Shops That Close Earlier than Advertised?

adante on 11/02/2023 - 20:16
Last edited 12/02/2023 - 10:29 by 1 other user

Settle an argument* for me OzB: should I give a break to shops that close earlier than advertised?

I went to grab dinner at a local fish and chip shop which is advertised to close at 7pm. We arrived at 6:35.

The shop was in the process of closing and I asked if they were open and was told no, they had closed. Although I didn't explicitly inquire, no reason was proffered about the seemingly early closure (the staff member I asked was literally taking in a sign that says it closes at 7pm.)

My petty way of dealing with this is to later go to google maps and attempt to change the opening time for the particular day to reflect this (this isn't the first time it has happened and won't be the last).

Am I being too petty? I appreciate hospitality is hell and on one hand I think they should be given a break. But on the other hand I find this mildly annoying as I often use advertised opening hours to plan my movements.

What say you OzBargain? Should I give them a break or bikies?

Bonus question: While I appreciate it is not great form to show up at 6:59 to put an order in, I used to think 6:35 order for a 7:00 close is reasonable. But I'm now second guessing this so what do folks think is a reasonable minimum time before close?

(* actually not an argument. Acquaintance I was with thought I was leaving a 1* review and thought that was too extreme. Once I typed up this post and shared with them, it was clarified I was just trying to adjust opening times they didn't care so much. But now I'm sunk cost on typing this up)

Poll Options

  • 72
    You are too petty
  • 36
    This is reasonable
Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Hybroid on 11/02/2023 - 20:19
    +23

    Private businesses are entitled to close early as they wish for any reason they wish. They can even decide to stop taking orders at 6PM even with 7PM closure if they wish.

    Could be due to illness or a personal reason or staff function or owner going to kids ballet or checking in on someone in hospital or anything at all. Maybe just exhausted and not enough footfall today. Maybe they ran out of fish/chips/boxes/supplies.

    They may not even do this daily, could be a one-off on this Saturday specifically. YTA.

    • trapper on 12/02/2023 - 00:50
      +5

      They are entitled to close early, or close forever if they want.

      But they should not advertise being open when they are closed.

  • avoidfullprice on 11/02/2023 - 20:30
    +4

    I share your disappointment but i also think you are being petty about a hospitality business closing up 25 mins earlier than advertised. I would be angry if they serve someone else but not you

  • freefall101 on 11/02/2023 - 20:40
    +3

    Sounds pretty petty to me to change the details. Think of them as humans, if they've nothing to do and start packing up, are they expected to unpack because you showed up? Should they hang around all night because you're hungry? Some people just want to get home to their families.

    Although I've seen the worst of people, I used to do a close at a servo (albeit about 20 years ago). Country town, so it was somewhere between 8pm-10pm, I had people scream bloody murder at me because I wouldn't turn the pumps back on for them when they showed up 5 minutes after closing time.

    On the flip side, I did complain when a post office was closing an hour earlier than the Auspost website said they were open until, because it was done all the time. But I just spoke to the store and then to Auspost, no point being petty about it changing stuff on the internet just to get your mild feel-good revenge.

  • p1 ama on 11/02/2023 - 20:47

    (* actually not an argument. Acquaintance I was with thought I was leaving a 1* review and thought that was too extreme. Once I typed up this post and shared with them, it was clarified I was just trying to adjust opening times they didn't care so much. But now I'm sunk cost on typing this up)

    Think this is the right answer - leaving a 1 star review is too extreme, trying to adjust the opening times seems like it's just a waste of your own time. This definitely is a sunk cost.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/02/2023 - 21:07

    Perhaps consider going to a big chain restaurant next time

  • Bafranz on 11/02/2023 - 21:09

    Went to coles deli tonight, closes at 8 but they had to pack up/clean up so shut before 8.. reasonable

  • cookie2 on 11/02/2023 - 21:20
    +2

    I get it. You plan your movements on their advertised opening hours and you chose to purchase through them. If it's something they're going to do when quiet then they should add a disclaimer for customers to call their orders in by 6.30 etc. They don't because it works for them when they feel like staying open until 7pm, or when it's worth them staying open.

  • Iwantthebestprice on 11/02/2023 - 21:30
    +1

    You know who never close before they’re posted close time, maccas, KFC and hungry jacks. Stick to them

  • Tee Rex Arms on 11/02/2023 - 22:00

    YATA

  • Benoffie on 11/02/2023 - 22:36
    +4

    Sure, businesses can open and close as they please. However, leaving a genuine review saying they advertised a service and failed to provide it (at all in this case), is pretty fair.

    They're free to reply with the excuse that their cat/granny/next door neighbour just died and so couldn't fry a bag of chips between 1835 and 1900.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2023 - 23:32

    Definitely should have make a scene also bikies and 0 star on google profile from 10 different account.

  • Leadfoot6 on 12/02/2023 - 00:25

    I had similar happen to me in the small town I live in that has only 5 take away shops and a supermarket.

    This Indian establishment has a published closing time of 0900pm.

    I have been purchasing from them on a semi regular basis since they opened about 3 years ago.

    By the time I called this establishment to be told "we have had a quiet night so the kitchen closed early", all of the other shops including the supermarket were closed.

    From memory, I had tomato sandwiches for dinner that night.

    The other night I mentioned this to the owner who was not working the original night in question.

    She was most apologetic and was very interested to find out more details about my poor experience, but I just could not remember.

    She was most earnest in finding out if I could remember which night exactly this happened and the identity of who told me.

    She assured me it would never happen again.

    Some establishments DO care.

  • try2bhelpful on 12/02/2023 - 07:49
    +5

    I do wonder about the resilience of some people. I’ve had occasions when something has gone wrong, and I bitch and moan to myself about it, but then I step back and get some perspective. You don’t know why they closed early but you wanted to leave a 1 star review and try to change the opening hours? Honestly this sounds the height of pettiness. You will be a lot less stressed if you think “well shit happens” and then you move on. Frankly a lot on the 1 star reviews say more about the author than the business being reviewed.

    When I’m upset I go for a long walk and rant to myself about how unfair things are. Once I’ve got my emotions out of my system I feel much better.

  • holdenmg on 12/02/2023 - 07:59
    +4

    Consider ordering online (if offered), then go collect.
    Usually last orders time will be indicated on the app.

    Or Phone your order in, then go to click n collect prior to the Stated Closing time.

    You get a confirm from Menulog or Ubereats etc if your order is accepted (or not).

    Phoning, if they don't answer (already closed) or "we have stopping taking orders" or "order accepted"
    Simples.

    While traveling there to "place your order", they could have been cooking your order…

  • Sinnerator on 12/02/2023 - 08:46

    Reject Shop (good for bin bags) closed early last Thursday night, they had sign on door saying <sic> "Not Enough Staff to Stay Open". This was Broadway Sydney.

    • holdenmg on 12/02/2023 - 09:34

      I guess you can take it or reject it. lol

  • Aarchangel on 12/02/2023 - 11:14

    What would you have done if they were still open but ran out items you wanted to order?

  • Iluvfreebies on 12/02/2023 - 14:49

    Small restaurants do close early if they got no customers. Most restaurants will let you preorder by calling them directly and let your collect before closing. You can ask them nicely if they are ok with that.

  • harshbdmmaster718 on 12/02/2023 - 16:00

    I have a few places I go which are the same. After a certain time the kitchen is closed and you can only get things that have been prepared in packaging.

    Basically, closing time is specifically when the shop shuts while there is another time which is "last order" time.
    So make a habit of asking "when is the last order time?" instead of "when do you close?".

    Also I don't know specifically but in some cultures this is completely normal. e.g. you would assume the place will need to close kitchen and clean up before closing time, so if you want something from the kitchen you usually turn up earlier. If you are a regular you would have a better idea of when to turn up.

    Also not sure which countries but this is considered a common courtesy to try your best to order before the "last order" time. e.g. it would be rude to make a massive order a minute before "last order" time, so it's considered polite for those customers to usually turn up a bit earlier. (technically it's ok to order any time before "last order time", but if you were a regular you would avoid being difficult)

    • simplystu on 12/02/2023 - 18:21

      Yeah my local fish and chip shop does it currently.
      They advertise as closing at 8:30pm … but last orders to be received no later than 7:45pm.

      They have that written both on their flyers + their website + instore.

      • harshbdmmaster718 on 12/02/2023 - 18:38
        +1

        "They advertise as closing at 8:30pm … but last orders to be received no later than 7:45pm."

        Yup same as my experience. Last order is roughly 45 mins to 1 hour before closing time.

        • simplystu on 12/02/2023 - 18:59

          the key here … is that my F+C shop (in WA) clearly communicates this to their customers.
          They have that written both on their flyers + their website + instore.

          Whereas OP hasn't said whether "last orders times" were communicated to customers in any specific/direct way.

          During a recent visit to Melbourne … it was the other way round.
          Official closing time of F+C place we visited was 8pm - but they were still clearly open at 9:30pm as we were leaving the park nearby.

          Speaking to staff of that store … they said, that if there's still customers + if boss is in a good mood … then they tend to stay open past the official time.

          • harshbdmmaster718 on 12/02/2023 - 19:10

            @simplystu: Yeah I am just saying some places do it (not all) and it might be a cultural thing based on the owner.
            The places I experience doing it aren't exactly your run of the mill KFC or Food court place. They seem more like family owned immigrant type places.

            These places also don't communicate it from what I have seen (no signs etc). I guess they just expect regulars to notice it on their own or word of mouth to spread.

            that if there's still customers + if boss is in a good mood … then they tend to stay open past the official time.

            I think this is a different thing all together. The place I am talking about closes on the dot every time.
            Some shops will close whenever they want I have experienced that too. A nearby Subway operates that way. I have turned up an hour before closing time and the young dude working their all on his own is like "sorry I closed up".

  • simplystu on 12/02/2023 - 18:19
    +1

    OP … in some ways you sound abit like me.
    I guess I am getting more grumpy as I age (I'm mid 40's).

    Over a year ago now - I visited a Red Rooster store … 45 minutes before the official closing time of 10pm.
    They still had their OPEN sign out by roadside + lights on in store.
    I was told - that they weren't accepting any more orders … so that they could do cleaning + close the store at the 10pm time.

    ALTHOUGH - store had recently changed franchisee ownership - so I guess it was their way of managing staff/etc.
    I too went to google maps + gave them a 2 star review + suggested an edit for their closing time.

    I guess karma has a way of coming full circle …
    As I understand it - the store in question that I mentioned is really struggling, and I reckon they'll be selling within the next 6 months if they don't change things up.

    • harshbdmmaster718 on 12/02/2023 - 22:10

      As I understand it - the store in question that I mentioned is really struggling,

      Weird as the stores I mention are very busy, sometimes they look like they are operating at max capacity with the number or orders they are receiving.

      I can understand a big chain company like Mcdonalds, KFC or Red Rooster getting bad reviews though. I would expect them to be as you say, "Open" and ready to order until the time listed.

  • Tames71 on 20/02/2023 - 03:05

    I went to a store once to get some things thinking they were still open but they completely closed 30 mins before the posted closing time. I did not get my things. :(

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