M&S today

[GinisLife]

I went to M&S to spend a Xmas gift card. I was looking at the perfumes and an assistant came up to me to say if I needed to smell any of them she could get them for me but they'd taken them off display because of the current health "crisis". Since when did a spray of perfume have any sort of connection to bloody corona virus ?? The world had gone mad

I think it's in line with Govt guidance. Don't share stuff, don't touch the same stuff.

If you press the perfume/ hold the bottle that an infected person has just touched then you are at risk of catching the same. The same way most colds and flu are transmitted. I definitely wouldn't be swatching lipstick, eyeshadow etc at the minute and thinking about it, it's pretty grim anyway I guess

YABU. Coronavirus spreads by touch.

Since when did a spray of perfume have any sort of connection to bloody corona virus

Terrifying

I don't get it? Why just perfume?

Surely by that line of thought there would be nothing on the shelves?

Well, let’s be thankful that M&S are looking after you then @GinisLife as you’re sounding a little ignorant of the facts and guidelines.

I would think it’s specifically a nose related issue, with perfume. Nasty stuff jumping around people’s orifices?

Ahh of course. I hadn't thought about noses.

I wonder if air fresheners are also off the shelves and body sprays/deodorants?

I suppose sniffing the lid or spraying part of the bottle by lots of different people is a risk🤷🏻‍♀️ so what about all the lipstick samples etc in Superdrug/boots?

@WorraLiberty because things like perfumes have display models to encourage anyone interested to handle the same containers.

Typically, people don’t all handle the same box of cereal, just the one they are going to purchase.
Yes, they may check dates on some products Or look for sizes of an item but this is fewer hands on a product than encouraging “everyone touch the same”

It’s not perfect. Perfect would be “touch nothing!”
Until then, discouraging people from repeatedly touching the same exact item is a good step.

It won’t be long until self serve tills are either closed (the screens are filthy) or the poor person who runs around like a blue arsed fly dealing with all the problems has to start regularly cleaning screens as well.

Supermarket trolley handles have always been utterly disgusting and a great place to contract illnesses too... my local shops are offering a cleaning “station” for trolleys (spray and blue roll) as you go in at the moment.

I have just tried a perfume in m&s about an hour ago. So it mustn't be a blanket ban.

Oh well. You need to boycott this store. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I mean, god forbid anyone tries to implement some ill advised health issues without running it through mumsnet first. 😝😩☹️

Hope you washed your hands afterwards.

I noticed this yesterday in marks. But the baskets, trolleys, touch screens and everything else can be touched. I don’t see the logic. Perfumes look nice though. I’ll have a smell at some point I hope.

@WorraLiberty I agree - best remove all door handles and coat hangers eh!

@SpaceDinosaur you pick up garments by the hanger and put it back - it's the same thing? or put your hand on the escalator handrail

Had they closed the changing rooms as well, OP?

I would imagine it's all testers for makeup, skin care & perfumes. You can easily see how these could be a route to disease transmission. sensible precaution.

Do they do this every time there's a nasty outbreak of flu? Or when norovirus is doing the rounds? Both of those things can kill too...

Do they do this every time there's a nasty outbreak of flu? Or when norovirus is doing the rounds? Both of those things can kill too...

They can, but they're a shite side less likely to.

It’s no loss, really
Marks perfume isn’t its strong suit!
Fab selection of external beauty brands though

Much more grim to think of people rummaging in chiller cabinets in supermarkets. They should have sanitiser dispensers at the door.
Baskets are gross, anyway - visibly filthy at my local Tesco and I've complained before now but they couldn't care less.

I felt uncomfortable in Tesco yesterday seeing the checkout person handling all my shopping with bare hands, and thinking of all the grubby cash she's probably also handled.

I think they should wear disposable gloves - in fresh food shops you are not allowed to handle cash and food at the same time.

@VenusTiger you pick up garments by the hanger and put it back - it's the same thing? or put your hand on the escalator handrail

Escalator handrails, yes. Euw. Worse than trolley handles.
Thinking about clothes. Everyone who wants a certain item of clothing won’t touch the same item. x% will enjoy one size, x% another... there’s fewer hands per garment if you see what I mean? Whereas 100% of people interested in a product with a tester are directed to handle the tester.

I’m not saying the advice is in any way perfect. It’s not. I am saying that it’s relatively easy to identify things that more people handle and endeavour to minimise your contact with those items/places.

Some people are pretty clueless with make up samples.

I remember, admittedly quite some time ago, seeing someone in a shop, think it was Boots, trying out the lipstick by putting it on her lips.

Perhaps M&S are trying to guard against that sort of stupid behaviour.