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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:
underneaththeash · 22/12/2022 00:04

I tried to go to Sainsburys this evening (only needed a tin of coconut milk) and it was rammed (very few turkey’s left either - I took a short cut down the meat aisle)

Salome61 · 22/12/2022 00:07

Now I'm on my own and I'm not 'doing' Christmas this year, I thought I'd do a Tesco delivery. Driver was early and in a huge hurry so I was hurling everything everywhere to empty the baskets quickly, and just threw the bananas on top of the electric stove.

When he'd gone I could hear a funny crackling noise - I'd knocked the cooker ring switch and my bananas were burning, all black! Learnt a lesson, I switch off at the wall now unless I'm using it.

TheFormidableMrsC · 22/12/2022 00:20

No. M&S was heaving today as was Asda and Aldi and I went at around 5 thinking it was teatime and people would be busy elsewhere. Got everything I needed except custard weirdly. I can get that in my local shop. Lots of people buying Christmas food.

TheFormidableMrsC · 22/12/2022 00:25

Should have added that I am in North Herts. Also not well off, single parent/carer. I did have a full trolley because I had a school voucher and it also included my usual weekly shop. We had some extras this time for Xmas. I feel very fortunate.

pinneddownbytabbies · 22/12/2022 00:28

I reckon that since this year Christmas Day is on a Sunday, maybe a lot of people finish work on Friday 23rd and are planning on hitting the shops on Christmas Eve because they have the whole day to do it? That's what I have to do this year.

Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 22/12/2022 00:33

Might be quiet because Christmas is at the weekend, and most people are still at work this week? Plus shopping mid week is crap for dates on food, most fresh stuff I picked up the date expired 23rd/24th.

I went to the supermarket after work around 6.45pm (Wednesday) and the car park was busy and the store was busier than normal, but will have to go again later in the week for fresh stuff as I want it last

TheFormidableMrsC · 22/12/2022 00:39

Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 22/12/2022 00:33

Might be quiet because Christmas is at the weekend, and most people are still at work this week? Plus shopping mid week is crap for dates on food, most fresh stuff I picked up the date expired 23rd/24th.

I went to the supermarket after work around 6.45pm (Wednesday) and the car park was busy and the store was busier than normal, but will have to go again later in the week for fresh stuff as I want it last

Yes I agree with this. I had to be really careful with food dates today. I wanted a small beef joint for Xmas day as my kids are not turkey fans and they were short dated even in Asda. Had to dig at the back, same with things like coleslaw. Bought as much frozen as I could fit to avoid waste.

AlwaysLatte · 22/12/2022 00:45

Waitrose was pretty quiet yesterday afternoon. I'm going to Aldi first thing for the vegetables so hopefully it won't be busy then. Last minute presents in John Lewis on Sunday too and again it wasn't madly busy. A bit worrying really.

Mumof3girlsandaboy · 22/12/2022 00:48

MayThe4th · 21/12/2022 21:43

God no. If anything they’ve been busier. I was in M&S the other day and a woman helping me commented when I said how busy it was, “I thought we were in a cost of living crisis, but people seem to not be given the amount of money they’re spending.

I think M&S seems to be busy I went to one last week in city centre in the morning and it was busy. Yesterday after my night shift and decided to go early again to buy my vegetable in different area and it was absolutely busy and was only 9am.

EmmiJay · 22/12/2022 00:53

We went to the Angel Islington branch of Waitrose expecting to be all elbows and frowns but it was quiet! THEN we went next door to M&S and it was heaving with people. Got all the bits we needed though, both shops fully stocked.

LipsSoScarlet · 22/12/2022 00:55

Seems like M&S is busy all over the country. It’s one of the only places I never get my food so I’m fine with it staying busy Grin

fairtrauchled · 22/12/2022 15:16

The car park of my local Asda was gridlocked earlier in. Some people were waiting over an hour to get out.

ProfYaffle · 22/12/2022 15:18

I went to Tesco mid afternoon yesterday thinking it would be quiet at that time but no - the whole town was gridlocked.

CeriB82 · 22/12/2022 15:27

i went to Aldi and M&S this morning, 9-10am. Aldi was no busier than an average Saturday morning. Marks was busy but i only bought £30 worth and only what was on my list.

PeekAtYou · 22/12/2022 15:29

I was in Tesco yesterday evening and found the same. With Christmas on a weekend I wonder if people have stopped working /continue working until a different day compared to usual ?

Original poster
Stopclutchingpearls · 22/12/2022 17:20

Very strange how in some places it’s busy in others it’s quieter I wonder if there are similarities with the areas?

OP posts:
TheYummyPatler · 22/12/2022 17:23

Asda was unusually busy this morning, and the toy aisles looked like they’d been ransacked. Long queues even for the trolley self service tills.

It’s only the 22nd and Christmas Day is a Sunday this year. Loads of people will still be at work and planning on a Saturday nightmare shop (that’s my guess).

Roselilly36 · 22/12/2022 17:26

We did ours this morning, dreaded it, but it was much better than I expected tbh. The lady on the till said, people are spending a lot this year.

popandchoc · 22/12/2022 17:28

Went to tesco for a couple of bits today and carpark was manic. Very busy inside, people queuing up the aisles.

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2022 17:28

No really busy here

OffToThatPlace · 24/12/2022 11:38

Just driven through my local town. Heavy traffic.

Waitrose, Iceland, Argos & B&M car parks all full.

Looks like a lot of last minute shoppers are out in force.

Even the neighbourhood Tesco Express is packed full.

NellieJean · 24/12/2022 11:41

Booths this morning was fairly quiet. Picking up order couldn’t have been easier. Lovely staff member had it in our trolley in about five minutes.
shelves all full and a great atmosphere.
They make Waitrose look like a discount warehouse.

Beanbagtrap · 24/12/2022 11:55

Been to Asda and it was deserted and nothing on the shelves. It was like a Brexit wasteland.

Starlightstarbright1 · 24/12/2022 11:56

I went Wednesday night at 9pm so relatively quiet, yesterday morning i drove past queuing to get on the car park.

Frazzled2207 · 24/12/2022 11:56

I’m also in the nw and yesterday it wasn’t too bad (yet the roads were chaos so clearly everyone out and about) but randomly on Monday it was complete madness which caught me by surprise

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