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Original poster

To be surprised ay how busy the shops are?

123 replies

incognitomum · 14/03/2020 15:28

I had to pop to pick up a package from M&S. It was busy and apparently had been non stop all day. Lots of elderly.

Nandos was packed as I passed. Everywhere looked busy. Asda and Aldi car parks packed.

I thought it would be a ghost town.

OP posts:
SuntanC · 14/03/2020 17:47

Hmmm... the shops may be slightly quieter, but I've just been to the pub and they all seem busy enough. People here not that scared, apparently!

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 14/03/2020 17:52

Popular market town here. Not one but two coach trip of older people wandering about. We also haven’t got a decent supermarket and can’t get a delivery slot, haven’t been able to go for a big shop for weeks, so did a normal Sainsbury’s shop. It was busy but not bad. The woman on the checkout said it was manic at opening time.

Beesisabuzzin · 14/03/2020 18:03

We're all thinking that this could be the last normal weekend for a long time I guess.

NONONONONNO · 14/03/2020 18:07

I think the sales assistants have working so flat out the last couple of weeks, I bet they won't get a think you for the companies they work for.
To all you sales assistant on here well done you are the 4th emergency service what would we have done without you all braving the masses...

FallonSwift · 14/03/2020 18:08

Online deliveries have rocketed. I do a shop for my parents online (different part of the UK) and the next available slot was on Friday. They can only afford to buy food week to week and have health conditions which put them in the high risk category.

loobylou10 · 14/03/2020 18:15

@heartsonacake
Not right to have a go a someone who says they are stocked up actually.
There is a difference between stockpiling and panic buying.
If that poster has been slowly adding to a
Stock over a period of months has had no impact on the shops of today.
Them buying an extra tin of beans inJanuary had no effect whatsoever of today's empty shelves.

SilverySurfer · 14/03/2020 18:20

rosinavera
@heartsonacake there's always one who has to pile on isn't there!! I'm actually starting to think it's sensible to buy extra because no-one knows when we'll be in lock-down!!

So you will join those stockpiling then? Oh the irony Hmm

torthecatlady · 14/03/2020 18:22

I can't seem to get on Ocado's website at all to check my delivery for tomorrow.

torthecatlady · 14/03/2020 18:24

I went into high street shopping today and it was pretty quiet considering it's a Saturday. But that's all non-essential shopping. I imagine the supermarkets are heaving.

rosinavera · 14/03/2020 18:36

@SilverySurfer Sorry what irony?? I think you misunderstood me! Don't you think we have to be prepared as at any time any one of us could develop symptoms and then have to self-isolate?? I'm not saying we should 'stock-pile' but I think I'm beginning to think it sensible to get some extra provisions in each time we shop.

Longdistance · 14/03/2020 18:37

My pantry is stuffed full of food, so is my freezer, but, and here’s the but, it always is, much to dhs disgust Blush
If we are going on holiday we whittle it down and use everything. So it’s our normal.
Gotta say, I love Lidl’s as they have super weekend offers, pick of the week and flavour of the week.
I’ve found people stockpiling toilet roll strange.
This week I did my normal family shop and managed to get toilet paper, we were on our last roll. A guy behind me had two lots of 9. I was going to ask him if he was expecting to have the shits.

PerfidiousAlbion · 14/03/2020 18:42

Everywhere in my town just seemed normal, apart from the fact that the loo roll isle was completely empty in Sainsburys. Same last night in Tesco - rationing loo roll and hand sanitiser.

I saw one man pushing his trolly around filled with bottles of water and his child was perched on top.

No masks, gloves or hazmat suits though.

DoubleAction · 14/03/2020 18:56

I can't understand why anyone who is able wouldn't always keep enough in to last an extra week or two. Nothing much has to go wrong before you can't get out or are short of cash or are faced with local shortages for a few days.

Fluffybutter · 14/03/2020 19:01

We went to a theme park today and while it was quieter than usual I was still surprised by how busy it was .
Then went and had a pub lunch and struggled to get a table .
No one seems bothered

Neverender · 14/03/2020 19:14

Where I went today was absolutely deserted - saw about 10 people in three shops...two-thirds of the car park was empty...

Livelovebehappy · 14/03/2020 19:16

The supermarkets up here in the North are without a doubt busier than normal, but the pictures of stores in London are absolutely crazy.

Leflic · 14/03/2020 19:17

DoubleAction maybe because people are short of cash now.

I’m nearly out of loo roll. Had the option to buy the last few packets last weekend. They were £8.50. Ok price for 16 but I hadn’t got more than £3.50 for my usual 9 rolls.
( and I had an emergency 4 pack but guess what ....it’s bring used).

Hingeandbracket · 14/03/2020 19:18

To all you sales assistant on here well done you are the 4th emergency service what would we have done without you all braving the masses...
I thought this - went into Aldi for one item (not bog roll pasta or kitchen roll) and the tills were ringing like Christmas - loads of people panic buying seemingly anny food they could get. I felt sorry for the staff.

Smithtylater · 14/03/2020 19:45

South London here and today has been an ordeal...
Went to Costco....didn't even make it into the car park turned round and went to Sainsburys...it was awful. Nothing left on shelves, even random stuff like eggs?? No tins apart from tinned beef curry? No bread? No nappies or baby stuff? Not one box of cereal...i was actually shocked. The shop looked ransacked. The lady on the till said they had loo roll out first thing and a woman took 10 packs of 16 andrex....i mean wtf! Im gonna go lidl at opening time tommorow. Fingers crossed because i desperately need nappies and loo roll.

SpokeTooSoon · 14/03/2020 20:00

I thought they were rationing loo roll, how was she able to buy 10 packs?

LittleLittleLittle · 14/03/2020 20:13

Not all shops are rationing items.

JoshArcherStoleMyTractor · 14/03/2020 20:17

Why do people need to fill their petrol tank to stay at home?????

Thymeout · 14/03/2020 20:35

I think the elderly are still out and about because anyone who was alive during WW2 and its aftermath has a more realistic version of risk-assessment.

It's certainly true when applied to child-rearing. I'm continually surprised at the hoo-ha about dcs being left sleeping in cars or primary aged kids being left alone in the house.

There were 2 cases of cvd in my borough mid-week when I went by bus to the town centre. The chances of me running into another in the bank were really remote.

Yes. It will get worse, but I don't want to give up my normal lifestyle till I really have to.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/03/2020 20:41

People are watching the news and seeing what is happening in Europe and stocking up understandably maybe some are thinking let’s make the most of it now as soon we won’t be socialising in the same way

Italy, Spain (partial) and France are now on lock downs

We shall follow soon restaurants/bars even if open will not be anywhere near as busy soon

Smithtylater · 14/03/2020 21:03

@spoketoosoon
I asked the same thing but the staff said they aren't rationing things there . It just seemed chaotic and people buying whatever they could get their hands on...