I've noticed this for years, as has everyone I know who works retail. I know it's not just "this is the only time they can shop" because it happens to everyone, no matter when their store closes: in the last hour, the first 45 minutes is totally dead, and then as soon as :45 hits, people swarm the store for "just one thing" or sometimes even large orders. Whether you close at 5, 8, 9 or 10.

I work at a grocery store where people hit the cake center for cakes at 9:45, often wanting writing on them (it's closed after 9). People lollygag for 45 minutes and only then hit the registers. Multiple people make a daily habit of it. Several people make it in just under the wire to buy "just one thing" (translation: 3-4 things).

One guy says he has social anxiety and so comes "when it's less busy"... except it isn't. If you ACTUALLY want to avoid people, shop in the early morning (cuz duh- most people are working or asleep), or from 9-9:45, when all the last minute people aren't scrambling.

So I wonder... are they just bad at time management? Do they actually think that it's "less busy" to wait? Did they just put it off until they actually can't any longer? Are they wanted for murder and are trying to shop when it's darkest?