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Post by compeateropeator on Aug 8, 2022 15:30:15 GMT
Just a fluff question. Not really important in the scheme of things but all my waffle wisdom is gone 😉 (the rude/breakfast thread). I thought I’d put another fluff conversation out there. Have you noticed, even more so in the last month or so, that more and more establishments are reducing their hours of operation (and sometimes days) because they are so short on help?
I went to go to Walgreens yesterday at about 6:00 pm last night and they were closed. They use to be open until from 8 (?) am until 9pm. I noticed this morning that they have posted their new hours 9 to 6. I work 2nd shift and always use to do a lot of my grocery shopping after midnight on my way home - now I am not sure that we even have one store that is open 24 hours, most close at 11:00 pm or earlier.
This is the same with convenience stores. There is a Cumberland Farms (next to a college) that I would also often stop at on my way home if I needed something quick or sometimes gas. They were 24/7 everyday. St Michaels College is within walking distance and is a school that has a high percent of students without cars and is not really close to anything else. The store/gas station is also across from a satellite location of our hospital. It is typically “busy” anytime I stop, which is usually at all sorts of odd hours. I noticed this summer they were only open until 11pm most nights. Wondering what they will do when fall semester starts? The students are not going to be happy during exam week if they close at 11 pm. 😉😄
Not part of the poll, but do you think this is the new normal? We are moving away from expanded hours to limited hours of operation for most places? As a night owl, I love stuff that I can do at night and will miss it if it goes away.
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Aug 8, 2022 15:32:09 GMT
I haven't, but Germany has much reduced shopping hours compared to the US to start with - most stores close by 8pm, and there is no Sunday shopping at all.
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Post by katlady on Aug 8, 2022 15:43:35 GMT
I have noticed some stores have adjusted their hours. Macys used to open pretty much from 10-9, Mon-Sat. Now they close at 8, except for Fri and Sat they stay open until 10! And on Sundays they used to open at 10, but now don’t open until 11. Barnes and Nobles used to open at 9, they now open at 10. I used to assume most stores were open by 10, but now I have to check before I go because some don’t open until 11.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Aug 8, 2022 15:53:00 GMT
The only one I've really noticed is the Walgreens Pharmacies here are the most unpredictable with it though. I know it is due to staffing shortages but it can make it really hard to pickup meds. I usually check in the app to make sure its open before I go to pick up, but more and more I get there and there's a big poster board blocking the window that says they were short staffed and closed for the day. For me it's not a big deal I always keep a little back stock of my prescriptions. But my Moms gotten really frustrated with trying to get my Dads meds which include insulin.
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tracylynn
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Post by tracylynn on Aug 8, 2022 15:58:16 GMT
Walgreens - one used to be 24hrs, but had to starting closing from 10pm to 7am. Not sure if they've gone back to 24hrs or not. That was the only 24 hr pharmacy in this town, so the sooner it goes back, the better.
Starbucks - they seem to be closing earlier than they used to pre-pandemic.
Those are the ones that I've noticed that effect me directly.
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Post by rst on Aug 8, 2022 16:00:51 GMT
I see lots of reduced hours, but also many more options for curbside pick up on online shopping with delivery, so for me it's a win. I really like online orders and curbside pick up as an efficient and convenient way of shopping.
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Post by karenk on Aug 8, 2022 16:02:51 GMT
I have seen it mostly in restaurants…either shortening hours, or closing a few days a week!
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 8, 2022 16:06:47 GMT
I haven't, but Germany has much reduced shopping hours compared to the US to start with - most stores close by 8pm, and there is no Sunday shopping at all. Same in Belgium. If anything, I’ve noticed store hours are increasing here as people are getting out more and dining out. Most places close by 6pm here, aren’t open for 1-2 hours over lunch, and are closed on Sundays. Some are closed on Saturdays as well. And at least half the businesses have been closed completely for holiday the past 2 weeks. It can be inconvenient, but it’s also easy enough to adapt to. My gripe is more that I don’t know if a business is closed from noon-1pm or 1-2 for the lunch hour. Honestly, I really applaud that workers are given a life—that they aren’t working all day, every day. The Belgians that I know fiercely defend their leisure hours. |
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Post by compeateropeator on Aug 8, 2022 16:07:57 GMT
We have never had a 24 hour pharmacy. Even when the store was open to 9 pm I don’t think the pharmacy was. But now the store is more like the pharmacy hours use to be. I did not look to see if the pharmacy hours have changed.
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Post by MZF on Aug 8, 2022 16:08:38 GMT
A lot of stores locally have reduced their hours, opening at 10 or 11 when they used to open at 9 or 10. And my gym is open 5am -10pm M-F, 6am-8pm Sat & Sun, they used to be open 24 hrs. Costco is the exception--now opens at 9am, when they used to open at 10am
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 8, 2022 16:15:23 GMT
but more and more I get there and there's a big poster board blocking the window that says they were short staffed and closed for the day I've seen this too. Even though online it will say they are open, you get there and they are not. Overall, I'd agree that our area has seen restaurants open fewer nights per week and shorter hours. Some retail establishments too. I'm not sure about Walgreens and other drug stores though - I rarely have need to go there. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 8, 2022 16:27:47 GMT
On Friday nights I go to friends house for game night. When we leave to go back home it is like the entire city has shut down. I remember when I worked in a restaurant we were opened until like 1:00am or 2:00am.. just for the late night crowds. Those were good money nights. I guess that isn't a thing anymore as even the diner's are not opened.
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lindas
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Post by lindas on Aug 8, 2022 16:29:31 GMT
The stores at the mall have reduced their hours, now they close at 8pm. The biggest change I’ve noticed is restaurants, a large number of them in my area have discontinued lunch and now open at 4.
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Aug 8, 2022 16:30:50 GMT
Most places close by 6pm here, aren’t open for 1-2 hours over lunch, and are closed on Sundays. Some are closed on Saturdays as well. And at least half the businesses have been closed completely for holiday the past 2 weeks. I had never seen this in Munich, until we moved out to the 'burbs a few weeks back. I was coming home from the city last week and got off the bus a stop early to go to the pharmacy, and as I walked back I noticed quite a few shops shut from midday-2pm |
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Post by katlady on Aug 8, 2022 16:39:05 GMT
A lot of stores locally have reduced their hours, opening at 10 or 11 when they used to open at 9 or 10. And my gym is open 5am -10pm M-F, 6am-8pm Sat & Sun, they used to be open 24 hrs. Costco is the exception--now opens at 9am, when they used to open at 10am Our local Costcos still don’t open until 10 (9:30 on Sat). They used to have senior hours at 9AM, but they stopped that. |
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peabay
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Post by peabay on Aug 8, 2022 16:40:53 GMT
Our Walgreens is having major issues too. Interesting that it seems to be hitting Walgreens pretty hard.
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Post by pepperwood on Aug 8, 2022 17:12:30 GMT
Yes, many different businesses have reduced hours. Several favorites have gone out of business. I try to remember to call to check before I go to see if the store is still in business and what the hours are.
I have a so-called 24hr CVS, but the pharmacy doesn't open until 9:00 am now and then closes for lunch from 1-2. The wait time in the drive through lane has also increased.
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Post by gizzy on Aug 8, 2022 17:12:47 GMT
It's interesting that we're all experiencing this no matter where or what country we live in. Yet, the only reason I hear is staffing shortages.
Surely there aren't lazy people from all over the globe collecting our unemployment? They all need to get back to work. /s
Seriously though, is this a model that's being adopted across most business & that's just the reason given? Did they find that they were still making the same with the shorter hours as they were being open longer?
I find it irritating that we're going back to "bankers hours" when stores are closed when many people get off from work.
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on Aug 8, 2022 17:18:20 GMT
Yes. Especially restaurants. A few of the places we liked to frequent after weeknight softball games and tennis matches have started closing up at 8:00 or 9:00 instead of 10. I’m definitely now in the habit of checking hours online before I go places.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 8, 2022 17:28:01 GMT
Walgreens in my town seems to have varying hours as well. Little Caesar's pizza is only open limited number of days and hours through the week (only open 3 days now, I believe). Subway has been open and closed intermittently. There are some other places that never seemed to go back to pre-Covid hours.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Aug 8, 2022 17:34:05 GMT
Lots of reduced hours here, too, but I don't think staffing is the only reason. (The main one? Probably.)
I think one factor is the recession aspect of the economy, or just people staying home. If you consistently find no one is shopping from 8-10 pm at your store anymore, it really doesn't make much economic sense to keep the store open for those hours.
And I know some places around here were reducing hours due to increasing crime or, as my no-longer-24-hour gas station put it, "a series of unfortunate incidents." But that had started prepandemic. I think that was also a motivator for multiple pharmacies to dial back their overnight hours.
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pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 8, 2022 17:50:49 GMT
Some. Like Kohl's doesn't open at 9am anymore. And closes an hour earlier. I prefer 8/9am open times especially in the summer.
Grocery stores all have same, long hours.
Target has the same long hours.
Walmart isn't 24 hours anymore.
Neither is the CVS that was. They close at 11pm or 12am now. So meds have to be don't at the hospital pharmacy or you wait till next day.
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Post by quinlove on Aug 8, 2022 18:13:08 GMT
Our big Walmart was 24 hours before the pandemic. Now they are open 6 - 11. My HEB used to be open until 1:30 am. Now they close at 11. My Walgreens, surprisingly, is still open 24 hours.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Aug 8, 2022 18:28:37 GMT
I couldn't cite a specific example, but I have definitely noticed this. I usually do my errands during the daytime, so it hasn't had a negative impact on me.
I frequently see peas mention crappy pay as a reason places can't attract workers but crappy hours are also a factor. How much would Walmart have to pay you to work a graveyard shift? For me, it doesnt mattter how much they are paying, I would never take that job. A higher wage would not change my answer.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 8, 2022 18:37:18 GMT
Store hours are definitely reduced around here and I think there are several factors at play, not just a shortage of employees. Even before the pandemic shut down in person shopping, a shift to online was happening that was partially driven by the stores limiting inventory in their retail locations.
I remember the limited supply of prom/homecoming dresses and being invited to sit down with an employee and an iPad to view their full online selection way back in 2014/2015. We declined and went home to shop online.
I think retail stores have found expanded hours don't equal expanded income and that is their bottom line.
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Post by ghislaine on Aug 8, 2022 19:04:34 GMT
This is the same with convenience stores. There is a Cumberland Farms (next to a college) that I would also often stop at on my way home if I needed something quick or sometimes gas. They were 24/7 everyday. St Michaels College is within walking distance and is a school that has a high percent of students without cars and is not really close to anything else. The store/gas station is also across from a satellite location of our hospital. It is typically “busy” anytime I stop, which is usually at all sorts of odd hours. I noticed this summer they were only open until 11pm most nights. Wondering what they will do when fall semester starts? The students are not going to be happy during exam week if they close at 11 pm. 😉😄 Not part of the poll, but do you think this is the new normal? We are moving away from expanded hours to limited hours of operation for most places? As a night owl, I love stuff that I can do at night and will miss it if it goes away. With college students returning maybe there'll be a pool of employees to fill those hours again? I had to check and see if the one grocery store that I knew of to be 24hrs still was or not. Sure enough, it's not! I'm constantly using Google Maps to check hours so see what's open when. I haven't been truly surprised by anything though. The country store did cut back on the hours their grill was open due to staffing issues but I feel like they've always struggled a little bit to staff that grill. |
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sharlag
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Post by sharlag on Aug 8, 2022 19:07:32 GMT
Yes, reduced hours AND those reduced hours are when I think they'd be having peak demand, as opposed to a more understandable low demand time of day.
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Post by natscraps on Aug 8, 2022 19:17:22 GMT
A few weeks ago I stopped at the mall with DS so he could try on new uniform pants at Children’s Place. It was 10:30am. I was lucky as that is one of the only stores that opens at 10. All mall stores used to be open 10am-9pm with the big anchor stores (Macy’s, Penney’s etc) being open later. Now most stores including Penney’s are only open 12-7. I have noticed our Target’s extended their hours. We no longer have any 24 hour grocery stores and we used to have several. The only thing open 24hrs is the CVS near the hospital.
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Post by compeateropeator on Aug 8, 2022 19:17:23 GMT
Hopefully the work force will pick up with all the college students coming back. 🤞
Restaurants are also changing. Monday is the new day to close. In my parents’ town (my home town) I am not sure there are any/many restaurants open on Mondays. I joke that if anyone decided to open on Monday they would be busy, no matter what they served. 😆. I have also seen a lot go to wed - sat or Sun. I also have learned to double check before going anywhere.
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Post by Linda on Aug 8, 2022 19:51:45 GMT
Walmart was 24hrs here pre-Covid and now they are open 6am-11p (which is an increase over earlier in the pandemic)
Aldi has slightly shorter hours. I think Publix has stayed the same.
Around here restaurants are the ones with reduced hours but even more - random lobby closures due to lack staff, random closures in general due to lack of staff (and not just fast food - sit-down places also). We rarely eat out/takeaway but the local community FB page is forever complaining about this restaurant or the other being closed
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