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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to do my next lot of food shopping at M&S food?

188 replies

OccasionalNachos · 09/04/2020 12:03

It’s actually my nearest food shop, in 5 mins walking distance.

I haven’t been in physical proximity to anyone except DP and DS since 11 March. None of us are ill.

I am not of the opinion that ‘essentials’ means bread, milk and veg - food is essential. I like M&S food products and can afford to keep the economy and stock turnover going a bit.

I will not be dawdling, chatting to anyone or handling any products that I don’t purchase.

I miss their hot cross buns: before social distancing and lockdown began, had been working my way through the different flavours.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Deux · 09/04/2020 12:15

Don’t worry about the nutters in the competitive quarantine, purgatory and penance threads. Most people aren’t like that. They just have a voice right now.

inwood · 09/04/2020 12:15

Why wouldn't you, I genuinely don't understand why you are querying it?

Sharkyfan · 09/04/2020 12:15

I have seen those threads actually
But m&s is a shop also selling ‘essentials’ and Tesco also sell hot cross buns. So I think you’re being unnecessarily weird about it.
(Plus also in our town m & S did have a queue outside too)

Lockheart · 09/04/2020 12:16

@OccasionalNachos no, I have seen the numerous (totally batshit) threads about what we are "allowed" to do.

I just give absolutely no weight to what strangers on the internet tell me I should or shouldn't be doing.

Listen to the government guidelines. Do not listen to posters on MN.

Original poster
OccasionalNachos · 09/04/2020 12:18

That's bollocks though and everyone, including you, knows it. Shops are stocking food with the intention of selling it; it's not for show, then to be sent to landfill when it goes out of date.

I know. I do genuinely miss shopping a few times a week & deciding on a whim to get a nice curry or strawberries or whatever. I worry about the economic problems and food waste that lockdown is causing.

OP posts:
GreenestValley · 09/04/2020 12:20

Absolutely love M&S hot cross buns, I've developed an addiction during lockdown.

I have also started shopping primarily there as it's close - feel a bit bad as it is so much more expensive, but I can't face an hour long queue to go to a shop.

AvoidingRealHumans · 09/04/2020 12:20

Can you let me know if they are still doing yumnuts, they are definitely an essential to me

dottiedodah · 09/04/2020 12:22

Well I went to SB today .Well stocked all good .Saw a lady with some Geraniums! Wasnt sure if this is OK .They are in store ,but messages about only buying essentials kept coming over Tannoy .Very confusing!

LtJudyHopps · 09/04/2020 12:22

My local M&S food shut down otherwise I’d have been there already. I love and miss their Tuscan sausage pasta ready meal 😢

ssd · 09/04/2020 12:23

Unless I missed the headline saying "government guidelines say don't go meat M&S", you are being a bit ridiculous op.

cologne4711 · 09/04/2020 12:24

I used M&S last week because there were no queues and there were fairly long queues for the other shops in town.

It's more expensive and they don't have the range of choice, but I got most things I wanted. They didn't have pasta or rice though.

SwerfandTurf · 09/04/2020 12:26

There’s an M&S Simply Food in the ground floor of my apartment building, I can go without going outside. Absolutely empty most of the time and well-stocked.

Sakura7 · 09/04/2020 12:29

Well I went to SB today .Well stocked all good .Saw a lady with some Geraniums! Wasnt sure if this is OK .They are in store ,but messages about only buying essentials kept coming over Tannoy .Very confusing!

I presume they're trying to discourage people from buying much more than they need and leaving shortages for others. If they sell geraniums, you can buy geraniums. Honestly anything a supermarket is selling is fine to buy, just don't stockpile essential items.

MamaBearLockdown · 09/04/2020 12:29

I don't get it, you are asking if you can go and buy food in your nearest supermarket? Confused

MamaBearLockdown · 09/04/2020 12:30

Honestly anything a supermarket is selling is fine to buy, just don't stockpile essential items.
absolutely, they are also trying to discourage people to BROWSE.

Spend as little time in there as you possibly can. It makes your own queuing time shorter if everybody does it...

BruceAndNosh · 09/04/2020 12:30

I'm doing my weekly food shop at M&S Foodhall. It's close, there is parking and short queues. It's also got a layout that makes it easier to keep your distance. (lots of short aisles)
I'm lucky that I can afford it and let those who need to be price conscious shop at places like Tesco etc.

It's good for everyday stuff and nice stuff but I find it not great for condiments and sauces for cooking, so I will have to brave Tesco maybe next week when I run out of stuff like that.

RuffleCrow · 09/04/2020 12:31

What a weird aibu? We all have to go to supermarkets to buy food - Lidl or Waitrose it makes no difference.

ChicChicChicChiclana · 09/04/2020 12:32

What the actual eff is this thread about???

Cremebrule · 09/04/2020 12:33

There definitely seem to be Mumsnetters inventing bizarre rules to make their lives more unpleasant. I don’t understand why people are making things harder than they need to be. Eg

  • I can’t go for a walk with my toddler because otherwise he’d need a snack and snacks are frowned upon.
  • I can’t buy toys because they are a non essential purchase
  • I can’t buy Easter eggs in my massive Sainsbury’s because they are fun.
uggmum · 09/04/2020 12:33

I have been going to M&S rather than Sainsbury's.

My local store is brilliant. They clean all the trolleys after use.

It was so quiet there yesterday and stock levels were great.

YgritteSnow · 09/04/2020 12:34

Of course you should. I did two weeks ago. Haven't been out since as fortunate enough to have been able to book Ocado deliveries. If/when I am forced to go food shopping again then M&S is where I will go.

SarahInAccounts · 09/04/2020 12:35

We have a few times to top up deliveries.

Ragwort · 09/04/2020 12:36

Of course you can go shopping to M & S, or even Fortnum and Mason if it is near you (is it still open?).
Just ignore all the sanctimonious comments about ‘essentials’ on Mumsnet. I am far more concerned about what’s happening to our future economy, we need to keep buying, I fully intend to buy myself a bunch of Easter Lilies.
Loads of food is (generously) being donated to Food Banks because it is not being purchased, sadly some of this is fresh produce which is harder to distribute.

hellswelshy · 09/04/2020 12:41

I've been really fancying going to M&S for a food shop, or even Waitrose but both are around 5 miles away Sad Is that classed as non essential travel?

Yugi · 09/04/2020 12:42

Its the journey that needs to be essential not every item in your basket. If you are going just for non-essential items then the journey was not essential. Once you have had to go out for your weekly essential shop, knock yourself out stocking up on whatever else you want. And ignore the competitive quaratiners.

Oh and don't do what I saw in the supermarket the other day. Pick up each individual piece of unwrapped fruit to inspect close to your face before putting it back and repeat Envy