Extended Trading Hours in WA

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

I'm very interested in people's opinions about extended trading hours in WA. There seems to be a huge number of people in WA who do not want it. Just listening to talk-back radio and reading letters sent into newspapers. So I've created a poll to see what results come out.

I realize this is a WA issue, but I'd like to hear from people in other states who already have extended trading hours. Non WA people can either look at the last two options or simply vote using the other options to register how they would like their shopping hours to work.

Currently the only 'late night' shopping day in WA is Thursday night where shops are open until 9pm. Shopping precincts are also open on Saturdays.

Currently, small independent grocers are allowed to open past 5:30 on weeknights, and on Sundays. Larger stores are not allowed to open at these times (except Thursday). There are exceptions to this but lets keep it simple for now.

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

Some interesting trends so far. Thanks to all who have voted.

I heard some pretty passionate people on the radio regarding this issue so I'm not sure what I'm getting into here but....

I for one, would welcome 9pm weeknight trading plus Sunday trading. I work full time. That means Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm. That leaves me with 2 chances to go shopping each week. Thursday night and Saturday. Each of those times are currently very busy. Shopping centres and carparks are choked with people simply because they are in the same position as me. Who in Perth has been to Osborne Park on a Saturday morning recently? It is absolutely choked with traffic, and shops filled with people, because it is the only time they can make it to those shops while they are open. Traffic jams have gotten a lot worse in the area in the last 12 months. I do not see why these businesses can't be open more outside of normal working hours, to actually give people more of a chance to do their shopping, rather then have them crowd into Thursday nights and Saturdays.

I don't see why people should be asked to work longer hours. Why can't people be employed in shifts to cover the extra opening hours? If the night hours are less busy then why can't stores operate on reduced staff? I saw this happening in Tasmania and in New South wales all over the place. I don't see why we can't do it here.

Just my opinion, from where I'm sitting.

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

I have worked much of my life in an industry that works 24/7. It is no big deal and have seen many people who love night shifts - others hate it. Personally I do not like working nights but each to his own.

Which brings me to the point of this discussion.

Why should govt. have any interest in when shops are open. Surely that should be a decision for the shop owner and his staff. If it is profitable to open and staff can be found why not be open? Why favour one type of business over another or allow Harbour Town to open on Sunday but not other locations.

Agree about Osborne Park. Scarborough beach road on a Saturday is a disaster. Just about grid locked.

[adam's prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adam's prado]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

I think its great that in Melbourne the larger supermarkets are open either till midnight or 24 hours its great when you work shift work we can always go to a supermarket a grab something healthy instead of the fast food option. It is also the best time to go shopping a lot of reduced items no queue's, it is also good pay for those who work those shifts and they generally run with skeleton staff on as-well. Sunday trading is also great unless you are working of course but again the pay is even better but it's just one of those things people have to adjust to. I work as a chef and I have worked every weekend for the past 3 years the pay is great and I got consecutive days off during the week which suited me fine. Sunday's are our busiest day of the week, customers are in a better mood more relaxed and best of all they spend money which also contributes to all of the extra costs of weekend pay rates, the government should have no say in if you want to open on a sunday should be the owners choice Sunday's are a gold mine specially in hospitality and shopping centers, imagine ARB was open on a sunday ( my local one wasn't ). So in conclusion no-one wants to work these shifts but there is always an up side if you want to work them, now because until recently my wife and I don't work weekends anymore it's a win win for me I can sit down and watch the footy etc and she can go shopping
Also its good if you have a few mates who have the same week days off you take off 4wdriving and camping no crowds around our favorite campsite no motorbikes on our favorite tracks and diesel is usually cheaper mid week. It all takes some adjusting to but you can make it work for you and I'm all for extended hours and Sunday trading
Adam

[steve61 Member Find all posts View Profile Close steve61]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

The Western Australian government either Liberal or Labour needs to get some BALLS they either say extended trading is in or out prime example was our daylight saving issue they just don't have the back bone to make a desission.
WA misses out on 40 million dollars per year from the federal government because we don't have extended trade.
Who in their right mind would knock back any amount extended trade would be good for the economy, employment and the state.

GET SOME BALLS BARNETT.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

Guess Im just used to Sunday Trading being available to us. Have had it in Busselton for a few years now, and Dunsborough & Margaret River Late night trading each night.

My working and personal lives mean the only time I will find to go and buy a fridge, bed, TV will be on a Sunday. Cant buy everything in Busselton on Sunday, but its not just the Harvey Normans & Bunnings stores open.

And yes, have experienced 24hr trading at Supermarkets on a few NZ trips. I initially thought 24 hrs a bit extreme, but ended up doing late shopping after 10pm many times, done after kids in bed, rather than having to rush back during daylight "holiday time"

I dont really care what Perth or other areas do, as we have it available to us, and no-one is making me go shopping on Sundays.
But I can go shopping if i choose to.

[Golly Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Golly]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

I am so pissed off that we have lost daylight savings, only for the fact that we will be 3 hours behind the rest of the country when it kicks in each year.
Jimminy Crickets! Darwin, Coles is open 24hours to cater for defence personell working shift work, hell we cannot even be open on a Sunday here thats how backwards this state is.

Sorry rant over

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

Something interesting about the extended trading hours debate. Many smaller operators that are open on Sunday's and after 5:30 complain that extended trading hours for all businesses will put the smaller operators out of business. If you take the example of IGA, they are currently open till about 7:00pm or 8:00pm in some cases and pretty much enjoy a monopoly on after hours trade right now. Of course they are going to pull out any argument possible to keep that monopoly going. While you have a good thing going, you want to keep it going. I have a pretty shabby IGA right near me, and why should they bother cleaning up their act? Their customers have no choice but to go there if they need supplies after work. A little competition I think would brighten things up no end. If the likes of IGA need times of the week when only their stores are open to remain profitable then It raises questions about the viability of those businesses in the first place in my opinion. Of course though, we need to keep the smaller operators open as competitors to the larger chains and to provide employment.

Well, I never liked daylight saving so I guess I'll run right now! :lol: But I had to endure the 3 year trial and hated every minute of it. I think it only fair that we should at least have an extended trading hours trial to see if we can get along with it. Then hold a referendum to see what the people want.

[bilobill Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilobill]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

Something to think about.
In Port Macquarie NSW, some of the "Big Companies" have decided to close their shops @ 10.30pm during the winter months and only open 24/7 in the holiday periods. We are a regional centre, (60,000 population), but there is not enough trade to justify staying opened. Also the number of staff members operating the stores and the safty of those staff are big issues. On the plus side it is great to shop when you want.

[Kev & Jas Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev & Jas]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

I think it absolutly stinks that we don't have extended trading hours.

the rest of the country does. having lived in Darwin /Carins / Brissie / Before where you have extended trading hours. i can remember finishing work in darwin thinking i'm hungry going to the fridge and thinking i want a steak. but didn't have any. then just popping in the car and going down to coles or wollies at all hours.

:evil: I have always been a shift worker and the fact the most people in WA seem to think this is a bad thing. what's wrong with you???

Why should shift workers have to pay extra to shop at IGA or Farmer Jacks, when they can't make coles or wollies during normal hours?
there are A LOT of shift workers in WA! Not everyone has someone to do the shopping for them in these "normal hours" either....

This would create extra jobs and more competition pushing the price of basics down. Life wouldn't be so structured with having to do shopping on Thursday nights or Saturday when all the teens are at the shops and it takes more time to get through a check out coz it's so crowded.

We as a state are at a serious disadvantage! WA'ers already pay more for everything due to our location and the fact that most things have to be shipped over from east side. More competition is a GREAT thing! More Jobs is a GREAT thing! More Choice is a GREAT thing too! not to mention getting those federal grants too.

Jas

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Extended Trading Hours in WA

Well this is very interesting and completely flies in the face of what I'm reading in newspapers and online. Mostly what I read is an overwhelming anti extended trading movement. Yet I see that most respondents here would support some form of extended trading hours.

I think it is the people who are working in retail who fear it will simply mean they have to work longer hours. Today I read about a manager of a small IGA store who said he'd have to work late every night, if he didn't then all his customers would change their ways and go to Coles or Woolworths if he didn't open. So this was basically forcing him to open his store even though he has the right to choose if he opens or not. He'll lose customers if he doesn't open. He said he also didn't have another staff member who could close up the shop at night. So he'd have to be the one doing it every night.

My opinion is that the smaller stores will have to change some of their operating procedures. Why can't said store owner above promote another person to manage the store on the nights he's not there. Why can't there be extra part time staff to work nights etc to allow the full time workers to go home after a days work? I really think that with some changes and a bit of thinking the issues of people having to work longer can be sorted.

I tell you this also, I currently go to my local IGA for a bit of top up stuff. Milk, bread, Tim Tams 8) etc. This will not change if Coles or Woolworths is open during that time. Why? because IGA is much closer to home and happens to be on my way home from work. Added to this I'm in and out without having to queue for ages at the till... like I usually do in Coles. I think the local convenience of the smaller stores will keep a heck of a lot of customers coming back, whether Coles is open or not.