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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Packed out supermarket

46 replies

frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 00:22

Is there anything that can be done as it’s surely against the law now?

Went shopping yesterday and it was packed, and I mean packed out.
Virtually no room to move where they had let everybody in as normal.

OP posts:
JockTamsonsBairns · 28/03/2020 00:28

Not sure what you mean about being "against the law"?

I went to Aldi's this afternoon. It was quiet, no queues, and the shelves were fairly well stocked.
I've brought this up on other threads previously, but I haven't yet had anyone prepared to engage with it.
I guess it's one of the perks of living "up North"?

Minesacider · 28/03/2020 00:30

What time did you go? Where I live they're limiting the numbers of people being allowed in at any one time, but when I've gone it's been extremely quiet.

Original poster
frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 00:34

Not sure what you mean about being "against the law

As in isn’t it law now that we have to social distance?
Be 2 metres apart from others?
I thought the police were being given powers to fine those who don’t adhere?

OP posts:
Original poster
frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 00:34

Around 10.30 morning

OP posts:
WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 28/03/2020 00:52

Every supermarket we've been to there is certainly such a thing as social distancing?
Sainsburys near us has stripes on the floor to distance and they're all wearing masks.
Aldi and Morrisons queueing and letting only a few in at a time.
All taking precautions as far as I can see

Knowhowufeel2 · 28/03/2020 00:53

Which supermarket was it?

Original poster
frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 00:56

Every supermarket we've been to there is certainly such a thing as social distancing?

Not yesterday.
I honestly cannot emphasise enough how unbelievably busy it was.
Zero social distancing whatsoever.
Literally queues snaking round half the store.
Everyone crammed in, like shopping at Christmas!

I couldn’t believe it and thought it was now law that you had to enforce 2m between people?
I was in two minds whether to report to police?

OP posts:
Original poster
frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 00:56

Morrisons

OP posts:
Monty27 · 28/03/2020 01:02

Who's at fault here? It's surely an individual's own responsibility to stay safe too though. It's not like we haven't been told enough times what to do.

Original poster
frostedviolets · 28/03/2020 01:07

Who's at fault here? It's surely an individual's own responsibility to stay safe too though. It's not like we haven't been told enough times what to do

It was physically impossible to maintain distance, to do what we have been told to do.

They had let so many people in that the store was absolutely rammed.

OP posts:
Apocalips · 28/03/2020 01:19

YANBU I would've spoken to the store manager OP. Clearly safety is not being prioritised.

beautifulteeth · 28/03/2020 01:19

I'd be absolutely phoning their head office op to complain

They're putting you at risk by allowing so many people to enter the shop

They aren't protecting their staff either

AlphaJura · 28/03/2020 01:23

I went to a large Tesco store this evening and they were very strict about numbers let in and social distancing.

Potkettlexx · 28/03/2020 01:24

Equally though, the public should take heed and walk out instead of carrying on shopping?

safariboot · 28/03/2020 01:26

When you realised the store was crowded, did you leave?

Most supermarkets, including my local Morrisons, are now limiting the number of people in store at a time. Once it's "full" they're doing one out one in with shoppers queuing outside. It sounds like the one you went to has been late setting this up.

IHaveBrilloHair · 28/03/2020 01:29

Did you join in?

UnagiSalmonSkinRoll · 28/03/2020 01:40

I went to Tesco earlier and there system was one in when one leaves. I heard the security telling a couple that it was only 1 person to a trolley so the other had to wait outside. He said they have to do this or they will get shut down. I don't know if that was true, but the system they used was better.

UnagiSalmonSkinRoll · 28/03/2020 01:41

Their*

charlestonchaplin · 28/03/2020 01:48

Jock
I guess it's one of the perks of living "up North"?

Nothing to do with living “up North”. Why would you think that? My town, ‘dan saarf’ was like a ghost town, at least in the morning when I went out.There were only a few shoppers in every store, apart from the medium-sized supermarket. That had more than a few customers but was still very quiet for the time of day. I didn’t see a single child for the two hours I was out, which included a half hour walk to town and back.

Mothership4two · 28/03/2020 01:59

I've not been near a supermarket for over a week now but apparently a smallish ASDA a few miles away was crammed with shoppers 3-4 days ago, so my neighbour just left. Since then I received a general email from ASDA about covid protection policies they were going to introduce, so I guess lots of people contacted them to complain.

CatAndHisKit · 28/03/2020 02:11

was this in a big city, OP?
def complain to thei head office / police.

eaglejulesk · 28/03/2020 02:14

The supermarkets in my town (in NZ) are limiting the numbers allowed inside. You wait in a queue until you are told you can enter. I spent half an hour outside in the line through the car park this morning, it was very social (we were all 2m apart).

AutumnalLeaves38 · 28/03/2020 02:18

Smallish 6 aisle CoOp, our only local food shop still open, so no other less crowded choice.

Pleasantly relieved to find it not overly busy.

Pretty well stocked (a few gaps and no flipping pasta still...surprise, surprise), but staff doing their best in tense times. They looked exhausted and stressed.

Minority of shoppers totally oblivious to concept of social distance. Loitering back and forth all over the aisles, taking forever to discuss brands, then suddenly imposing on (sensible) customers' space, 'and causing the rest of us to reverse like dominos every time...

Queue at till short, but one couple barged past everyone about 10 inches away from our faces, causing hurried turning away.
Didn't apologise at, or even register, the sarcastic "Charming...social distancing's actually a thing, you know" somebody loudly piped up with.

20-something loomed so close behind me that I could hear his breathing. I turned round, glared and was about to lecture him, when he clocked my expression & sheepishly sidled back about 15ft!

No temporary perspex safety screens protecting checkout staff. Isn't that supposed to be standard now? Feel sorry for them.
And a one-way aisle system in all supermarkets would help all round.

I'm usually fairly calm and tolerant, but came away with only 2 of the 5 items I needed, as just wanted to get the hell out of there before anxiety issues kicked in.

Left me questioning why I even bother to be so vigilant about social distancing the rest of the time, when it could all be for nothing if an idiot asymptomatic shopper transmits virus by selfish behaviour Sad

Apologies for negative rant. Needed it.

earsup · 28/03/2020 02:39

No control or limited customer s at my local Waitrose tonight...was as normal but quieter.! Maybe the posh don't get I'll ?? !!

croprotationinthe13thcentury · 28/03/2020 03:07

One in one out where I am up North. Guess that is not feasable london due to sheer numbers.