[tlocke]

OpenStreetMap does hold opening hours of businesses. Here are the details (including opening hours) of my local cafe https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/485163917 I go round entering OSM data using the StreetComplete app. It's slightly awkward if a shop doesn't display their opening hours, because then you have to go in, and I feel I need to buy something and then ask their opening hours.

[runiq]

I do that too (in Germany), and I just… ask them if I may enter their opening hours into OSM. I've never been refused. Sometimes an employee takes an interest and then I take the chance to explain a bit. It's a win-win for both sides, after all—the map users and the shop owners.

[ce4]

Why ask the owner in the first place. Its public information anyway. Google does not ask either.

[marcosdumay]

In a practical way (instead of just, why not be polite?), the information for permanently displaying to the public may be different than the information relevant to you at a single moment.

If you just ask it without context, "today we'll close at 16:00" is a perfectly reasonable response.

[bluGill]

Hopefully a few of them will realize it is easy and so start updating their own information as it changes. Everyone wins - their customers get up to date information and so come when they are open.

[runiq]

Because I'm nice that way.

[ce4]

Sure.

But for mapping lots of POIs this is a PITA and doesnt scale. What if the owner declines? This is non-copyrightable info anyway.

Shall one ask house owners if one can map their address or their house' outline?

[lotsofpulp]

This is funny. You are giving the business free labor, yet you feel you owe the business.