Will you change what companies you support based on how they are currently reacting?

[Hugt]

I was wondering if how companies have reacted will encourage you to use or not use their services in the future.

Have you seen anything that would make you deliberately chose to support a business in the future?

Locally a cafe has reacted in a way i didnt expect and i now wonder if i will support them in the future? The same with some highly thought of zoos that have been stayed open and shot down anyone that questioned them.

The cafe me has posted varying rants about how annoyed they are that the vulnerable don't self isolate so they could carry on as normal, started selling home made sanitizer thats coronavirus proof but has no alcohol in it, and has set up picnic tables and is actively encouraged people to use picnic benches outside the cafe rather than taking away (including a self isolating table!)

Absolutely I will change which companies I use. I have seen some companies and businesses act completely irresponsibly and remain open with crowds of people milling about when really, they are non essential businesses. I get that there are the financial implications on a businesses closing it's door (I'm also not looking to get into a debate about that side of things). However lives come first.

Quite a few businesses have lost my custom and I'm not the only one with that sentiment.

What have Waterstones done?

I;m sorry, confused here.
why are measuring tapes good for the NHS, what have I missed?
Thank you
(genuine question?)

Nandos we're giving 50% discount to nhs staff and are paying their staff 2 weeks full pay for now 🤷‍♀️ they're emptying their fridges of all the perishable foods to their staff and family/friends and giving away free cooked chicken to hospitals and nhs practises but can't announce it to the public because they don't want to encourage crowds. I love this company

Oh yes Nando’s did well too. We don’t use them much because we make a mean chargrilled chicken ourselves, but from now on I’ll take my daughters there from time to time, I think - we live 5 min away from a restaurant.

There’s a number of smaller businesses in my area behaving thoughtfully and responsibly and really showing themselves to be community-minded rather than cashing in. So I’m going to be supporting them far more when this is over, rather than the more convenient choices.

I absolutely will, all of Arcadia are now out for me as are Debenhams, House of Fraser, Zara, Waterstones, Virgin and many others.

You're unlikely to need to boycott House of Fraser and Debenhams. I can't see either surviving.

@Stuffofawesome why Wilko?

I was initially impressed with dominos offering free pizza to NHS nurses - until I found out it was London nurses only. NHS still get discount though which is good.

Impressed with McDonald’s /ikea/brewdog/the supermarkets generally.

I don’t usually use Britannia hotels or Wetherspoons anyway and I’ve avoided Arcadia since the pensions debacle. Phillip Green is an absolute arsehole and I’d never line his pockets.

I am however disappointed to add Waterstones to our list. I did go to their cafe and shop regularly. Well now I am I going to my local cafes instead. In fact I’ve bought vouchers for one of them for when they re-open.

Our local community took a while to lock down but it’s a street if mostly independents so it’s a direct hit, like our business. I had to let our one and only employee go (a new hire) but have given him a bumper pay packet to tide him over. We can’t survive if we’re not open but giving a decent pay packet feels like the only right and just thing to do.

Oh, yes. Most definitely.

Will also be changing some of my relationships, especially with a person I know whose main focus has been on how terrible it is that tenants can't be evicted if the crisis leaves them unable to pay rent, and with people I know who are supportive of their opinion. They all call for people to make sacrifices and pull together... as long as their own income streams aren't affected. I

Always been a fan of TK maxx. Contempt for Richard Branson.

Disgusted with Richard Branson, I've never liked him.

I shop at Home Bargains, my nephew works for them I knew they were good to work for.
Also a frequent visitor to McDonald's.

Absolutely

My usual vets that I used for as long as I can remember refused to see a poorly rabbit, I'm in the vulnerable group, if I get it this virus I'm sure to die but no symptoms, however the vets refused to see my bunny as "they had to keep themselves safe from me"

I managed to go to a different vets, my bunny has pneumonia, he's being treated and fingers crossed he pulls through, my new vets couldn't understand why they refused to see me and if they hadn't seen him my bunny would have died a slow and painful death. I'll never go to my old vets again.

@Iwantacookie virgin media is a separate company and is treating its staff excellently (so far).

Milk and More have been great - I have been getting milk and cream from them for a few years, but have just added bread twice a week. I actually prefer the bread to the one I normally get, so will definitely continue with them once this is over.

The local Farm Shops have been great too but I've always used them.

I will avoid the main supermarket mass-produced stuff I think.

TGI Friday's are paying all staff their usual weekly full pay until the end of May then revising it afterwards, and they don't use zero hour contracts.

I went into my local butchers to get meat for someone who is self isolating. They wouldn’t serve me because I’m female. It took me a while to realise what the problem was until a couple of guys walked past me up to the counter and were served immediately.
Obviously I’d done the ‘hello’ and polite wave a couple of times. I caught their eye and they frowned at me. One said something to another (in their language) and he said in English “I don’t care”.
I eventually walked out.

@caz114 to measure ulnar length on ventilated patients to calculate the best ventilation dose (based on ideal weight which is calculated from height). Having disposable tape measures reduces the risk of cross infection. Normally they use one per department and clean them but that isn’t suitable in the current climate.

I won't go to port lympne or howletts animal parks again, they're still open but closing certain attractions but it's encouraging people to go and be confined into smaller spaces!

@namechangettc

Thank you for your reply. I had no idea.
Learnt something new today.

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
Friend worked there until a couple of days ago, everybody with less than two years' service was sacked with a week's notice and they have hundreds of shops.

What have M&S and Waitrose said? I don't think I've heard this one about women?

pets at home. Getting nothing from me ever again.

Waterstones insisting shop staff are in and not allowing them to wear masks or gloves.

I don’t use M&S anyway due to their contempt for women.

MN feminist topic is the best place to research that one - not related to Coronavirus.