Open Sundays? Automated shops revolutionize NRW!

Open Sundays? Automated shops revolutionize NRW!

Münster, Deutschland - The discussion about Sundays open to the sales and the opening of slot machine shops in Germany is picking up. Consumers could soon benefit from an extended purchase offer, which is particularly shaped by the use of mini supermarkets without personnel, so-called machine transactions. These business is particularly growing in rural regions and offer the opportunity to shop around the clock.

like Ruhr 24 reports the trade association NRW and calls for legal clarity Sunday opening. In particular, the business model of the machine shops should not be endangered by unclear regulations. An Higher Administrative Court in Münster recently allowed an operator of a machine kiosk to do Sunday, which ensures a positive turn.

automated shops and their legal framework

The increasing popularity of fully automated shops, such as Rewe Pick & Go and Amazon Go, changed the rules of the game in retail. These shops enable contactless shopping without direct contact with sales staff and can therefore offer 24/7 availability. However, the legal situation is complex, since different shop closing laws apply in Germany, which are primarily intended to ensure occupational safety on Sundays and public holidays. In many federal states, with the exception of Bavaria, specific regulations apply that also affect automated shops.

according to SBS Legal The classification of these business as "sales point" is repeatedly discussed. Some administrative courts in Hesse, Bavaria and Hamburg have found that automated shops have a “busy effect” and consequently subject to the regulations of Sunday and public holiday law. Nevertheless, there are already exceptions, for example in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where small sales outlets without personal customer contact are excluded from the shopping regulations.

claims and outlook

The trade association NRW calls for more flexibility in Sunday opening and criticizes the unequal treatment between classic retail stores and machine transactions. For example, while petrol stations and train stations are allowed to open around the clock, conventional businesses are still tied to strict opening times.

The FDP parliamentary group in the state parliament has already submitted a draft law to allow fully automatic sales outlets up to an area of ​​120 square meters on Sunday. The black and green state government has so far become calm, since these machines markets have so far only occasionally existed in North Rhine-Westphalia. However, it remains to be seen how these legal and social discussions will develop.

The Verdi union expresses concerns that automated shops also need maintenance and cleaning staff, which questions the originally desired personnel saving. The challenges are therefore diverse and will continue to be the focus of public and political discussion in the future.