A dispute between convenience store chain 7-Eleven Japan and one of its franchise stores in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, which closes between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. after ending its 24-hour service on Feb 1 due to a staff shortage, has brought the industry's 24-hour service into the spotlight. Do you think convenience stores need to be open 24 hours a day?

It has to be on a case by case basis.

The question cites a shop that lacks staff. What are they supposed to do in such a case ? Work non stop for days ?

This shop being in Osaka, the staff-shortage may be for a couple of reasons, most likely unattractive pay.

But in the countryside, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lack of people (staff and clients). And this is only going to get worse in some parts of the country. Are people there supposed to keep the shop open 24/7 in hope one client eventually shows up one day in the middle of the night ? That would maybe be taking the quality service too far.

I haven't been inside one past 11pm in years but sure, in certain urban areas that get enough traffic. And if the stores are paying enough to attract staff. I'm sure if they were paying 1500-2000 yen/hour they'd have no problem hiring staff.

But not open until 6am--never! It's hard enough finding a coffee shop or restaurant or shop that's open early. It's tough being an early bird in a nation of night owls.

In my way from the subway station to my home there is 5 convenience stores for 600 m in a residential area.

If 1-2 of them would stay open 24/7 that would be more than enough as long as properly communicated to local customers.

Absolutely. Its one thing many people I talk to both Japanese and foreign love about Japan.

Not everyone of them, only the ones that are in an area that can service customers.

At the deadest part of the evening, say midweek from 1am to 5am, hardly a soul will go into a lot of them. And while they are useful for those that do use them, if you are aware that they will not be open in advance, you would plan accordingly.

You can't expect businesses to remain open when it is unprofitable to do so.

On one hand, closing convenience stores at night would really hurt the many, many people who work irregular hours. We're talking police officers, firefighters, doctors and nurses and ambulance drivers, chefs and servers, construction workers, security guards, and on and on.

On the other hand, convenience stores are not social services. They're private, for-profit businesses. So if they don't find it profitable to be open 24/7, then they should be free to close based on the schedule that maximizes profit.

And on that note, this ongoing conversation should be about HOSPITALS, not COMBINI. If you've ever had the audacity to have a medical emergency at night or on a national holiday in this country, you're in big trouble. The lack of 24/7 medical facilities is a far greater problem than the one we're currently discussing.

I have to say yes... at least in some cases. They need not in densely populated areas, for example, inner city, where there's another store of the same chain a few meters away, maybe, or in rural areas with zero traffic at night, but I think some should be open 24 hours. Tough one. Keep in mind that for many convenience stores often stock things you cannot buy at night because supermarkets follow ridiculous business hours that many people cannot make. My local supermarket? I can rarely go unless I have a long break or take time off, because it opens after I go to work and closes before I get home. So, some goods I pick up at the local conbini.

Also, this is Japan. I guarantee that even if they closed they hire security (like some old "retired" guy), to stand in or outside all night, and demand staff leave after closing and come before opening, essentially creating 24-hour work anyway, for opening and closing prep.

I agree with all so far, except, hold on a minute there, smithin! Wha' you talking about, "some old retired guy?!" I resemble (from The Three Stooges...nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk...) that remark!

There's one in every corner in HK, so yeah in sleepless cities, definitely.

I don't think 24 hours are needed in all areas. Sometimes a single conbini is like Starbucks in New York, it is only competing with itself by having too many in one location. Certain areas definitely need it, but there are many areas where its open and probably no more than 2 customers walk in during the overnight hours.

7/11 should properly limit their supply while increasing oversight over finances for that specific shop... they will reconsider the game very fast

absolutely yes, or if owner dont like the business model, can just sell shop and retire.

Not necessarily, I think.

I have worked at a convenience store when I was in a university. As a store clerk, I don't think it is necessary for all convenience stores to be open 24 hours a day. At my former workplace, there were few customers I dealt with after 10:00 p.m. This means foods and drinks get expired and are throw away as wastes.

However, some stores need to be open until the last train services are completely ended.

Thus the headquarter should allocate the right to choose the policy of the time of operation depending on the situation.

The ones that say "No" are the day workers who go to sleep at 10 pm EVERY night and cannot see the needs of others who do not observe, physically or socially, the daylight only diurnal rhythms of these worker bees. Such blindness is part of the habit and part of the cause of the habit for their 'early to bed, early to rise' prejudiced mentality. The whole world stops when THEY go to sleep so who needs services at THAT time of night. Me. Many others like me. The people keeping the world running while these poor souls sleep and regain the strength to spend another day making other people wealthy.

I hears ya. As I've said before, these people are heroes.

A lot of shift workers, nurses etc finish late at night. They go to conbini for shopping. So yes, they absolutely should be staying open 24 hours. 24-hour combinis are one of the unique features of Japanese service .

Nice rant Bjorn. Strange that you chose this thread for it since no one actually said "no"

No, absolutely not needed to have 24h. That would mean human beings get time off . We have to stop worshipping "the business need" and instead recognize worker needs

The ones that say "No" are the day workers who go to sleep at 10 pm EVERY night and cannot see the needs of others who do not observe, physically or socially, the daylight only diurnal rhythms of these worker bees. Such blindness is part of the habit and part of the cause of the habit for their 'early to bed, early to rise' prejudiced mentality. The whole world stops when THEY go to sleep so who needs services at THAT time of night. Me. Many others like me. The people keeping the world running while these poor souls sleep and regain the strength to spend another day making other people wealthy.