CHRISTMAS EVE OPENING HOURS

[PO1]

It's very quiet on this one at the moment. Even Horizon help, F1 and Christmas Arrangements 2010 F15 is still greyed out

Will it be 12:30 or anywhere inbetween that and 18:00 Watch that icon!

[billyhayes]

If they push it back to around 2pm then we might play ball.

Anything after that, we walk.

We had a right lively one in WTL a couple of weeks back about this.

[Running Man]

We've had official word (direct from the regional manager) that we will close at 1230 as per usual on Christmas Eve.

So the opening hours are sorted out but the DWP payments are anybody's guess at the moment!

One sure thing is that we will be dead quiet on Christmas Eve, same as every other year.

[PO1]

Strange that we haven't seen anything in black and white then don't you think. I think billy's been sneaking into our WTL sessions (I thought I clocked a Cortina in the car park)

[bigjames]

I thought the festive opening hours had been decided months ago - 12:30 Christmas Eve, and 16:00 New Years Eve. Can't remember where it was published, but I seem to remember it was going to be the same every year for the forseeable future.

[billyhayes]

Spot on Big man.. That just reminded me! I also remember now seeing the same "forseeable future" memo.

Stand down people.

Moving back to DEFCON 5.

As you were.

[billyhayes]

Strange that we haven't seen anything in black and white then don't you think. I think billy's been sneaking into our WTL sessions (I thought I clocked a Cortina in the car park)

Was it riding a bit low on the rear? That'll be the coins.....

[PO1]

I can also remember what bigjames and billy are referring to but like everything lately, nothing fails to surprise me.

I'm just a little bit concerned by the statement in the 'Host Notes' of 19th October about opening arrangements for the Christmas and New Year period "These have to be agreed with our regulator so are not quite finalised yet"

I know it goes on to say "Some Crown Offices will have extended opening hours during December, dependent on the location and the hours of trading of local retailers in the run up to Christmas" so hopefully the not quite finalised yet IS referring to that and not Christmas Eve but like I said, nothing would fail to surprise me. I still think that button on Horizon will have something to do with the opening times at Christmas Eve and New Year so why is it still greyed out then if we'll all be shut at 12:30 and 4:00?

Oh and just a thought, why don't we cancel all sales for ever never mind just the sales meetings in December and then we'll be able to maintain the customer SERVICE properly all the time.

Remember a customer is for life and not just for Christmas.

[bigjames]

I expect the extended hours will be something like in a previous office of mine where we stayed opened an hour later each evening, depending on what other shops are open nearby. Initially the staff got overtime and the managers got told to lump it, but eventually they relented and paid us overtime too. To be honest, we did it for three weeks, and the only people we served after normal closing time were the people who were in the queue when we should have shut the door! It reminds me of years ago when we opened on a Boxing Day 'Public Holiday' because it wasn't a 'Bank Holiday'. We were open from 10 until 4 and I served 24 people in total, with an hour for lunch, that's about 5 people an hour - priceless! Needless to say we didn't do it again.

[PO1]

I must admit bigjames you do come accross of; how shall I say it, yeah, one of the more sensible managers

There's not many of your breed left I'm afraid.

[claire1.9]

seen email today at work for xmas opening times which could be revised at any time because Royal Mail may have to deliver on the Monday after New Year. What has that got to do with us?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

seen email today at work for xmas opening times which could be revised at any time because Royal Mail may have to deliver on the Monday after New Year. What has that got to do with us?

RM were waiting for approval for it to be a non service day from POSTCOM - It has been announced today that POSTCOM have agreed.

If however they hadn't then we also have to do collections including from POs, and I would have thought that POs would have to be open to allow customers to post packet, specials etc. The point is moot now though

[PO1]

Call me sad, I know, but part of my new early morning ritual now is to check that F15 icon.

Guess what? This morning it was available. So help, F1, F15, F1 (we're getting somewhere), F14 oh no information still not available for Christmas opening hours 2010. Why? If we all think it's been agreed for 12:30, why? Are we to be done out of that as well as a pay rise? Keep watching that icon.

Oh and if you did still press the F14 icon they were last year's opening times still displayed!

[obe2005]

Hello, people just thought i'd say that due to it being a longer break over the xmas period. They will more than likely keep the branch open til at least 4.00pm so all you counter staff can have these wonderful conversations fat chance

[PostalOfficer]

Oh and if you did still press the F14 icon they were last year's opening times still displayed!

Yeh, I noticed this. It's like my old boss used to say when a customer reported the two letter boxes at the front of the office were overflowing and we went through the yearly ritual of ringing the sorting office for a relief collection. Every year he used to say "Blow me, Christmas has caught them out again".