.winnipegfreepress.com Shopping laws bent to entice buyers Stores open a bit early for sneak peek at wares Mon Dec 27 2004 By Mary Agnes Welch and Jason Bell SOME city retailers bent the province's strict Sunday shopping rules yesterday, throwing open their doors a few minutes early to hordes of Boxing Day customers. Several shops, including Harry Rosen at Polo Park mall, allowed people inside to peruse the sweet deals before shopping was officially allowed to begin at noon. But with special undercover provincial inspectors and even police officers lurking, most retailers obeyed the ban on sales before noon. Staff and shoppers who jammed the city's malls and big-box stores said the shortened shopping hours made for a frenzied day. "I feel kind of pressured because there's only six hours," laughed University of Manitoba student Carrie Leung as she tried on some brightly coloured hoodies at American Eagle Outfitters. "It was just insane trying to get into the parking lot. I waited in line for half an hour." Bob Spilchuk, general manager of Advance Electronics on Portage Avenue, said it was the biggest kickoff to Boxing Day in the store's history. Several hundred shoppers lined up in the store's heated garage and outside, waiting for the stroke of noon. "It was mayhem at the start," said Spilchuk, adding he had 50 staff on the selling floor at all times. "The day will end up as good as any we've ever had." Warehouse trucks moved in after hours last night to replenish the shelves. "The added bonus is we get (today and Tuesday), because so many people are on holidays," Spilchuk said. "We anticipate a really strong week." Tod Reykdal, manager of Grafton & Co. men's clothing store, agreed, saying he is bracing for a busy week, since many people are still on holidays. "I think people didn't mind sleeping in a little today," said Reykdal, who opened his doors about 15 minutes early. Under Manitoba's restrictive Sunday shopping law, stores could only open from noon to 6 p.m. The law was upheld, despite a plea by the Chamber of Commerce to suspend the rule for Boxing Day, one of the most lucrative shopping days of the year for retailers. Reykdal said the curtailed hours forced savvy shoppers to target their favourite stores first, standing in line outside to nab the best deals. There were queues outside Harry Rosen, American Eagle and several sportswear stores at Polo Park. Harry Rosen, purveyor of swanky menswear, invited elite customers to preview the sale merchandise at 11 a.m., but a sign on the store's window said it would not ring up any sales before noon. Customers said police officers paid a visit to Harry Rosen to make sure the cash registers stayed quiet before noon, which they did. Winnipeg's malls were jammed with shoppers who swarmed clearance tables piled with T-shirts and sweaters, stood in long lines at cash registers and lugged oversized bags full of clothes, cheap wrapping paper and electronics. At Stitches, four security staffers sat perched on ladders high above the crowd to get a clear view of any shenanigans. The only oasis of calm in the mall appeared to be a vitamin store. Bruna Burgener, a New Yorker in town for Christmas, braved the crowds at Harry Rosen with her husband, Darren, a former Winnipegger. She said the Boxing Day phenomenon doesn't exist in the United States, making yesterday her first experience with wall-to-wall, deal-crazy shoppers. "I think it's just funny," said Burgener as she cradled a pile of dress shirts for her husband. "I don't think I've ever seen so many Canadians at one time in one place." Despite frigid temperatures and ornery crowds, more than 5.7 million Canadians were expected to hit the malls yesterday, according to a study by Visa Canada. But Peter Woolford, vice-president of policy development and research for the Retail Council of Canada, said store managers have seen better days. "Retailers have been telling us that this has been a good season, but not a fabulous season," he said. Over at the Future Shop on St. James Street, customers started arriving at around 6 a.m., with about 50 lucky ones keeping warm between the doors and hundreds more shivering out in the cold. Managers rallied the troops for about 15 minutes and then -- with Van Halen belting out Jump in the background -- threw the doors open to the masses just a minute or two before noon. As customers spilled into the store, it took mere seconds for some shoppers to locate their treasures. One man staked a claim to a 27-inch television set on sale for $189.99 by simply sitting on the box near the front of the store. By 12:02 p.m., long lineups began to form at the checkouts. Future Shop store manager Jeff Tycholiz said the shortened business day meant a crazier Boxing Day than usual. "We crammed everything into six hours, as opposed to the usual 14," he said. "It was unfortunate for customers because it meant lineups all day long... but we had to play by the rules." maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca -- With files from CP and Alexandra Paul Anyways, there's some more information for you to all chew.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-30-2004 01:12 PM                     It was like that in Europe, too. Don't know if it was a local thing, but in my mom's town in Poland, everything shut down at noon for lunch. Personally, I like it. I think people are too spoiled as it is to be allowed the "convenience" of shopping at all hours. (the South Park Walmart episode comes to mind... "I will go at 2am so I can have the bargains all to myslef!!") I think the Blue Laws allow hard-working crap-job employees to actually have some mandated free time to pursue their own lives. Sucks to see a high school kid dozing off over a cash register at a Wendy's because *SOMEBODY* might drive up to the pick-up window at 3am. Gotta squeeze every ounce of profit we can! IMHO, there should be at least one day a year where *EVERYTHING* is closed, movie theaters included. Maybe people will realize there's other human beings around and not just POS stations. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-30-2004 01:24 PM                     I don't think that those laws are stupid at all....you know what law I think is stupid relating to this? The law in FL where you can't buy alcohol until after 2pm on Sundays...it really sucks when you have to work all day Saturday, can't go to the store, and you want to have a few beers during the game on Sunday...  |  IP: Logged

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