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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:
RedRedScab · 09/04/2020 13:51

I don't understand why you're asking. You can buy whatever's in the shop, surely?

Common sense seems to be in short supply these days...

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 09/04/2020 13:54

Why do people think you can only buy ‘essentials’ where food is concerned? Is it me that’s misunderstood?
If I want to buy biscuits, crisps and chocolates surely I can do? If I want to buy M&S over Asda smart price, surely that’s ok?
No one has said we have to exist on gruel & water during lockdown have they?

It's (imo intentional) "misunderstanding" by posters on previous threads because there were threads discussing going to buy JUST a chocolate or JUST a bottle of wine, not as a part of a normal shop. With people being asked to do minimum of trips, this was deemed (rightfully) wrong and also absolutely ridiculous towards shop assistants who then have fuller shops hence bigger risk. Then some smartarse came into that thread and started doing the big shoulders and "I can buy whatever the fuck I want" and then it snowballed because few people took the original op as moaning about people buying "non essential stuff" with their normal big shop. And since then half an MN claims that people don't want other people to buy "non essential" stuff even when doing their weekly shop.

In reality, the only thing people moaned about was that people keep "popping into the shop" for just for 1 thing like a bar of chocolate, 1 pack of sweet or 1 scratchcard. No one with an IQ above room temperature actually moans about people buying these things as part of a bigger shop.

PickAChew · 09/04/2020 13:55

I’d also guess it’s likely to be quieter than a normal supermarket because the food’s more expensive. you'd think so but I queued for an hour, today. Normally 10-15 mins, max.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 09/04/2020 13:57

I’m also going to M&S - per others, it’s closest, and I agree about reductions because the shop is so quiet. I go with a list, shop, get out, but yes, I have been buying “non essentials” like flowers,chocolate, and wine along with the rest.

You can still get clothes in the shop here they have just blocked off the upper floor which is home stuff, cafe, and underwear. I think they might have brought night clothes/lounge wear down, which would be a canny move!

JassyRadlett · 09/04/2020 13:58

Despite the view of some people (including on MN), collective misery has not been proven to be effective against COVID-19.

RedRedScab · 09/04/2020 13:59

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!

This made me snort with derision. Are you serious??

Lalapurple · 09/04/2020 14:05

We have been shopping in m&s and Aldi mostly. My DH been going there with the car. It's not the closest (although it's only 2 or 3 miles away) but it's good to have some nice food and driving means he can carry more and it's not very busy. There's no rule about where to shop and you can buy treats alongside groceries.

theschoolonthehill · 09/04/2020 14:06

I think anyone saying ‘why wouldn’t you?’ hasn’t seen a lot of the Coronavirus threads where the very idea of buying a food shop that includes treats and nice snacks rather than bread, milk and spinach is veeeeery frowned upon!

You are totally aware that non essential shopping means doing a large grocery shop infrequently and not running our for milk in the morning, a chocolate bar at lunch and crisps for the evening. It has nothing to do with what you buy in the supermarket.

If you are reading stupid comments about non essential food in hour trolley, you need to use the ‘hide thread’ function (which I am using a lot these days).

perniciousdot · 09/04/2020 14:15

Ithink anyone saying ‘why wouldn’t you?’ hasn’t seen a lot of the Coronavirus threads where the very idea of buying a food shop that includes treats and nice snacks rather than bread, milk and spinach is veeeeery frowned upon!

In the real world people are shopping rather normally now. Nobody actually gives a fuck where you shop or what you buy.

Mumsnet is sending normally sane people into some crazy place over shopping Confused

OlaEliza · 09/04/2020 14:15

I wish I could go to m&s. I'm in Spain and m&s food isn't. 😔

It was my favourite shop before we left the UK. There was one near my gym and I used to swim after work then go in m&s just at the right time for the yellow stickers 😁 They always had salads and sushi reduced, plus the prawn and dip pots 😋

LilacTree1 · 09/04/2020 14:15

Watch from 3 mins to avoid waffle

He clearly says he will ask police to check the contents of baskets.

There’s a serious problem going on now and it isn’t covid 19.

frenchfancy81 · 09/04/2020 14:17

Why are you wondering if this is ok??

Thefaceofboe · 09/04/2020 14:21

But you can buy nice stuff in Asda and Morrison’s too? I do my usual food shop and add shit loads of Jaffa cakes and other non essential treats. I’m there anyway so why not

EL8888 · 09/04/2020 14:25

Go for it. I know it’s not the cheapest by far but it’s good quality Plus their hygiene is the most rigours l think with limited patients, spaced out fills, cleaning of tills etc

Alsohuman · 09/04/2020 14:25

He clearly says he will ask police to check the contents of baskets

He says exactly the opposite.

EL8888 · 09/04/2020 14:25

Patients = customers

brightyellowcardigan · 09/04/2020 14:36

I do my weekly shop at m&s except once a month when I go to Tesco to get the bits they don't do. They still sell bread, milk and other 'essentials'. It's a supermarket. You're allowed to go there otherwise it would be closed like the no -essential shops.

swishthecat · 09/04/2020 14:38

He clearly says he will ask police to check the contents of baskets

No he doesn't, he implies that they might start doing this if people don't behave. It's a scare tactic. There is nothing in law that would enable them to do this, unless the government comes up with a list of "essentials" and passes legislation to mean that is all we are allowed to buy. Which will never happen.

pigsDOfly · 09/04/2020 14:39

Checking what's in people's shopping baskets. Bloody hell.

I've been shopping twice since the lockdown, apart from a 1 hour 45 minute outing when I went to pick up medicine from Boots, and yes, I bought some things that would not come under absolute essentials. So does that mean that some police officer is going to be sticking his/hands into my shopping basket and removing things that they decide I don't need?

I sincerely bloody hope not. Think there might be riots if police take this on themselves.

Off licences are open surely, unless you're an alcoholic, wine and beer are not essentials but I assume you're allowed to go to an off licence and buy them.

Are there going to be an over zealous policeman outside every off licence making the decision as to whether you need that bottle wine in your shopping bag? Madness.

LookTheOtherWayPlease · 09/04/2020 14:39

It's sad that you feel you have to ask for opinions? It's a shop. It's open. It wants to sell its produce. As for police officers stating they are going to start inspecting shopping baskets to see if their purchases are legitimate I can save him some time - if the shops sells it, and the customer paid for it, it's legitimate.

If others want to feel virtuous living on soaked lentils and tap water, let them enjoy it. Buy whatever you want to buy. Don't participate in the misery Olympics unless (ironically) it brings you joy.

MummaGiles · 09/04/2020 14:46

I queued for at least 30 mins to get in to our local M&S this morning, but have previously been in with no queue at all. I think the shops are particularly busy with the bank holiday weekend starting tomorrow, although given everyone should be at home already anyway and no one should be having guests I’m not really sure what is causing the uptick in people’s food requirements (Easter eggs and perhaps a special Easter Sunday meal aside)

burnoutbabe · 09/04/2020 14:47

we go as its right next to a massive sainsburies which has long queues, and M&S doesn't have that.

its also a lot more expensive, but we are having nice stuff.

pigsDOfly · 09/04/2020 14:47

No he doesn't say he will be asking the police officers to check in people's shopping baskets, but he has no right to make the threat that this might happen if people don't do as they are told.

I'm about as law abiding as it's possible to be and, like thousands of others, I have done exactly as the government have asked. However, I take great exception to being told by some bloody police officer that if I don't toe the line then they're going to start telling me what I may and may not buy at a shop that is clearly open for business and selling the things I'm purchasing.

No one should be going out on a regular basis to buy bits and pieces but we're not children who need to be threatened with something that in all probability won't be carried out.

For some reason this has really annoyed me.

pilotsprincess · 09/04/2020 14:51

What on earth are you on about 🤷🏻‍♀️

Madcats · 09/04/2020 14:53

My local city centre M&S had a huge glut of hot cross buns this morning. At least 1/2 dozen flavours, all going for £1 a packet. They were piles of them on the deli-counter and anywhere they could find a spare shelf. Loads of Easter eggs too.

No bread rolls, though.