It doesn't make any sense

[KingRazor]

I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that the average working adult works 9am-5pm.

If that is true at all, then why on Earth is mail delivered before 5pm? Why do banks close at 5pm? Why does any retail establishment close that early?

Wouldn't it make more sense for all of that stuff to be open in the evenings and weekends when people are off of work?

The past few days I've had some packages arrive that I wasn't there to sign for and it's been a major pain to get my stuff because I'm never home at the times they deliver them. How do they expect people to be there when they're delivering during work hours?

[hover]

you answered your own question in your first sentence.

beyond that, there's a reason banks are open later on Thursdays. And on weekends. Surely you can find time in one of these scenarios.

have your packages delivered to work. And have your paychecks direct deposited. Where there's a need there's an option waiting.

[MatticusMania]

I wished I worked 9-5. I wake up at 6:30am, start at 7:45 and work until 4:30, getting home around 5:20.

Youre supposed to know someone who doesnt work that can stay home during the day, otherwise have your mail/packages delivered to work.

I ship my things to my parents house, both retired. Before they retired my Mom was always home anyway. Have your Mom pick up your mail!

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by hover

you answered your own question in your first sentence.

beyond that, there's a reason banks are open later on Thursdays. And on weekends. Surely you can find time in one of these scenarios.

They're open late on Thursdays? Interesting.

If I was running a business, I'd want to be open late at night and on the weekends, that's when all the people that work 9-5 have time to go shopping. Why be open when all of your customers are at work?

The bank thing really hasn't been much of an issue now that I have direct deposit, but my issues with the post office the past few days have really made me wonder about this.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I wished I worked 9-5. I wake up at 6:30am, start at 7:45 and work until 4:30, getting home around 5:20.

Youre supposed to know someone who doesnt work that can stay home during the day, otherwise have your mail/packages delivered to work.

I ship my things to my parents house, both retired. Before they retired my Mom was always home anyway. Have your Mom pick up your mail!

From now on I'm going to ship everything to my mom's work. I never seem to get anything that I ship to our apartment, despite having a brother that's home practically 24/7...

Shipping to my work wouldn't really work to well.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

They're open late on Thursdays? Interesting.

If I was running a business, I'd want to be open late at night and on the weekends, that's when all the people that work 9-5 have time to go shopping. Why be open when all of your customers are at work?

The bank thing really hasn't been much of an issue now that I have direct deposit, but my issues with the post office the past few days have really made me wonder about this.

Well, retail business is usually open til 8pm at the earliest going to about 10pm round these parts.

And mailboxes! My mail waits for me until I pick it up at my convenience!

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

From now on I'm going to ship everything to my mom's work. I never seem to get anything that I ship to our apartment, despite having a brother that's home practically 24/7...

Shipping to my work wouldn't really work to well.

I dont ship to my work, but only because it woulsnt be convenient to me. I also won't ship to my condo, cuz Im afraid UPS would leave my package on the doorstep and someone would steal it.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Well, retail business is usually open til 8pm at the earliest going to about 10pm round these parts.

And mailboxes! My mail waits for me until I pick it up at my convenience!

UPS/FedEx don't leave packages in the mail boxes (I live in an apartment complex and they're all locked up). Only USPS does, and sometimes not even them.

They never leave packages at my door, they always just leave a sticker that says "Sorry we missed you". At times they've left packages of mine at the office, but the office is closed far more often than not.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that the average working adult works 9am-5pm.

If that is true at all, then why on Earth is mail delivered before 5pm? Why do banks close at 5pm? Why does any retail establishment close that early?

Q. "Why on Earth is mail delivered before 5pm? Why do banks close at 5pm? Why does any retail establishment close that early?"

A. "I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that the average working adult works 9am-5pm."

[lunarpollen]

Heehee... it's a question I always wondered too... So many owners of small shops, cafes, etc. complain about not getting enough business and then they go out of business... Well sure, I would have loved to have checked out your shop but you are always closed by the time I (and 95% of people with non-retail jobs) get off from work. If I had a little shop, I'd probably be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day, unless on certain days there was a lot of pedestrian traffic in that area later than 8 p.m., in which case I'd stay open later on those days to take advantage of the presence of additional humans...

if I owned a service-type profession (e.g., home utility repairs) I would want to offer service after normal business hours, because the 95% of non-retail people out there don't want to have to take off work and wait around at home for hours for a service call.

As far as delivery services go, I have any packages delivered to my place of work.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by line6man

Q. "Why on Earth is mail delivered before 5pm? Why do banks close at 5pm? Why does any retail establishment close that early?"

A. "I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that the average working adult works 9am-5pm."

Alright, point taken, but then why do the people that run those establishments choose to operate during those hours?

There are plenty of places of business that are not visited by customers. The place I work at is a good example, sort of a call center type thing.

But retail establishments, banks, etc. could probably gain more business and earn more money if they were open later.

Around where I live, there's not much that's open before 11am or after 8pm.

[fdeck]

It used to be that businesses had gentlemans agreements not to compete with one another by expanding hours. When I was growing up, a car dealer that opened during the wrong hours would have all their windows broken.

[Silaxian]

I used to think that government offices, such as the DMV, should keep hours at night and on week-ends since most people work during the week-days. Then I came to my senses and realized that government offices really should just stay closed.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Silaxian

I used to think that government offices, such as the DMV, should keep hours at night and on week-ends since most people work during the week-days. Then I came to my senses and realized that government offices really should just stay closed.

Accept that you need them to be opened...Do you think anyone would go to the DMV if they didn't need to?

I had a bass that got delivered today and I didn't get it, but they're re-delivering tomorrow, thankfully I have tomorrow off, or else it could easily be a repeat of today.

I'm going to put a sign on my door that says "knock loudly", since apparently they didn't knock hard enough for my brother to even hear.

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

If I was running a business, I'd want to be open late at night and on the weekends, that's when all the people that work 9-5 have time to go shopping. Why be open when all of your customers are at work?

I manage a retail business.

Nobody comes in after 5:30pm, If we were open to 8 (we generally shut at 5), there is a small chance we might make one extra sale per week.. maybe.. probably not. No where near enough to cover the cost of even having one employee there working an extra 3 hours a day.

If you were situated in a large shopping centre or somewhere that everyone knows all the shops are open to 8pm, it would work alright, but even then. In my experience, people just don't want to go shopping after work. Of course, everywhere is different, but here it gets dark by 5:30 in winter and 7ish in summer, people don't want to be out walking around shopping when its dark, they would much rather be sitting down at a resturant or at home, even down the beach.


Generally you have two types of customers, ones that come looking for what you are selling, and ones who walk in the door and spot something they like. This is pretty basic, but its essentially how it works. The people who are looking for what they want will arrange a time to make it during normal opening hours, and the walk-ins will only be out walking with money to burn between about 10 and 4.



Banks on the other hand, do it just to be difficult. Any i'd rather go pickup a parcel from the post office than have it delivered while I am trying to eat tea, or just sit down after a long day at work.

[KingRazor]

I don't have a car, so it's a pain for me to go to the post office to pick up a package.

My family does all of our shopping after 5pm, because the ones of us that actually go out and shop have 9-5 jobs.

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I wished I worked 9-5. I wake up at 6:30am, start at 7:45 and work until 4:30, getting home around 5:20.

Youre supposed to know someone who doesnt work that can stay home during the day, otherwise have your mail/packages delivered to work.

I ship my things to my parents house, both retired. Before they retired my Mom was always home anyway. Have your Mom pick up your mail!

I see a business opportunity in this. Daily/hourly house sitter. If you really need to have that package, the house sitter can wait for the delivery person for you.

[A.Diva]

Originally Posted by Hawaii Islander

I see a business opportunity in this. Daily/hourly house sitter. If you really need to have that package, the house sitter can wait for the delivery person for you.

What could you charge to make this viable? Seems insurance and bonding costs alone would be a heavy expense.



Edit: Oh, and I agree with the OP, but only for certain things like doctor visits, auto mechanics, cable/phone installers, handymen.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that the average working adult works 9am-5pm.

you'll see more people out on the roads just driving around during these hours then you will during off work hours

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you'll see more people out on the roads just driving around during these hours then you will during off work hours

4pm-7pm has more people on the road than any other time of day, by a long shot.