# Businesses closing before closing time **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024 "2013-11-16T00:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/61 "2013-11-18T20:41:44Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > i don’t know about where you take your car, but I always inquire as to when the customer wants to pick up. So do my people. Otherwise how would we know when we are done? > In the particular case I was thinking of we were posted open till 5:30 but often were around till 6ish if we were busy. > I called the customer they said they would be in the next AM. > We got done and were out the door at. 5:30. > The next AM customer comes in and rips me a new one for not being there at 5:45. > Had I known they wanted to pick up that evening I would have stayed. > Sorry but fuck you I left crystal ball at home. You are in your own crystal ball world. My mechanic has posted hours “Service desk open until 6 pm”. That means I expect them to be open at 5:50 to pick up my car or maybe to drop it off. That doesn’t mean I expect them to be available to fix it at that time. That also doesn’t mean that because last week I saw them open at 6:15 I also expect them to be open today at 6:15. For example. Last week I had to pick up some xrays. I called them and said, “What time do you close?” They said 5, so I asked my boss if I could leave at 4:30. Having left at 4:30, I got to their office at 4:50. I fully expect them to still be open at 4:50 for such a minor thing! As to the OP, it really depends on what the business is. Like someone said, if you are in a business where you have people’s stuff, it behooves you to stay open until closing time - dry cleaner’s, mechanic, etc. Otherwise I’ll just shrug and find some place else. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/62 "2013-11-18T20:44:47Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I’m curious. For those of you who would have no problem given the store another chance, would it make a difference to you if the store did this solely business was slow? > > In other words, say the business advertised it had hours until 6pm, but on your lucky day, they hadn’t had a customer since 4:30, so they locked up at 5:45, and you showed up at 5:50. Also, assume this business was a place where transactions were almost always very brief (such as a dry cleaners). How much difference would this make in your level of annoyance versus a business that closed up because of a special circumstance? Close up due to unforeseen circumstances? Do your best to find coverage or at least leave a note. If you were just bored due to a slow day- no sympathy. I’m sorry your day was boring, but that’s what you agreed to when you went into business and posted your hours. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/63 "2013-11-18T21:10:00Z")
I’d be annoyed but I’d come back. ---
**Author:** ![NVME702-redux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@NVME702-redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NVME702-redux)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/64 "2013-11-18T22:40:39Z")
I always call before going to a business that I’ve never been to before, if its small enough it probably is also a specialty shop, and I usually call the same day that I go. Also- I don’t wait until 10 minutes before it closes, 'cause ya never know! Some people might envy the idea of making your own business hours and being your own boss, but having been the daughter and wife of small business owners, there is no such thing as closing early or not opening shop. It was a hefty business loss (pizza place) and they would hear about it ALL DAY LONG the next day. Never opened late, only closed on Easter, 4th of July (cant compete with BBQ) Thanksgiving day (reluctantly, my ex hated to close that day) and Christmas Day (also reluctantly- he was a slave to the money!) ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/65 "2013-11-19T01:52:17Z")
I am the sole proprietor and only employee of a small service business. For the first three years I didn’t take a day off. I was terrified that a potential customer would find a locked door and never return. Once I started to feel established I would miss some days (for significant family events, or to go to a trade show, not to “take a ME day”) I put up a sign, put a notice on the website and change the voicemail greeting. On the sign I add that if you were coming to place a new order mention the sign when you come back and I’ll give you a discount. For unplanned absences I at least put up a hand written sign. “School Nurse called. Back ASAP.” > [@Asimovian](#): > > I’m curious. For those of you who would have no problem given the store another chance, would it make a difference to you if the store did this solely business was slow? > > In other words, say the business advertised it had hours until 6pm, but on your lucky day, they hadn’t had a customer since 4:30, so they locked up at 5:45, and you showed up at 5:50. Also, assume this business was a place where transactions were almost always very brief (such as a dry cleaners). How much difference would this make in your level of annoyance versus a business that closed up because of a special circumstance? This drives me kinda nuts about the barber shop next door to mine. On slow days they just lock up fifteen or twenty minutes early. There are always four of them working. Draw straws to see which one of you stays 'til closing. Of course, they don’t have a sign with their hours, or a website, or a facebook page, or even and answering machine. They think I’m just messing with them when I tell them how many people pulled the handle of their locked door. And, they do start three hours earlier than I do. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/66 "2013-11-19T02:51:20Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I don’t tend to go into a business if there’s only 10 minutes left. I wouldn’t go to browse, but if I knew exactly what I wanted and where it was, I wouldn’t hesitate, unless it was a Home Depot or other big-box store where even a quick march across the store and back might take the entire 10 minutes. But most places I shop, 10 minutes is plenty of time to get in, get what I want, get back to the front of the store, ring it up, and be out the door with a few minutes to spare. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/67 "2013-11-19T04:03:52Z")
**asimovian** came close to the actual situation. My husband is running a small computer repair shop. On Friday, he suggested he close 10 minutes early to get us a table at his favorite restaurant. I didn’t like the idea just in case someone showed up and was then annoyed. He said he thought the person would just come back the next day, since that’s what he would do. Hence the poll. On a side note, sometimes I have no option other than to show up just before closing. Working full-time, I can’t always take off time to arrive well before closing time. I don’t browse or anything, but if I am making a bank deposit, picking up my car, or mailing something, etc, I am not going to take time off to get there a half hour early. That’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/68 "2013-11-19T05:23:31Z")
I might be a little annoyed, but I’d come back, depending on the place. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/69 "2013-11-19T08:42:14Z")
I would not necessarily not go back, but I’d be less inclined to do so. The last place I’ve gone to that does this is a fast medical clinic, and the only reason I still go there is that I prefer the short wait time. In other words, your business better be really good for me not to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/70 "2013-11-19T08:48:43Z")
I can say this to the OP: if your husband had my computer, and found out that I had to wait an extra day to pick it up so he could go out to eat, I would be pretty pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/71 "2013-11-19T09:27:43Z")
This happened to me at the Rite-Aid, not even a small business. They closed 10 minutes early and I was livid. They had some fuckwit preventing people from going in. I wanted to throw a brick through the window. I don’t dilly dally about and would’ve been out of there before closing. I was going to write a nasty email to corporate but forgot about it by the time I got home. I still go there because it’s convenient and they have cheap beer. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/72 "2013-11-19T09:55:59Z")
Working at the video store, I tended to turn the open sign off at 10 minutes to close, but not actually lock the door until closing time on the dot. Anyone who was in the store at 10 minutes to close, I’d very politely greet them, ask if I could help them with anything, and remind them that we’d be closing in _yadda yadda_ minutes. One of my former bosses used to get very _antsy_ when we still had customers in the store at closing time. I practically had to put up a force field between him and the customers. (But besides that, he was phenomenal in his customer service.) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/73 "2013-11-19T10:07:35Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’d be annoyed but likely to give them at least one more shot. Assuming I got into the business next time, I’d mention it and see if they had some reason (“Yeah, the manager had an emergency…”) or at least apologized. This is about my take on it, with other factors previously mentioned (how specialized the need the place serves is, etc.) also being weighed in. If there was a pattern of not being open during posted business hours, that would cost them my trade for good, but a one-off, well, life happens. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/74 "2013-11-19T10:37:38Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > She said there was no note. Usually, there’s enough time to write a note. Not always, though. Why should the shop owner justify his absence to you? That’s seems preposterous to me. You’re not his employer, mother or school teacher. Especially since it wouldn’t change a thing, the shop is closed either way. Why on earth would knowing whether it’s because the owner has a stomach flu, or because his grandmother passed away or because he’s having a quickie with the sales assistant matter to you? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/75 "2013-11-19T10:43:22Z")
Too late to edit : I’m amazed by the number of people who thinks the shop owner should have a valid excuse to close early. What kind of sense of entitlement is that? If you find out that the closing time is not reliable, come earlier or bring your business elsewhere, and that’s the end of it. Why he’s closing earlier is absolutely none of your business. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/76 "2013-11-19T11:04:01Z")
Heck, when I was working retail with a small business owner we would sometimes close early because business didn’t justify the costs of running the utilities. This was more common on Sunday nights and some holidays like Independence Day, where very few people were out for gasoline at 9 PM (regular closing time was 10). ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/77 "2013-11-19T11:05:33Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Too late to edit : I’m amazed by the number of people who thinks the shop owner should have a valid excuse to close early. What kind of sense of entitlement is that? If you find out that the closing time is not reliable, come earlier or bring your business elsewhere, and that’s the end of it. Why he’s closing earlier is absolutely none of your business. It’s my business to the extent that they want to be seen as reliable and professional. So, a good reason for being closed when they advertise as being open might not stop me seeing them as unreliable. How much this will matter depends on the nature of the business, and whether there’s another option nearby. So no, I don’t have a right to know, but a business that closes early without explanation doesn’t have a right to my continuing custom. Again, that all changes if they’re holding my property. If they’ve got a car, computer, clothing or whatever belonging to the customer, they damn well open when they say no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/78 "2013-11-19T11:10:30Z")
Ten minutes early? I wouldn’t even think twice about it. When someone says they close at 5 o’clock, I take that to mean anywhere between 4:45-5:15. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/79 "2013-11-19T11:17:23Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Too late to edit : I’m amazed by the number of people who thinks the shop owner should have a valid excuse to close early. What kind of sense of entitlement is that? If you find out that the closing time is not reliable, come earlier or bring your business elsewhere, and that’s the end of it. Why he’s closing earlier is absolutely none of your business. They don’t have to write out chapter and verse. Even a note saying “I’m sorry we have to unexpectedly close early” shows me they don’t make a habit of it and they respect _my_ time as much as their own. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024/80 "2013-11-19T11:35:48Z")
I think another issue is callers. I am quite likely to call a small business with a question about service within ten minutes of closing–especially if they close at 5:00. If I am sitting looking at a company’s website, and it says they close at 5:00, and I am calling at 4:50, I expect an answer. If the phone rings and rings and rings, I am going to move on. I don’t know if they went out of business, or what, but if I need my widget repaired, why would I delay the whole process another day to maybe talk to this unreliable widget repair person when I could just as easily move to the next? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-closing-before-closing-time/674024.md?page=5)