Sundays..
 

I expect this has been bought up before (sorry) but with the unemployment situation in Spain there is one change that I think could be helpful.

I have recently lived in Mexico for some considerable time and without doubt any shopping Mall, supermarkets and even the corner shop will tell you that there best shopping day is Sunday. It is difficult to find a parking space in the larger stores. They open around 9am (the malls a little later) and usually go on untill 9/11 pm non stop. I cannot understand why most here close on a Sunday. Maybe some of the much larger cities do open, haven't visited them yet. Back in the 60's I found the same problem in Gib and I believe their siesta was even longer then. Last Sunday I passed the usual Asia/ China store which was approx 75 % full whilst the local town shops were closed !

It is certainly not for me to tell the Spanish people how to run there lives or alter their tradition but in these economic times maybe some changes may be beneficial.

Every little helps ;)

Re: Sundays..
 

I think you will find that in the summer months especially on the Costa's the supermarkets at least will be open.

Personally I feel that places like Mercadona (who refuse to open Sundays) have the right idea.
Here in Spain with the working hours being so different to some other countries, it's not too difficult for the majority of people to shop on the other six days of the week.
Opening on Sundays can and often does put pressure on the shop staff to work, this is unfair on the family unit in so far as it impinges on the quality time that they should be able to enjoy together, at least one day a week in my opinion.

Re: Sundays..
 

Also with the strict contract rules for employees in Spain, Sunday opening would force a lot of business to close, due to the fact of having to either pay extra staffing costs or close on Sunday when the competition is open.

Each person/family has only X amount of money to spend per week/month, so instead of spending it in 6 days it will take 7 days if everywhere opens on Sundays.

There will be no more money coming in, but extra costs involved.

As for the social aspect of the workers involved, that has been covered, as Meg said at least one day a week should be set aside for families.

Re: Sundays..
 

you're right - there wouldn't be any more money to spend - so I can't see how that would help, either

I love the fact that Sunday isn't 'shopping day' :D

recently in the UK we went to Tesco on a Sunday morning - it was heaving & we were in theer 2 hours just to get a weekly shop :eek:

I hated every second of it and by the time we got back none of us could be bothered to prepare a nice lunch & ended up with pizza

I love my relaxed Sundays here - late breakfast/brunch after a lie in, followed by a very late lunch with no major bursts of activity in betweeen...........unless we really want to - not because we have to

Re: Sundays..
 

I also love the way Sunday is still a rest day, as a prevous poster has said, the same money will be speant just spread over 7 days not 6.

Around here it is strict 6 days summer exactly the same. No lets keep Spain the way it is re shopping anyway:thumbsup:

Re: Sundays..
 

I love the lazy sunday feeling also. What I dont get done during the week can wait for the next week.

Re: Sundays..
 

There is no reason at all for Spain to change. The Spanish people view Sundays as the family day and value the time they spend with their family. As others have said opening the shops on a Sunday does not generate more money so what is the point of the exercise.

Personally I love the fact that their lives have a pattern which includes time to relax, talk and enjoy a good meal with the family and would not want commerce to alter that.

Rosemary

Re: Sundays..
 

I wish Sunday closing was brought back in the UK. Every day is now the same.

Re: Sundays..
 

I'm happy with shops being closed on Sundays in Spain, as others have said it's no hardship, gives workers a set day off with their families, and makes the day feel quieter and more relaxed.

However, I think more shops are now allowed to open on Sundays in the centre of Malaga, largely because of the numbers of cruise passengers who are now around.

Re: Sundays..
 

My main peeve with limited opening hours is that most people only have time to shop on Saturdays, which makes the experience very frustrating - no parking spaces, the crowds, the queues, the pushing and shoving...

And from a macro view, to regulate opening hours and labour policy this way discourages competition and free enterprise and doesn't really benefit anyone. It results in fewer jobs, limited consumer choice, and like much of the well-intentioned regulation of our lives, ultimately serves to undermine the population's opportunities for prosperity in general.

Unfortunately, it's not your choice. It's the choice of faceless bureaucrats who historically haven't proven particularly successful at delivering prosperity to the population. In fact, quite the opposite, yet your life is increasingly under their control...

Look, if you don't like shopping on Sunday, then don't do it.
In a free society, it should be your choice.

Re: Sundays..
 

I like shops to be open all the time. Rarely shop Sundays but just incase:D I don't think it stops family life, everywhere is full on Sundays, restaurants, leisure centres etc. Football pitches are full. Some shop others don't, room for all tastes

Is it for religious reasons that Spain doesn't open?

Re: Sundays..
 

Sorry, but I actually like the day with everything closed. Well, there are the occaisional tapas bars that open for lunches, but otherwise, even the mini-supermarkets are all locked tight.

This is Spain, it has a deep rooted Catholic tradition of one day of rest. Who are we to change it just because we forgot to get some milk
:ohmy:

however, I cannot get my head round the 4, 6 or even 8 weeks some shops are shut in the middle of the summer whilst the owners take their family to the cortijo out in the country.

Re: Sundays..
 

I suspect so. The church has always had its fingers in European politics, and like most legislation imposed here, it is primarily a revenue opportunity rather than some rightious moral religious sentiment.

In Germany it most definitely is, since the Vatican has a very powerful lobby in German politics. Your shop can be open on sundays, but only when you buy a very expensive permit, much of which goes to the church. It's illegal to wash a car on Sunday, and the fine is €40. Lots of things are subject to fines on Sunday in Germany (except drinking, of course).

In fact, the German tax system generates a huge portion of the church's wealth by collecting a quite expensive church tax or kirchensteuer on behalf of the church.

Re: Sundays..
 

I must admit that I was not aware of regulations governing Sunday shopping. Mexico, like Spain, is a very religious country but as mentioned in my opening post Sunday is the busiest day of the week.

Tradition is fine in normal circumstances but two days ago Spain registered the highest unemployment in the Eurozone. Almost a quarter of the working population unemployed. I guess tourism is one of Spains largest incomes and it must be frustrating for a large amount of tourists to find the city centres shopping areas closed.

I totally disagree with the statement made that Sunday opening will not generate extra money (and extra employment) otherwise places like Tescos (for example) would not open. In fact having worked for a short spell there I can assure you that extra staff were taken on and business was very good.

My main point is not necessarily regarding supermarkets, although they come into the equation, but the shopping malls etc. As pointed out above people have the choice to have a family get together or visit the stores (or both) For those working six days a week I feel sure that deregulating Sunday opening would be welcome and also provide jobs for at least some of the unemployed.

Just my opinion :)

Re: Sundays..
 

Ah - but in tourist areas shops DO open on Sundays

perhaps not all shops all year round, but certianly in tourist season they tend to - even our supermarkets (though not I think Mercadona)

I really don't see how the shops opening will generate extra money though - if people don't have it in the first place, how can they spend it?

Re: Sundays..
 

Labour law requires employers to pay their staff much more on Sundays - therefore making it less attractive to open on Sundays - so, in high season, the extra business may be worth the extra expense - but that's just Spain. Other EU countries simply prohibit it without paying a special permit with strict restrictions.

Not to mention that there is a limit to the number of hours anyone is allowed to work, and furthermore, it's almost impossible to let them go if business takes a dive or they refuse to do their job, or even steal from the employer. Very difficult and expensive, and only makes potential employers fearful of hiring anyone unless they absolutely need it.

If labour laws were less restrictive, then employers would not be afraid to hire more people - and also work on sundays if they chose - which means there would be more jobs, more income feeding into the population, and hence, more spending.

One of the reasons why Germany has such low relative unemployment is that labour law is not nearly as restrictive as Spain, they have no statutory minimum wage, and it's not so complicated to lay them off or fire them if neccessary, so employers are not as afraid to hire...

Re: Sundays..
 

Maybe I'll have to educate myself on Sunday shopping laws in Spain as I got the impression it was unlawful throughout Spain to open on Sundays.

As for your second point if stores, shops and so on were to open then it would generate employment and add a wage which would then be used to buy goods which in turn would generate more employment.. bit of a circle :)

Re: Sundays..
 

A few random points:

Many shops open in Spain on a Sunday so if there is a law saying they can't then it's either not that simple or they are flouting the law (and I can't believe OPENCOR would do that).

Tesco and all the rest in the UK wouldn't open on a Sunday if it wasn't worth it - but that doesn't mean the same would apply in Spain.

Just because the shops are open doesn't mean you have to use them.

Re: Sundays..
 

there are relaxations for small shops to open on Sundays, so long as they comply with the laws.
but that is why they employ family, even my local bar in Granada employed the daughter when she wasnt at local uni.
the Chinese shops all appear to be family,

I have heard elsewhere that there was a law back in 2004 or 5 requiring businesses to operate 9-5 and not take 3-4 hour lunches. But small family businesses were exempt. Have tried to find the reference to this so would appreciate any help from those who have long term businesses here.

so saying, wanted to top up at Movistar, they were open 1000 - 1400 and 1700 - 2030.

Re: Sundays..
 

Well, that explains why the Chinese shops are open all day, every day. "Family" business.

I find siesta quite frustrating at times. You need something, but everything is closed. Hmmph. My first thought is always "you apparently aren't interested in my business", although I do know it's a longstanding cultural tradition, and I should just get used to it.

By the way, we do shop the Chinese shops often, largely because they're open, and prices on some things are very good. Some of the stuff they offer I wouldn't buy at any price, though.

Re: Sundays..
 

The Chinese shops aren't open all day every day where I live (a town of 75,000 people) - they close for siesta and don't open on Sundays. Apart from a few Sundays coming up to Xmas, the only shops open here on Sundays are some bakeries and a few small family run grocery shops or fruterias.

Re: Sundays..
 

No - Opencor is a very large chain of quite big shops - no way they employ only family. They are open 18 hours a day 365 days a year and in non-tourist areas. The law (if indeed there is one that applies) is not about small shops or family run shops nor tourist areas. They may be a special case I suppose - special licence or something - but I'm wondering if shops can open on a Sunday if they want but choose not to.

Re: Sundays..
 

I was told that shops under a certain sq m could open on Sundays if they sell certain essentials such as bread or newspapers

certain 'tourist' shops in tourist areas can open regardless

one of chinese bazaars has been stopped from opening on sundays - apparently because it doesn't meet any of the criteria

Re: Sundays..
 

it is the Spanish weather that has lead to the way of life and the curing of meat.
however, nowadays they have fridges, freezers and the air con unit so other products are finding their way into the house. taking 3-4 hours doesnt necessarily make any sense in shops and offices and as the country is progressively getting more business from within the Eu the need to communicate when the client is around is something that is keeping them from going home.
When in Milan I found the shops open in the evening and the locals would dress up, take the wife on the arm and go for a promenade, meeting friends, having a coffee and grappa.

Its a cultural thing that we from the frozen North do not understand, and it is their country to do with as they wish, we wouldnt take kindly to being told when to open our shops.

and Chinese shops - yes some very good low priced products inthere amongst the rubbish. with a population of 5000 we have one that seems to want to emulate Arkwright's.

Re: Sundays..
 

several weeks ago there was an article in one of the English newspapers on the CDS about Chinese traders making representation to the Junta. They see that as a restriction of trade and ISTR there also being something about non-Spanish not being allowed a liquer licence (???)

Re: Sundays..
 

As far as I'm aware, unless it's changed recently...
The supermarkets are allowed to open on twelve Sundays in the year, at least that was the law some years ago, but it may be different now.

Re: Sundays..
 

Exactly, that is the same all over Spain

And in Malaga province, shops are allowed to open on Sundays during the summer tourist season. In Barcelona nothing was allowed open on a Sunday.

Madrid have just passed a law allowing Sunday trading. The small business owners interviewed on the news were all against this. They say they cant afford to employ anyone else and Sunday trading doesnt bring any extra money. They said the law favours big businesses as they can afford to hire more people, so people then stop going to small businesses because they arent open on Sunday.

In London I loved the covenience of the shops being open on Sunday, but after 5 years here in Spain I like not having the option to go to the shops. It forces you to be imaginative, plan trips out and spend time with the family

Re: Sundays..
 

:rofl: plenty of Brits get liquor licences!!!

Re: Sundays..
 

that is what I thought, but it was in a paper that I am not sure I have and in UK at the moment so cannot check
don't know what restrictions there are on a liquor licence, too interested in the savouring not the selling
:thumbsup:

Re: Sundays..
 

I am not sure that there is only so much money spent:confused: Ever gone into a shop for one thing and spent loads:lol: I once popped into Boots for a shampoo and spent about £50! Sort of impulsive shopping.

Sundays may benefit the shops who sell all the stuff you don't need but have to have;) leisure shopping, like people who wander around garden centres and buy a pot plant.

On the CDS the shops are open from approx July to mid September, except Mercadona.

Re: Sundays..
 

I honestly don't much like Sunday opening. In the UK I miss the walk for a newspaper on the way to a pub that only opened for a couple of hours, peace and quiet but more and more shops seem to open Sunday in Spain, certainly the tourist areas :(

Re: Sundays..
 

Some Opencors are pretty big :confused:

Re: Sundays..
 

Keep them shut and keep Sunday as a family day. I am neither a church goer nor have family here but just love the whole peace and tranquility of it. When I worked in retail mostly 6/7 days a week, I wished all shops where closed on a Sunday. A day off with no shops was absolute bliss. I do not miss Sunday opening, everybody has enough in the cupboards for one day I am sure. I love seeing the families out and about on a Sunday here.

Re: Sundays..
 

Hola

In England the licquor laws are very strict. Here you can drink 24X7 - all in all a system that I prefer. Yes it makes me organised, but if I am not, or come back from holiday, then my local bar is open for tapas etc

So Keep Sunday Closed is OK by me

Davexf

Re: Sundays..
 

That depends on where you live

In Barcelona, most bars close at midnight so not to disturb the neighbours, there are some bars open until 2am but few past that time except for in the very touristy areas or the nightclubs. Its actually easier in London to find a late opening bar.

Same in many of the Spanish cities, its important when people live in the same area as the people who are out drinking. However, in Madrid almost all the bars are open until 4am or 6am at the weekend

Re: Sundays..
 

You make it sound as if it is obligatory, the shop is open for those that want to shop, those that don't want to don't have to. The fact it was heaving means it's popular, it suits a lot of people to shop then. Personally I've never been to Tesco's on a Sunday, but I don't have a problem with those that do. Ditto with church, I don't have a religious bone in my body, but for those that want to go, that's their choice. Surely we can all spend our Sundays as we wish. If people want a typical lazy Sunday together with the family, how will Tesco's being open prevent that?

Re: Sundays..
 

unfortunately I was obliged to go - at the mercy of my sis in law who always does her shopping on Sunday

I have to admit that we did used to shop on sundays when we lived in the UK - our working patterns meant that it was the only day we could go together

I much prefer what I do now - do my main heavy shop in about 10 mins from the comfort of my armchair & have it delivered - buying fresh fruit & veg & bread as & when I need it - & yes, from the panadería etc. :D

Re: Sundays..
 

You and many thousands of others, it would seem. :) Just reading through the posts, the general consensus seems to be, I don't want to shop on Sunday, so let's not open any shops. Whatever happened to live and let live, if they want to shop, let them, if not stay at home and have your lazy family Sunday. Not that I believe closing shops on Sunday would bring families any closer together.:confused: Talking about shopping in general and the Chinese shops, I was just reading about the boss of Mercadona praising the work ethic of the Chinese and moaning about Spanish "absentismo" being 6%.Retail sales in Spain fell 6% year-on-year in January, which is the 19TH consecutive month of negative numbers, perhaps a Sunday opening might help!
http://www.expansion.com/2012/03/07/...331150929.html

Re: Sundays..
 

I agree - if you don't want to shop on a Sunday - don't but let those who want to do so.

BTW I would definitely ban old people from supermarkets on the weekend. They can go any day of the week - why on earth they want to go on a Saturday or Sunday and get in my way I've no idea.

Re: Sundays..
 

UK licensing laws were changed a few years ago to allow 24 hour opening of pubs and clubs