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Original poster

Non essential - Wales - ashamed apologise in advance

96 replies

justasking111 · 26/10/2020 14:08

This list is so shaming, the world is laughing at us. Aussies put us on their news channels, never mind Europe.

Non essential - Wales - ashamed apologise in advance
OP posts:
Spam88 · 26/10/2020 15:04

It's doing my head in people commenting on this list without actually reading the bloody thing.

It 100% is not issued by the government. It refers to specialbuys, so is clearly an Aldi list. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Welsh Government have a designated Aldi adviser who would have produced this bespoke guidance for them, so I think it's reasonable to assume it's come from Aldi.

The right hand column says exceptions, that means they CAN be bought.

The flowers and plants thing is complete bullshit obviously, but I assume it's just because otherwise they'd all have to go in the bin.

FWIW, I don't agree with the restriction, I think it's completely ludicrous. But Jesus Christ, it's no wonder people fall for all the right wing bullshit in the press if this is the level of critical analysis going on.

devildeepbluesea · 26/10/2020 15:06

@justasking111 😔 it's the epitome of champagne socialism

Original poster
justasking111 · 26/10/2020 15:06

@LookItsMeAgain

We have the same discussion happening this time in Ireland for our 6 week lockdown (or "Living with Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions"). We were able to buy these things when we went into lockdown in March of this year but this time around, the small and medium businesses objected to the supermarkets being able to continue to sell them when the small/medium shops are closed and are unable to sell them so the Government said "Right, you must remove access to these items on your shelves" (or words to that effect) to the supermarkets. I would think that printer paper and ink cartridges are essential, ESPECIALLY if you're working from home. These would be covered by the employer if the person was permitted to work from the office but. I think it is shocking how we are not allowed to buy these things. It is driving people to shop on line and not to the smaller/medium enterprises and shops as they are less likely to have an online presence but to the huge sites like Book Depository or Amazon, taking money out of the economy.

This is not about stopping to browse and wander around. We can't buy books in supermarkets at the moment. We can't buy frying pans either. If the handle broke off your frying pan you can't go to your supermarket to buy one. It's illogical to me anyway.

As an irish woman living in Wales Kilkenny heritage I hold my hand out to you, it is much worse for you so I should not complain. But when it comes down to thinking you are worse off than me, but africa is worse off than you so you should be grateful for small mercies, something, somewhere is very wrong.
OP posts:
Timekeepspassing · 26/10/2020 15:07

I think the problem with the exceptions list is that it is rather small and missing quite a few things I bought in an emergency after my son was born. Vests (he was early and didn’t fit the ones we already had), breast pump and nipple shields, baby socks (he didn’t keep scratch mits on but these worked). Of course any list that is produced is not going to be exhaustive but realistically most people buy baby things in supermarkets because it is an emergency, it is at a price they can afford or it is convenient and done part of a grocery shop. Seems ridiculous that I can go in to just buy some chocolate but I can’t buy my son some vests.

justasking111 · 26/10/2020 15:08

This reply has been deleted

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 26/10/2020 15:09

How is not being able to by what they "deem" as "non essential" going to stop the spread of the virus. I'm far from thick but I don't understand how we've gone from a Pandemic to a power tripping dictatorship, because That's what it is!!!

Original poster
justasking111 · 26/10/2020 15:09

[quote devildeepbluesea]@justasking111 😔 it's the epitome of champagne socialism[/quote]
With Mark Drakeford on 144k per annum plus pension, I think you are right.

OP posts:
Original poster
justasking111 · 26/10/2020 15:12

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

How is not being able to by what they "deem" as "non essential" going to stop the spread of the virus. I'm far from thick but I don't understand how we've gone from a Pandemic to a power tripping dictatorship, because That's what it is!!!
They are following the NZ system, those poor buggers could not even order online, the couriers were banned from delivering non essential items.

"New Zealanders will only be able to purchase essential goods online during the lockdown period, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has announced.

Food, beverages, health and sanitary products and toiletries are what constitutes essential goods that can be purchased online.

Couriers will not be able to deliver anything other than these essential items."

www.nzherald.co.nz/business/covid-19-coronavirus-online-shopping-only-allowed-for-essentials-during-lockdown/GWZBTYJI3PXNMRBGIHT7GPZYXY/

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 26/10/2020 15:15

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

How is not being able to by what they "deem" as "non essential" going to stop the spread of the virus. I'm far from thick but I don't understand how we've gone from a Pandemic to a power tripping dictatorship, because That's what it is!!!
It’s to stop ‘unnecessary’ trips to shops/supermarkets. You should only go to these places for essential items, not for a jolly little shopping spree. Quite obvious really.
Mrsjayy · 26/10/2020 15:16

I think you're so angry that you are going to say whatever your country is "closed " for 2 weeks and its inconvenient but you have put up a post that is untrue if a supermarket has taped off baby bottles that's on them because they misinterpreted the "rules"

BullshitVivienne · 26/10/2020 15:17

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54685886

Reportedly the sanitary products aisle was closed for other reasons.

Marmite27 · 26/10/2020 15:19

@Timekeepspassing

I think the problem with the exceptions list is that it is rather small and missing quite a few things I bought in an emergency after my son was born. Vests (he was early and didn’t fit the ones we already had), breast pump and nipple shields, baby socks (he didn’t keep scratch mits on but these worked). Of course any list that is produced is not going to be exhaustive but realistically most people buy baby things in supermarkets because it is an emergency, it is at a price they can afford or it is convenient and done part of a grocery shop. Seems ridiculous that I can go in to just buy some chocolate but I can’t buy my son some vests.
This just relates to items that are due on special offers though, not the entire range in the shop.

There’s some suggestion it’s special buys for Aldi - so they don’t stock these items 100% of the time. I imagine they’re trying to stay in the rules the government have imposed and are working out what they are allowed to sell from what stock they have due to be delivered over the ‘firebreak’ period.

I 100% planned to breast feed, but it didn’t happen. Being able to nip to mothercare for a breast pump resolved that. I feel so frustrated on behalf of new mums in Wales.

Maireas · 26/10/2020 15:20

I'm sure other countries have their own Covid (and other) issues to deal with to bother much about Wales.

Original poster
justasking111 · 26/10/2020 15:25

@Maireas

I'm sure other countries have their own Covid (and other) issues to deal with to bother much about Wales.
Be glad you do not live in Wales or Ireland, in Wales we opened later than england, closed with county lockdown weeks ago now have 17 days three weekends not 14 days with covid, Ireland has six weeks, Scotland until the end of time it seems. @Maireas unless you live in one of these three countries I suggest you do not understand how bloody awful it is.
OP posts:
Spam88 · 26/10/2020 15:30

But OP, have you seen the infection rates in England..? I'm definitely pleased to be in Wales.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 26/10/2020 15:31

I've got to say, of all my Welsh contacts, and there are a lot, not one of them is that worked up about it. I've seen one post reminding people to turn to small business not Amazon, and that's it.

Maireas · 26/10/2020 15:32

@justasking111, you misunderstood my point. You seem upset. I'm sure it's awful. That Welsh minister sounds like he's trying to be Oliver Cromwell. My point was you thinking Wales was the laughing stock of the world. It probably isn't. There's a lot going on.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 26/10/2020 15:35

Yes but if you're in the shop anyway shopping for essentials then what's the harm in putting a non essential item in your basket. We're not all going to drop down dead because Tom from Swansea buys a book are we.

housemdwaswrong · 26/10/2020 15:36

No. Nl the gov did not reverse the sanitary products thing. The store had been broken in to, and that part was affected thus roped off. One of the staff wrongly thought it was roped off because it was non essential, and told the woman. Nothing to do with the govt.

ChaChaCha2012 · 26/10/2020 15:44

What's shameful here is that people can't read a simple table. The noted items are exceptions, they are items that are available. Also, it's not a government issued list, it was issued by Aldi.

Have you completely lost the plot @justasking111?

Quarterback11 · 26/10/2020 15:52

Not laughing at you, OP, as clothes are non-essential in Ireland, for the next 6 weeks. Only it's a bit chilly for going without. Hmm

(This coalition is going from bad to worse)

TibetanTerrier · 26/10/2020 15:54

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

How is not being able to by what they "deem" as "non essential" going to stop the spread of the virus. I'm far from thick but I don't understand how we've gone from a Pandemic to a power tripping dictatorship, because That's what it is!!!
They're trying to keep the time people spend in the shop to a minimum by limiting what they can buy. They don't want people ambling around for ages potentially spreading the virus.
MJMG2015 · 26/10/2020 16:01

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

Yes but if you're in the shop anyway shopping for essentials then what's the harm in putting a non essential item in your basket. We're not all going to drop down dead because Tom from Swansea buys a book are we.
It was the smaller retailers that had to close kicking off about the supermarkets still be able to sell the items that caused this. I sort of understand their point, but at the same time I expect the people buying the items from Tesco, would normally buy them from Tesco not the little boutique shop.

I guess the government can't win on this.

& that's without mistakes being made by shop staff (and that's all it was!)

MJMG2015 · 26/10/2020 16:04

@TibetanTerrier. I think there's probably an element of that too, but I think the 'other retailers' was a bigger driving factor.

Whatever it is. Sanitary products was a mistake by an employee that's been blown out of all perspective!

Friendsoftheearth · 26/10/2020 16:08

OMG - wales has become a global laughing stock.
It would be quite funny if it were not so seriously messed up.