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Original poster

Anyone else found supermarkets quieter than expected?

98 replies

Stopclutchingpearls · 21/12/2022 21:34

I went shopping Monday morning and Lidl was busy but not overly. So I thought ok it’s a whole week to Xmas that may be why however just popped into ASDA today about half five tonight and it really wasn’t that busy no more than I normally see ok may be a few more but nothing notable.
so this is in the North of England I say Thais because I am thinking is it cost of living? Is it that this year because of a few factors like cost of living are people not as bothered to go shopping?
Or is it still quite early and Xmas eve will be busy ?
so how have you found shops near you?

OP posts:
gogohmm · 21/12/2022 22:23

Most of us are working. By Friday it will be much busier as many people in factory/industrial settings like dsd are off for Christmas shutdown or like me taking annual leave

Reggiebo · 21/12/2022 22:27

Been to Lidl to night expecting a scrum.... strangely there was me and 5 other people. Plenty of food on the shelves. It felt really weird. I'm not complaining tho...it was really easy. I'm In ne Derbyshire

terriblemustard · 21/12/2022 22:28

Yes I've just been to Morrisons tonight and it was dead! Got all my fresh stuff for Xmas even though I wasn't planning to as the dates were all long on the veg etc. Saved me a job!

Tigerstripe20 · 21/12/2022 22:31

I live in a fairly rural but wealthy area.
Went to Waitrose tonight then walked through town , it was so busy it was overwhelming, having to walk in the road as the pavements were packed at 6pm, ( late night shopping) it was madness, Waitrose was bursting at the seems.
It definitely depends on the demographics.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 21/12/2022 22:40

Costco - busy, but check out quiet
Asda - busy, but check out quiet
Sainsbury’s - looked busy, check out, sailed through.
This was yesterday and today.

swimmingincustard · 21/12/2022 22:44

I parked in tescos easily today expecting to struggle, everything in stock I wanted.

Called at the grocers too and no queues at any of the (3) tills.

We're NE fairly mixed rural area and this was our closest town.

NImumconfused · 21/12/2022 22:47

I've been in Tesco and Sainsbury's this evening in NI, both really quiet with no queues - neither of them had any chocolate oranges though!!!

treadcarefully · 21/12/2022 22:49

I went to Aldi on Monday morning around 9am and it was really busy. Went to M&S at 8am today followed by Sainsburys and it was quiet. M&S had pretty poor sell by dates on a lot of chilled stuff so maybe regular shoppers know that and are waiting....

champagneplanet · 21/12/2022 22:50

Went to Tesco approx 11am today and the queues were up the aisles, all tills open. Car park was almost full. Was horrific.

Then went to Aldi approx 2 miles away for a few extras and it was like a normal Wednesday, wish i'd have done my whole shop there!

PlusLaMeme · 21/12/2022 22:50

The Waitrose near me is rammed. And it seems to be people who don't know how to shop. I was popping in for a quick milk-eggs-bread shop and it took me ages to dodge the customers who were randomly stopping in the middle of the aisle, or turning without any warning. It was like playing human dodgem cars

PoshHorseyBird · 21/12/2022 22:52

I went to Tesco's tonight, got there at 9pm and it was so quiet! Which I thought was great! Was dreading doing the Christmas shop but it was pretty painless.

QueenofLouisiana · 21/12/2022 22:54

Everyone I know has been buying bits and pieces for weeks, spreading the cost out. Means there’s much less of a crush this week.

ouch321 · 21/12/2022 23:06

Maybe they're like me and at home with the lurgy and not gone to the supermarket as they had wanted to as their nose runs every 30 seconds like it's on a timetable.

justasking111 · 21/12/2022 23:15

ouch321 · 21/12/2022 23:06

Maybe they're like me and at home with the lurgy and not gone to the supermarket as they had wanted to as their nose runs every 30 seconds like it's on a timetable.

Home with norovirus OH having to do everything 🙈

YolayCaprese · 21/12/2022 23:22

In Bristol South, two different Sainsbury's both heaving. Monday morning is my usual time and it was insanely busy!
Also seem to have people in who don't usually shop in-store. Lots of people wearing masks which has become unusual.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr · 21/12/2022 23:23

My M&S was rammed this afternoon- can’t wait for the Christmas market tourists to feck off so I can shop in peace 🙏🏻

antelopevalley · 21/12/2022 23:25

We have noticed that too. And Ocado still had pre Xmas online delivery slots when I looked yesterday.

Ladywiddio48 · 21/12/2022 23:28

I went to M and S about 8pm,it’s open until 11pm,I was expecting it to be rammed,but no,it was quiet.I wonder if they will sell the mountain of food they have in?Could be some bargains to be had Christmas Eve .

Drove past Asda on the way back and that didn’t look to bad either.

TiredA · 21/12/2022 23:28

Waitrose was really quiet at around 7pm this evening, and there were full shelves and loads of reductions on well in date food.

Knowing this Waitrose, it's probably the quiet before the storm as it's normally rammed full during the evenings before Christmas.

Or it could be that people are cutting back and going to the cheaper supermarkets instead - although a lot of Waitrose own brand stuff is very competitively priced.

Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 21/12/2022 23:29

I've been to M&S and Aldi today. M&S food Hall was heaving at 8.30. Aldi was quieter than usual. I also think it's a demographic thing. People with a bit of money are out spending, their Christmases are much bigger than the last 2 years and there's a lot of people making up for lost time.

At the other end of the spectrum people are shopping later, spending less and having fewer treats. Aldi was well stocked with Christmas ranges. The few people I saw in there seemed to be buying basics, and essentially a slightly bigger Sunday lunch.

TiredA · 21/12/2022 23:32

TiredA · 21/12/2022 23:28

Waitrose was really quiet at around 7pm this evening, and there were full shelves and loads of reductions on well in date food.

Knowing this Waitrose, it's probably the quiet before the storm as it's normally rammed full during the evenings before Christmas.

Or it could be that people are cutting back and going to the cheaper supermarkets instead - although a lot of Waitrose own brand stuff is very competitively priced.

Forgot to say that this is in the south west.

earsup · 21/12/2022 23:36

I went to Waitrose after yoga, well off middle class area....very quiet, local asda also very quiet...in central london today and shops quiet....very few people with shopping bags...even Primark had a short queue....seen it a lot busier....odd

IntentionalError · 21/12/2022 23:45

Yes. I needed to buy flowers after work today so I went to Morrisons fully expecting a queue to get into the car park, search for a space, the store to be rammed & empty shelves, but nothing of the sort. I drove straight in & parked, chose some flowers, picked up some other stuff & paid at self-service. Quick & easy. It was busier than a normal weekday evening but not by much.

I assume Friday will be absolute carnage at every supermarket in the U.K.

Francisca459 · 21/12/2022 23:50

I'm in the NE. M&S in my city has closed down. No Waitrose here. I have bought no special food or presents, drinks or treats for Christmas at all and won't be doing due to no money and loss of business during lockdowns. I am having three people over but will be rustling something up from what I have in the house. I can't afford to buy anything. I went out for bread and shops were quiet today. Town very dead. I know a lot of people like me here in the NE. There are also a lot of very wealthy people around me completely unaffected - mainly retired.

LipsSoScarlet · 21/12/2022 23:53

I worked in a supermarket for a few years but haven’t done so for about 5 years now. Each year that passed, Christmas got quieter but sales increased due to online shopping. I would imagine the pandemic accelerated that more. That being said, my local Asda (not a wealthy area) was busier than usual today.

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