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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:
wehaveafloater · 09/04/2020 15:37

Oh I wish I had an M&S near me!

burntpinky · 09/04/2020 15:44

We’ve found M&S quieter than WR. And I’m very much of the view that if you’re doing a shop once a week it’s essential, whether you put fried pasta, veg, milk and veg in your trolley or that plus burgers, pizzas, treats. Plus we have to have something nice during lockdown - their toffee meringues and churros are fab

Goldwispa · 09/04/2020 15:46

Balmytissues, that made me smile

Davespecifico · 09/04/2020 15:53

Has anyone been to the M and S at The Trafford Centre recently? If so, is it quiet, clean etc.?

Balmytissues · 09/04/2020 15:54

Just watched that idiotic police officer and he did say that 'we are not putting up road blocks, we are not checking peoples' shopping baskets to check that they are essential items', but if people don't obey the law, we will start doing it.' Not an exact quote, but more or less what he said. Should be fired the twit.
Apologies OP, if that's why you started the thread then you'd be forgiven for wondering whether we should all be only buying soup, gruel and bread! I didn't know why you had posted, as it seemed such an extraordinary question to ask - one might say - this was no ordinary question - this was an M&S question.
But fucking hell - who put that gobshite in charge?

BabyMoonPie · 09/04/2020 15:54

@OccasionalNachos - do it. M and S food is delicious and I wish I had one close enough to do a weekly shop there (visiting the Simply Food store near work is on my list of things to do when this is over)

@FlibbertyGiblets - ha ha - that really made me laugh - thank you

Balmytissues · 09/04/2020 15:56

And to echo a previous poster, this police officer has enraged me too! Who tf does he think he is? God?

Cissyandflora · 09/04/2020 16:03

I went to m and s a few days ago. I loaded up what I could carry home. No car. It was quiet. I got treats for the children. I’ll be going again when we run out of food. I decided to do that and leave the children home alone and leave my usual Ocado spot for someone unable to walk to shops. Not sure why you’re asking the question. Marks and Spencer is a normal food shop to me. I go several times a week in normal times.

FlockofGulls · 09/04/2020 16:05

Why are you asking? If you're without symptoms, and from a household without symptoms, then yes, you can go to shop for food.

The sooner this arsehole incompetent farce that passes for a government can roll out community testing, the better.

MigginsMs · 09/04/2020 16:05

I’m missing M and S and am tempted to go now. It’s not my nearest shop but I don’t think there’s any rule that you have to go to your nearest one is there. Obviously driving 20 miles might be not non essential travel but not just travelling a few miles.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 09/04/2020 16:13

I've been buying most of our food at a local organic shop (10 min walk) as it's quieter than the supermarket that I'd need to drive to. We're paying a bit more, but it's quieter and everyone's observing social distancing in there. If DH and I walk up, we can each carry two-three bags home.

Do what works best.

Shoppingwithmother · 09/04/2020 16:18

YABU - M&S Hot Cross Buns give me heartburn and a bad stomach. It’s really weird- all other hot cross buns are fine. My Dad is affected by them in the exact same way.

Other than that, no, YADNBU!

Runkle · 09/04/2020 16:39

I only usually pop there for nice bits but ilve been for a proper shop during the lockdown and it's been well organised, well stocked and quiet so I'll probably go again.

peaceanddove · 09/04/2020 18:15

I am absolutely driving a further 5 miles to do a grocery shop in an M&S Food rather than brave the war zone that is the much nearer huge Asda. This situation is already shit enough without me having to endure a shit shopping experience too.

pigsDOfly · 09/04/2020 18:19

I really don't get the whole M&S thing, I've never seen anything superior about their vegetables or fish. I never buy ready made stuff so can judge that, maybe that's what everyone likes about them.

And as for the whole Waitrose snobbery, that I really don't understand. It's one of the few places I've bought milk and found it was already going off.

I walked out of Waitrose without buying anything a number when I've gone in there because they happened to be the nearest shop. Once I'd gone in to pick up something pretty basic like potatoes and they were so rotten that I couldn't actually find any that I would give house room to.

Same as my local Waitrose. The fruit and vegetables are a disgrace; everything looks as if it really should have been thrown in the bin weeks ago.

wowfudge · 09/04/2020 18:26

Not the Waitrose near us. I'm in the queue to get in.

QueenofallIsee · 09/04/2020 18:27

I did a shop today in M&S Simply Food. I often get our shopping from there and I needed basics (bread, milk, fruit etc) I also purchased a baking Camembert, mini Magnums and a pink chocolate Easter flamingo. No guilt here 🤷‍♀️

bridgetreilly · 09/04/2020 18:29

Essential shopping has been determined by which businesses are still allowed to trade. You're allowed to go to any shop that is open and buy anything they have on sale. You are, of course, supposed to go as infrequently as possible.

mogloveseggs · 09/04/2020 18:32

M and s food is the closest supermarket to my work so I've been getting stuff from there as has dm.
Small queues and enforced social distancing mean it's just a tiny bit less stressful for us (IMO)

Shouldbedoing · 09/04/2020 19:02

I think the police do already have the powers to peer inside your shopping bag. If you've skipped off to the shops for sweets, crisps and booze because you were craving them, they will give you a lecture and tell you to observe social distancing and only make essential shopping trips. I'm sure I read of a young woman being fined because she was repeatedly out and about one day last week.

georgialondon · 09/04/2020 19:05

It's just a supermarket like the others!

TheWordmeister · 09/04/2020 19:06

Don't really get this thread. They sell food, just like the other supermarkets.

We do pretty much all of our shopping at M&S. Our local one is an oasis of calm at the moment.

mumof2exhausted · 09/04/2020 19:07

We are doing all our shops at M&S - costing a bloody fortune but it’s so lovely and quiet.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 09/04/2020 19:09

First week of lockdown I did a full shop at M&S both “essential” food like fresh veg, milk, chopped tomatoes and much “non essential” wine, sweets etc. It was the only shop well stocked here, due to the panic buyers.

I popped in this week on my shop trip too, got the majority of my stuff in sainsburys but done an M&S run for meat and sweets.

M&S food is a food shop, why wouldn’t you use it?

Seetheprettysnowdrops · 09/04/2020 19:13

Stupid thread.

I get my shopping there every week. I buy what I want.

We're not on gruel and water rations