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LIVING IN FRANCE

French Sunday supermarkets – highly convenient or a ‘dehumanised society’?

One of the most frustrating things about living in France is that many shops are closed on Sundays. One supermarket is looking to reverse that trend, but not everybody is happy about it.

Published: 9 August 2019 15:21 CEST
French Sunday supermarkets - highly convenient or a 'dehumanised society'?
Photo: AFP

What is the proposal?

Casino, one of the major supermarket chains in France, is beginning to open some stores on a Sunday afternoon. Traditionally, all shops in France closed on a Sunday. That has gradually been changing and in the big cities like Paris there is quite a wide variety of shops open on a Sunday.

But in smaller towns and rural areas, many still keep to the traditional rules. Over the past couple of years some supermarkets have been opening on Sunday mornings only, but Casino has been testing Sunday afternoon opening as well – with the help of some automation.


It is not possible to buy alcohol on Sunday afternoons in these stores. Photo: AFP

What automation?

If customers want to go to Casino in the afternoon, they can only use the automatic check-outs, there will be no staffed check-outs. This means that you cannot buy alcohol or knives, as there is no-one to verify the age of the purchaser. Generally the store will be staffed only with security guards and an employee to help out people using the automatic check-outs.

Where is this available?

Casino started this in December 2018 in the centre of Lyon, with another in Marseille in February 2019. There is also one in Montpellier, while several of the smaller city centre stores in and around Paris also offer Sunday afternoon opening – in part to compete with minimarkets like Monoprix and Franprix which also offer Sunday opening.

And now Angers is set to follow suit. From August 25th, it will extend its Sunday closing time to 9pm.

“Some customers want to come later than 1pm, in the afternoon. We want to allow customers to access what they want, when they want,” the management told BFM TV.

So the people of Angers are pretty happy?

Not all of them. The decision has been described as “social regression” in a statement released by trade union the General Confederation of Labour, who worry that the balance between technologies and society is being disrupted for the worse.

“This decision is part of a war that no one will win, because a dehumanised society has no future,” argues Christophe Béchu, the mayor of Angers.

 

Member comments

  1. Surely, those people who work full time Monday to Friday should have more choice of when to shop at the week-end. Saturday and Sunday mornings there are always long queues at the tills and with time at a premium for working people, the extra hours on Sunday could be welcome. Also, it gives more choice to those who cannot work full time, to have a further opportunity of part-time working and helping to finance their families.

  2. Correct but try explaining that to a trade unionist that lives in the past. Life evolves but not it seems for these people or the ones complaining about the use of English.

  3. Part of the allure of living in France is the preservation of her culture and lifestyle. In towns of any decent size, the outskirts are now ringed with Carrefour, Hyper LeClerc, SuperU, etc, all anchoring fast food franchises such as the suddenly ubiquitous McDo, et al. Meanwhile, centre-villes (downtowns) are slowly dying, with the individually-owned boucheries, boulangeries, charcuteries, etc gradually disappearing. This is not to mention the growing indifference to the Sabbath that this heavily-Catholic nation once respected. That the convenience of US-style mega-stores and the convenience of incessantly-expanding hours is a boon for those who want or need everything on their own terms is understandable (human nature, I suppose), but I for one am saddened by the 24/7, car-loving direction in which France is heading. And as far as complaints about the use of English, there isn’t anything wrong with being bilingual – but as a US citizen, I don’t expect or demand anyone speak my language; I expect to converse in the language of the country in which I am still, technically, a guest. That should never be unexpected or off-putting. Pardon any misspellings, by the way.

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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