Shops are open - anyone else not bothered?

[Wildswimming3]

I think im over shopping. The thought of queues and lots of people is very unappealing.

I wasn’t being entirely serious

But with the crap weather and other entertainment options still limited at the moment, I imagine Westfield is like Alton Towers on a summer bank holiday right now.

@dontgobaconmyheart

Read properly. I said mostly, not all. I am as entitled to comment as you or anyone.

I couldn't care less. I only go into a shop if it's absolutely 100% necessary now

@Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel

The people queuing up pathetically are mostly people that are on long term benefits. Their circumstances don't change. I'm wfh so won't be shopping.

never claimed benefits in my life, but I’ll probably go today as I am working in the office. I shall ponder how pathetic I am😆😉lol

I'm going for coffee later, I need a treat

No I'm not but then I wasn't much of a shopper anyway. I've always bought most things online.

No I'm not interested in shopping now. My husband is test driving a car at this very moment, so that's one thing that he is pleased about.

@Wildswimming3

Not bothered

Glad I can get a haircut but that's about it. Hated shopping most of the time anyway. However I'm looking for to restaurants and cafes being properly open I miss having food with friends

Not bothered the slightest. With fitting rooms closed (assuming it's still the case) I really don't see much point.

Popped to the supermarket before logging on (WFH) and it was so quiet.

I guess everyone in my neck of the woods decided to hit Primark / IKEA.

Whilst it will be nice to be able to go into shops in person the next time I need something, I am in no hurry to shop.

Am going to book a table somewhere for my Birthday (Mid June, before 21st!) as things are getting pretty booked up.

Also want to book a few places to eat for our stacation at the end of May!

Well shopping has now become more hassle than it's worth tbh.

The only things i really need to buy in store is clothes for the kids and you cant try them on its realky frustrating . What's the point of being open when.you cant Try stuff on or get fitted properly. So I either pay bus fares or petrol twice ( first time to buy and 2nd to return) or when I go further afield to increase choice,.only buy stuff from shops I have locally so I can return free of charge in store. Or I.pay delivery I.mean.whats the point.

I've booked shoe fit appointments but that's it. I need show fits I need bra fits I need clothing . Ajd yet somehow being open is making no difference.

Really feel for the staff who can't deliver the services they know their customers need. Must feel crap.

It is a sign of us getting our freedom back. So no, whilst I will not be rushing to non-essential shops today bloody glad to see them back open.

No I won't be going out shopping. I haven't been in a single shop for a leisurely browse since masks became mandatory, I've only done the food shop. I can't be bothered to wait ages to walk inside then feel like I need to rush because there's people outside waiting to come in. I can't stand masks for long because I have rosacea and they wreak havoc with my skin. People keeps saying it's a bit of normality but it's not normal to wait outside shops and to wear masks.

Also annoys me that I can wander round a shop with loads of other people but I can't have a coffee in my mums house even if we'd both had negative covid tests twice a week.

I've been in my local High Street this morning. It wasn't any busier than the last time I went, a couple of weeks ago.

What is good, is to see all those businesses able to open up again, all those people back in work. Also good to be able to get a selection of cards which I ran out of ages ago!

Sadly, though, it has highlighted just how many shops have gone out of business

I'm bothered but will give it a week or two to let the crowds thin out. I have never been a keen shopper but after a year Im quite excited about it.

Sadly, though, it has highlighted just how many shops have gone out of business

I think also we ought to be nore worried for the safety of the staff. Many will have had to put measures in place and yet offered nothing extra in the way of security or defence against customers who kick off.

Its all very well saying " well covid" but it's the shop staff and many especially on weekends and holidays will be very young and inexperienced and having to deal with all sorts.

The queues imo make no difference as less people inside queuing. I went to primark today as desperate for some maternity stuff and the queue looked huge but took 5/10 minutes to get in and it was lovely inside.

I went to an outlet village this morning and we were there by 845 (shops opened at 9) it's huge but we were all round and done by 11. At 9 it was quiet but by 11 getting to weekend levels - so much quieter than expected. I hate shopping but this was good.

I went into town this morning.

Library was as before with the ludicrous one way system which makes it really hard to browse. They also still have loads of staff standing in the entrance making it very Covid-y. One telling me to hand sanitise, another telling me to log in using the app, another there with a clipboard in case I don't have the app, another telling me to follow the one way system.

Also went to TK Maxx for some homeware. Busy but nice overall and got what I wanted. Queues weren't horrendous

It was nice to see lots of people getting out.

I've not bothered yet , I am going to let it the novelty die down a bit as I don't like queues.

I've just got back from the shops.

Pleasing improvements - no more one way systems in places like waterstones, could try on a the sunglasses in tkmaxx without having to put them in a quarantine afterwards. No queues in my cathedral city. Went in all the shops we wanted and not a single queue including primark.

It was joyful and other than masks felt totally normal.

And no social distancing to speak of.

Not bothered here, though I do need new bras so will have to brave M&S soon but definitely not for a week or two

Just back from a morning of non-essential shopping with my children and we loved it. Tried on shoes so actually got the right size for my son with no faffing about with returns. Felt and compared fabrics on shirts so actually got the one I wanted, son got to look at stuff for his pencil case and choose his favourites. Had coffee and cake outside in the sunshine. All hail the return of normality!

I went for my usual fruit and veg/ couple of household items from places that had been open all the time.
Didn't venture as far as Primark so no idea how busy it was.
Town was a bit more busier than usual but didn't appear to be heaving, not in the area I was anyway.