Why aren’t car dealers open on Sundays?

Have you ever missed a postal delivery and felt a twinge of frustration, knowing you're stuck with a narrow window on Saturday morning to visit your local post office?

That feeling is quite similar to what many experience when buying a car, after finding out there’s only one day they can make their visit.

It's an already tense ordeal, what with forking over a significant amount of cash or committing to a lengthy contract for a car that might not be in your driveway for months, or even years.

Now, picture a scenario where you can't go to a dealership on a Saturday and need to take time off work for your visit.

While most major retailers buzz with activity on Sundays, some car dealerships continue to keep their doors shut. But why do these automotive spots choose to dim their lights on a day when nearly every other shop is open?

The practice of car dealerships remaining closed on Sundays in Australia, as in other parts of the world, is rooted in a blend of historical, cultural, economic and practical reasons.

Australian retail laws

Let's get some context and delve into the retail laws governing car dealerships in Australia.

In NSW and Victoria it's legal to trade on a Sunday, with some dealerships choosing to do so. However in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, car dealerships are not authorised to be open under state trading laws for 'non-exempt shops'.

In a recent interview on 4BC drive, CEO of the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), James Voortman said car dealerships are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of opening on Sundays after a proposal to overturn the state laws currently prohibiting Sunday trade.

The AADA backs this sentiment, which highlights that opening on Sundays incurs additional costs without a guaranteed increase in sales.

Voortman said it makes working at dealerships less attractive due to the requirement of a seven-day work roster, potentially exacerbating the existing skills shortage in the industry.

Blue Laws

This phenomenon can be traced back to the early 1620s in the United States, where Sunday was traditionally observed as a day of rest and worship through the ‘Blue Laws’. Over time, their scope and enforcement have varied greatly.

Although these customs are no longer strictly enforced, they have become ingrained in the culture of the automotive industry, with many dealerships choosing to remain closed on Sundays out of respect for tradition and to give employees time with their families or for leisure activities.

Work-life balance

In recent years, the industry has seen shifts in consumer patterns and workplace culture, challenging the traditional practice of Sunday closures. Some dealerships that experimented with Sunday operations reported an increase in gross revenue.

However, this has also led to concerns about sales staff burnout, as many dealership employees already work long hours and six-day weeks.

In the modern era, where flexibility is prized, imposing a roster-based, seven-day work week on dealership employees seems counterintuitive – with many Australians asking our their employers for flexible working and then want that taken away from others.

Maintaining a day off on Sundays for dealership employees is viewed as a perk, and contributes to a healthy work-life balance. It boosts employee morale and retention rates, showing a respect for the balance between work responsibilities and personal time.

Financial closures

Then there's the practical side of things.

With banks taking a day off too, sorting out the nitty-gritty financial details of buying a car would be even more challenging. I’m no finance expert, but I’m pretty sure you need money to buy a car.

So, while some may argue that Sunday closures mean missed sales opportunities​​, it seems like the industry is saying, "Let's just hit the brakes for a day, shall we?" After all, there's something nice about keeping one day a week a little less commercial and a little more chill.