Supermarkets and Covid-19

[Strat-tastic]

Social distancing is not normal. Never has been; never will be.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Social distancing is not normal. Never has been; never will be.

I think the term "new normal" (which I don't really like, either) more means "low-level measures we may need for a considerable period of time but are low enough level that the economy and peoples' personal lives can operate adequately". A bit like wartime measures; WW1 was 4 years long and WW2 6 years.

 

[Strat-tastic]

I think the term "new normal" (which I don't really like, either) more means "low-level measures we may need for a considerable period of time but are low enough level that the economy and peoples' personal lives can operate adequately". A bit like wartime measures; WW1 was 4 years long and WW2 6 years.

See? That trips off the tongue much more easily

 

[nlogax]

Supermarkets were always a hotbed of frustration for those with spatial awareness battling those without. I don't think Covid shopping has made that any easier.

 

[Bikeman78]

I hope you are right and 'social distancing' goes down the pan soon, but I can't see the government dropping it any time soon - after all it's not just the UK doing 'social distancing', and if the government were to drop it completely while other countries continue the backlash would be massive. While compliance may decrease among individuals and perhaps even small businesses, I doubt that larger organisations are going to stop enforcing it any time soon. That's not to say that they won't reduce the 2m rule for example, but I think a significant chunk of 'social distancing' will be part of the so-called 'new normal'. We've already seen that the government has the power to remove a huge amount of our freedom overnight, granted some of it is returning, so I think it's not unreasonable to think that they will withold much of our freedom for a long time yet.

I think Christmas will be the turning point, if it hasn't gone already. Are people really going to queue patiently outside if it's wet and windy and the temperature is barely above freezing? If enough people say enough is enough then what can the government do?

 

[nedchester]

I think Christmas will be the turning point, if it hasn't gone already. Are people really going to queue patiently outside if it's wet and windy and the temperature is barely above freezing? If enough people say enough is enough then what can the government do?

I think well before Christmas, I'm think July/August. The Government cannot dictate against the human will to socialise and move freely. Telling people they can't have friends round, can't go to the pub/restaurant, can't shop and travel how they like. It won't wash.

Doesn't matter what the law says, the people will decide. Think about a more peaceful version of the statue being brought down in Bristol. Whatever your views on the toppling, there was too many people for the police or authorities to do anything about it.

Basically, the public have done their bit since March. The Government should have put measures in place by now (Track & Trace and Shielding).

 

[al78]

I think Christmas will be the turning point, if it hasn't gone already. Are people really going to queue patiently outside if it's wet and windy and the temperature is barely above freezing? If enough people say enough is enough then what can the government do?

Yes, we are in one way fortunate that this pandemic didn't start four months earlier, otherwise we would have been reqularly queuing to get into supermarkets in the pouring rain (February 2020 was the wettest on record, and how would the flood victims have coped?), and we wouldn't have been allowed to visit our distant loved ones over Christmas.

 

[ChrisC]

I’ve just got back from what has now become my regular weekly shop. Never busy on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon and I have very rarely had to queue throughout this lockdown. I’ve only occasionally had to wait just for a few minutes outside small shops that only allow one person in at a time. However, everyone in the area, often mainly elderly, have been very friendly and I’ve enjoyed some lovely chats. I’ve not been inside a large supermarket since the beginning of March when the shelves were empty.

Instead of driving 5 miles to large a Sainsbury’s to do most of my shopping, I now just drive 2 miles in the other direction to a neighbouring village where there is a small Co op and a selection of independent shops including bakers, butcher, deli, greengrocer and recently even a fish stall direct from Grimsby on a Thursday afternoon. I wasn't out of the house for much more than 45 minutes and as usual I have returned with some fantastic locally produced food. No queues, no one way systems, friendly helpful staff and far better quality food than I ever got from the large supermarkets. Above all an enjoyable experience and no stress even during this lockdown period.

I don’t think that I will be going back to the large supermarkets. I may just use them for an occasional online delivery for heavy and bulky items but not for any fresh food items. I know that I am paying higher prices but for the quality and service it’s not as expensive as I had originally expected.

 

[Jamiescott1]

I refuse to queue to go shopping.
My usual supermarket sainsburys always has a large queue so have been going to lidl or tesco which has no queues.

 

[sheff1]

I refuse to queue to go shopping.
My usual supermarket sainsburys always has a large queue so have been going to lidl or tesco which has no queues.

There is always a queue, usually a long one, outside Sainsbury's here when I go past. Rarely a queue outside Morrisons or Tesco and I have never found a queue outside M&S. Although Sainsbury's was a regular shop pre-Covid, once Covid arrived they made it clear they no longer wanted our custom - even if they had not done so, we certainly wouldn't have been queuing when we could walk straight into the other places.

Happy to queue outside the butchers & bakers if necessary - the only difference is that pre-Covid the queues were inside.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

That's not what I'm complaining about. I won't break the rules, I've got a scarf I'll use if I have to. It's the "yaaaay, isn't all of this fun???" propaganda I have a problem with.

I have/had a problem with the Tesco Wave - a mexican wave from the door of the supermarket to the end of the 45 minute queue. I simply ignored it. Move on.

 

[yorksrob]

I have/had a problem with the Tesco Wave - a mexican wave from the door of the supermarket to the end of the 45 minute queue. I simply ignored it. Move on.

Oh dear, that's not a thing is it

 

[Journeyman]

I have/had a problem with the Tesco Wave - a mexican wave from the door of the supermarket to the end of the 45 minute queue. I simply ignored it. Move on.

*barfs*

I'd have left and gone somewhere else.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have/had a problem with the Tesco Wave - a mexican wave from the door of the supermarket to the end of the 45 minute queue. I simply ignored it. Move on.

Wow, that's cringeworthy as sin. Enough to make me get out of the queue and go to Sainsbury's instead

Or maybe Booths/Waitrose depending on where in the country I was...I can't imagine them doing something so...tabloid.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

*barfs*

I'd have left and gone somewhere else.

Oh dear, that's not a thing is it

We're off topic! However, I simply changed my shopping time. Not just the Tesco Wave but the queueing for 45 minutes to do simple grocery shopping. No queues at 1900 but lawless chaos regarding one-way markings.

 

[yorksrob]

We're off topic! However, I simply changed my shopping time. Not just the Tesco Wave but the queueing for 45 minutes to do simple grocery shopping. No queues at 1900 but lawless chaos regarding one-way markings.

That's true. A 45 minute queue would be the bigger drawback !

 

[Journeyman]

We're off topic! However, I simply changed my shopping time. Not just the Tesco Wave but the queueing for 45 minutes to do simple grocery shopping. No queues at 1900 but lawless chaos regarding one-way markings.

Of course, if you walk the wrong way down an aisle in a supermarket, hundreds of people will die.

However, I was in Tesco in a neighbouring town yesterday, and was surprised to see the toilets were open. First time I've used a public toilet in over three months.

 

[route101]

Of course, if you walk the wrong way down an aisle in a supermarket, hundreds of people will die.

However, I was in Tesco in a neighbouring town yesterday, and was surprised to see the toilets were open. First time I've used a public toilet in over three months.

Supermarket toilets have been open throughout , where i have been. Station toilets such as Glasgow Central too.

 

[Journeyman]

Supermarket toilets have been open throughout , where i have been. Station toilets such as Glasgow Central too.

I've generally only been using small local shops during lockdown, which don't have any, and my local mall has closed all its toilets. I also haven't used public transport since mid-March.

 

[MikeWM]

However, I was in Tesco in a neighbouring town yesterday, and was surprised to see the toilets were open. First time I've used a public toilet in over three months.

Morrisons in Cromer had open toilets last weekend.

I'm not sure about Tesco Ely, even though I've been shopping there a few times a week throughout. Need to up my observational skills!

 

[yorksrob]

Had to go at Lunchtime rather than morning today due to the rain.

Far too many people and they'd ran out of chillies !

 

[Bletchleyite]

Toilets at motorway service stations are open, with every other urinal taped off (which is surely the rule anyway ). At small garages they are open with nothing different from usual, and definitely no enhanced cleaning regime, they are as filthy as ever.

This leads me to suspect that local authorities were not opening them (a) to save costs, and (b) to curry favour with the local voters by using it as a means to keep tourists away. Unfortunately for them, the tourists came anyway, and instead defecated and urinated wherever they saw fit.

The policy was a clear failure (not to mention discriminating against those with medical issues causing urgency, which probably meant that some people were unable to supermarket-shop as the queue plus time to shop would be too much for them to wait), just get them open in all settings and provide sanitiser outside so you can sanitise after touching anything others have touched.

 

[Bikeman78]

Of course, if you walk the wrong way down an aisle in a supermarket, hundreds of people will die.

Happily my supermarket of choice has never had a one way system. Occasionally three people converge on a crossroads at the same time. They manage to deal with it like adults.

The M&S food hall has a one way system but it is widely ignored. I normally only want one or two items so I take the shortest route from the entrance to those items.

 

[talldave]

One way systems are pointless. You still pass people as you shop at different speeds. In fact, you pass faster when you're going in different directions, thus opposite direction passing is safer.

 

[HSTEd]

I think well before Christmas, I'm think July/August. The Government cannot dictate against the human will to socialise and move freely. Telling people they can't have friends round, can't go to the pub/restaurant, can't shop and travel how they like. It won't wash.

Doesn't matter what the law says, the people will decide. Think about a more peaceful version of the statue being brought down in Bristol. Whatever your views on the toppling, there was too many people for the police or authorities to do anything about it.

Basically, the public have done their bit since March. The Government should have put measures in place by now (Track & Trace and Shielding).

Well it can dictate this.
Just the measures necessary to enforce it's will will become more and more harsh and unpleasant.
And it depends how long the system can stomach implementing them.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The end is nigh!

My local Tesco is changing its opening hours from next Monday. 0700 to 2300 instead of the current 0800 to 2200. It's a move in the right direction at least. In the 'old normal' it was open 24 hours except Sundays.

Will 1 pint bottles of milk ever return?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Will 1 pint bottles of milk ever return?

Your local milkman hasn't stopped doing them - reusable glass too!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Your local milkman hasn't stopped doing them - reusable glass too!

I terminated my doorstep milkman some time ago. A service I believe in as it benefits the elderly / housebound etc. However, he seemed more keen on chasing burglars etc round the estate than getting the milk on my doorstep before I left for work. However, I have started buying from a local independent store as they still stock 1 pints. I hate the idea that Tesco are trying to manipulate me, all these weeks after panic-buying subsided, into their preferred way of selling things.

 

[Cowley]

I terminated my doorstep milkman some time ago. A service I believe in as it benefits the elderly / housebound etc. However, he seemed more keen on chasing burglars etc round the estate than getting the milk on my doorstep before I left for work. However, I have started buying from a local independent store as they still stock 1 pints. I hate the idea that Tesco are trying to manipulate me, all these weeks after panic-buying subsided, into their preferred way of selling things.

Note to self. Never mess with @Baxenden Bank...

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Note to self. Never mess with @Baxenden Bank...

Indeed. I used the phrase knowingly in reference to the film 'Apocalpyse Now' - terminate Colonel Kurts command - with extreme prejudice. To be honest he was a decent chap with his heart in the right place supporting the community etc. But I like my milk fresh.