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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

CJsGoldfish · 28/03/2020 03:17

Weren't you part of the problem OP?
Or did you turn around and go straight home when you saw the crowd?

AnyOldSpartabix · 28/03/2020 03:27

Maybe the posh don’t get I’ll

Shall I tell Prince Charles, or will you?

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

I’m not in the UK, so social distancing not being quite as heavily pushed as in the UK, but at work there are signs and rules everywhere and all the schools etc have been shut for two weeks.

Went into a shop yesterday to do a large shop for people self-isolating. The shop was quiet when I arrived and I made a good start. Then it began to get busier. Couldn’t go down one aisle for three men, standing chatting. Then some children came in and were running about.

I speeded up as much as possible. Then I heard coughing. A youngish couple had come in and I saw it was the man. He coughed several times as they walked round. I headed for the till, but there were a couple of people in front of me. I couldn’t easily walk out as I had a full trolley.

Then coughing man and his partner came and stood behind me and now she started coughing.

I lost the plot and shouted at them. Really yelled. I’m ashamed, not proud, but I have to work and shop and I’ve been taking so many precautions, and there they were standing too close behind me in a fullish shop both coughing. I was shaken up by my own actions, but I hope they were too. I was right, but I didn’t go about it the right way.

Complain to the shop, OP. People still aren’t getting it and one way or another, it would be better if this was properly enforced.

Geepipe · 28/03/2020 03:34

Lidl here hasnt got any limits in place but tesco have a corden out the door and its so many in so many out and a 2 meter apart queue outside.

Inkpaperstars · 28/03/2020 03:54

It is now part of govt guidelines, which they have said they will enforce, that supermarkets and other shops still open must ensure the stores do not become crowded and must carry out queue control outside. So I guess yes, it is against the law. Any instances of failing to do this should be reported, but not sure who to?

Chottie · 28/03/2020 03:58

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

Where are you? Our local Waitrose (SE) has a 2m apart queuing system around the car park and then a 'one in, one out' system inside the supermarket. It works well.

Sparklingbrook · 28/03/2020 04:56

Local Waitrose, (Midlands) only so many let in at a time and social distancing measures at the tills, all very calm. Including the queue waiting outside for the next trolley to become available.

I would have definitely asked a member of staff what was going on.

CheshireDing · 28/03/2020 05:11

I think I would have complained to the manager too then left, but whilst complaining loudly would have gestures towards all the selfish idiots in the queue.

I and the children haven’t been in a supermarket in over a week and since earlier this week I have stopped taking them for an early morning walk - people who were never normally out suddenly walking and not crossing the road or keeping distance at 7am ffs. Too stressful

I took them for a little drive round our village on Thursday to show them everything is shut etc and there was a man selling fish out of a van with lots of pensioner customers queuing up, made me so furious ! They were all in pairs as well so obviously both needed to get the fish and hand over cash for it too.

My anger level will be through the roof when this has finished.

ZebrasAreHorsesInPyjamas · 28/03/2020 05:14

@frostedviolets
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.

I assume it was possible for you to maintain distance as you obviously didn't enter the store when you saw how busy it was, did you?

mathanxiety · 28/03/2020 05:33

@AnyOldSpartabix - you did the right thing and you did it the right way. You don't have to be polite with dangerous idiots.

earsup · 28/03/2020 05:36

My Waitrose is south Woodford. Posh suburbs near me.i am in Leyton stone.

Barbies97 · 28/03/2020 05:39

South London Morrison's and DH went Thursday, one in and one out and protective screens in front of cashier.

How can Morrison's not have countrywide rules?

Nquartz · 28/03/2020 05:43

I've seen photos from a friend queuing round the car park of her Morrison's (2 metres apart) because it's limited numbers inside.

I'd call the head office to complain, it should be standard policy across all branches

AnnaMagnani · 28/03/2020 06:11

I'd complain to Head office and via twitter. Every store I went in yesterday (I know, I know, I'm a community keyworker who works 100 miles from home in the week and I need to eat) had a strict one in one out system, tape on the floor inside and out, barriers around the checkouts.

Queues moved really quickly as once you are in, nobody else is there and you are straight through at the checkout. Dead easy to social distance although sometimes did feel a bit like playing Pacman down the aisles.

Apolloanddaphne · 28/03/2020 06:22

Morrisons in east Scotland had barriers at the front and a security guard checking numbers going in. It was very quiet when I went to no issues. I would call head office and tell them about your store OP.

KatherineJaneway · 28/03/2020 06:32

Who's at fault here? It's surely an individual's own responsibility to stay safe too though.

Yes but you can be in a supermarket, practice social distancing and some idiot comes right up next to you and starts examining goods. Don't get me started on the joggers ...

FairyDogMother11 · 28/03/2020 07:11

I went to Lidl yesterday and there's signs saying they're limiting the store to 100 people at a time, they didn't seem to be counting who went in and out, but it was pretty quiet when I went in there, I assume if it were busier they would have enforced it. My DM said Aldi were limiting to 80 people at a time and DH's best friend said he went to Morrisons and they're operating a 1 in, 1 out system where you queue to get in. I would say it needs enforcing to give people the space they need to shop with enough distance, and in particular to help the poor staff. I felt very sorry for the staff in Lidl as there was a woman who clearly didn't understand the concept of staying out of people's personal space. Her need to fill her cupboards with an excessive amount of UHT semi-skimmed milk clearly trumped the poor young lad's right to not get ill I also witnessed a woman scratching her crotch in the dog food aisle - she continued to do so even having caught my eye and a man coughing all over the freezers. It was the first time I'd been out in well over a week and I'm in no hurry to do it again, that's for sure!

ItsAllTheDramaMickIJustLoveIt · 28/03/2020 07:24

The Morrison’s near me had a queue outside to get in, they were only letting a certain number in at one time so when I went it was easy to get round while maintaining social distancing and I got everything I went in for too, unlike Tesco. There was a queuing system for the tills as well- all very organised and spaced apart. The local Tesco was a bit of a free for all though.

RickOShay · 28/03/2020 07:28

@AnyOldSpartabix
I agree with math. You did the right thing, you feel bad because it’s probably out of character for you, but you definitely did the right thing.
So don’t turn it inwards.

userxx · 28/03/2020 07:34

My local Aldi was the same yesterday, far too busy.

Etinox · 28/03/2020 07:38

Sainsbury’s Local in south London. Socially Distanced queue outside we’ll stocked calm and efficient inside.

AreWeAnywhereNear · 28/03/2020 07:41

I went to our local Aldi last week about half an hour before it shut, it was practically empty. Got everything I needed however there were just two loaves of bread left so I just took one, when I really needed two.

My DH went to Morrison's yesterday afternoon and he said it was busy but they have a one way system in place, plus the 2m distancing at the tills. Which he said worked well.

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