Going to the supermarket for the first time for ages.

[Shiningbright9729]

Hi all, not really an aibu but posting here for traffic. I generally dislike shopping in store so much so I have got my shopping delivered every week for the last few years. I have major social anxiety and supermarkets are awful for me.

Anyway.. slots are now hard to come by and I’m not vulnerable so I’m going to have to visit the supermarket.

I’ve avoided it so far as I had 2 slots booked before lock down (I book the same slot every week generally and already had 2 booked). Oh was buying goods from the small store near his work but it was expensive. Also been using the village shop delivery service which is getting expensive so need to brave the supermarket.

What do I expect? I know it differs per shop and area. What’s the queueing like? How do you sanitise the trolley handle? How is it social distancing? Am I expected to wear gloves? I don’t have any and not to wear them as I haven’t been out apart from walks and village shop in 4 weeks.

Also DS has symptoms just over two weeks ago. He’s fine now. Only a very mild case of it was covid. I actually had a cough the week before and wonder if I had it too. We are now on day 15 since DS’s symptoms and no one else had symptoms (apart from me week before) Am I safe to go today or wait it out?

I've been to our local Aldi, Lidl and Co op, so smaller store and they have been fine. Aldi has 2m markers outside and had a member of staff guiding people, it is one out- one in, so you go get your trolley (they had spray and blue tissue and hand sanitiser )then go to the back of the queue. Inside it's much quieter than normal so relatively easy to stay apart from other shoppers. Lidl and Co op near me aren't as busy so no queues outside, still have 2m markers inside. All 3 have plastic partition screens around during the till staff now. I've seen people with gloves and masks on but it's more common not to. Pay contact less if you can, I wipe down the trolly and sanitise my hands on leaving and wash them properly when I get home.
You may find it less stressful than normal, my friend with social anxiety prefers it.

I was really stressed the first time I went last week, but it was fine. It was a large Sainsburys. The queue outside went down quickly, I did self scan using an app on my phone, so didn't even have to interact with anyone on the checkout.

I still found other people a little stressful - not keeping their distance.

I have found getting stuck behind people having a bloody good browse really tiresome - when all I wanted is to go to a shelf, grab something and move on, but you just have to take deep breaths...

I was waiting behind one man for ages. I waited at a distance. Then some joker came steaming round the corner, passed me by less than a metre and then went and reached across the man doing his 10 minute browse of the bacon section and come back to reach across me for something on my side of the aisle.

That was about the most stressful bit! I was surprised it was so calm and quiet.

Near me (in the SW) Tesco seem to all have a one way system, it takes at least 3/4 hour to get round no matter how few things you need and of course you are stuck behind all the ditherers. Apparently you can ask an assistant at the end to get something you have forgotten. Lidl and smaller Sainsbury both have a 30 person limit - 1 out 1 in at the door - but they let you go where you want. They have tape on the floor 2m apart so you can easily keep your distance.

Yes the browsing is infuriating. Just make a list and get in and out so the next person can get in.

I have been once a week for a few weeks. it is getting easier. Last week my sons (adult who do their own shopping and cooking) and I both went after 8pm - Waitrose and Tesco and it was too busy. This week we went (Waitrose me and Sainsbury's them) eariler - me at 10am and them around 3pm and it was much much better, fewer people, fewer people rushing in at the last minute, everyone less tired, sun shine out.

I have worn gloves for shopping since February by the way. I do self scan in Waitrose at the till with gloves on and use my card whereas until March I always used cash.

You don't have to wear gloves. OurWaitrose provides them as it does those large plastic face visors for staff who want them. There were 6 people in front of me yesterday in the queue all very far apart and hardly anyone in the shop. I got every item I wanted except one.

There was an older lady who is often in there who has some mental condition who was a bit difficult at the till but the worker helped her but had to ask her about 8 times to stand back. I didn't feel unsafe.

It’s been great so far because standing out in the sunshine in the queue isn’t bad at all. But if the weather gets wet and windy things won’t be so good.

It'll be fine, try not to worry. Take some wipes or something if you're worried.

You get to do this excellent comic trolley dance with people now as you try and manoeuver around each other at the ends of the isles. And you stress about taking too long browsing because you're stopping some ultra paranoid person getting anywhere near the other herbs and spices.

I also use the app on my phone so although this may take a little more time initially no need to use the checkout.

If you do this then remember to clean your phone afterwards. Don’t use antibacterial wipes or hand sanitisers as this can damage the screen coatings - a little soap and a damp (not dripping) kitchen towels.

DH went to our local which is a huge Sainsbury. The que was very long. I would advise taking a book or something because DH had to wait nearly an hour to get inside and kept messaging me with how bored he was. Once inside he said it wasn't that bad. He said the shelves were pretty well stocked. He brought home toilet roll, pasta and paracetemol which we didn't think they would have.

Check the website for any special hours before you go. Our Tesco has 9am-10am for either NHS workers or elderly/vulnerable for 6 days per week so you may not be allowed in those times.

Take your own bags.
Follow directions/one way arrows
Have a list set out the way the supermarket is set out as you won't be allowed to 'double back' if you forget something.
Don't pick up everything, stare at it, put it back, pick up another one and then go back to the first one. Be quick.
Wash your hands when you get home.
Be nice to the supermarket staff. They are sick of dawdlers, fanny-abouters, shouty people, those who come in and announce their latest 'conspiracy theory about viruses' in loud voices all round the shop and rude people.

Have a list, group things together on it eg all the dairy products in one section, all the fruit and veg in another. Try not to dither - fast in, fast out.

You can use your trolley as a shield so if you're standing next to the shelves have it your far side, so that people can't get too close.

And every supermarket I've been in has insisted that you queue for the checkouts back in the aisles, rather than in front of the checkouts, which can be a bit stressful but again, use your trolley as a shield.

Late afternoon is the quietest time but there may be some shortages.

Good luck, the first time is the worst but once you've done it, you'll be fine.

It can a bit “Supermarket Sweep” in that because the aisles go one way now you end up just grabbing stuff if you can’t see what you want.....there are always gaps but these can be anything.

Best supermarkets have one queue at the end with someone telling you to join a queue when it’s time to pay. Otherwise you just have to join a queue for the check out but they are often halfway down the aisle because of distancing. I seem to pick the wrong one.

Yes the browsing is infuriating. Just make a list and get in and out so the next person can get in.

It’s tricky shopping for other people though. I don’t buy biscuits so it took me ages to find something they might like and where they said “a chicken“, I had to decide between thighs, a pricey cook in the bag or whole chicken legs. Obviously unsure what they wanted to do with it.

When I shop for other people I make them be as specific as possible and I write their list so I can read it, I warn them I will do my best.
The thing about browsing is you are in the supermarket stood still with people around you and exposing yourself to germs, best to keep moving.

I couldn’t figure out if i could overtake

I was following a very slow lady round the store and about half way round she stopped to look at birthday cards!

Luckily the supermarket did an announcement and I discovered i could over take

When she stopped at the cards i was like ‘fuuuuuuuckk’ it took her ages to pick a toothpaste!!

There have been quite a few asda slots available if you have one local to you- I saw some today for next week

Bread choosing seems to be difficult for some people. It’s bread! Just pick one!

make a list by section: fresh, dry, cleaning, frozen etc.

wear gloves to act as a reminder not to touch your face. If you have wipes, wipe the trolley handle.

unless it is actually pissing with rain, put everything straight in the trolley, leave the store and then do the bagging by your car. This lets someone else in more quickly and reduces your time in the shop.

do not chat beyond hello and thank you. And make a point of 'thank you' to the staff. If you see someone you know, just say hello and walk on. be aware of others to keep your distance.

take disposable items away with you and bin at home.

The 'one-way' system in the big Tesco near me has been abandoned! There are still arrows on the floor but people just walk wherever they want. I overheard one of the workers telling a customer querying this that no one was listening so they're not enforcing it

the packed trolley brigade
You mean the parent shopping for food for 2 adults and 3 dc for a week. Yes the trolley does up pretty full 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP your be able to see people queuing outside, just join the end of that and the staff will direct you inside when it’s your turn. The queues vary in time but yesterday it took me 45 minutes to queue, get my stuff & checkout. Social distancing in the queue was very good.

The Tesco here has a cleaning station they wipe your trolley handles at that point.

You don’t have to wear gloves.

Take your own bags and pay by card if you can.

Only pick up something if your going to bu it. No picking up/touching and putting back!

The stock levels in stores round here are pretty good again. Only thing I could get this week was flour, not a bag anywhere in store.

The cashier will have plastic screens in front of them & you may find only every other checkout is open to allow social distancing.

Sorry if it's been asked, but haven't been in a supermarket for 6 weeks. Just been using what's in the freezer and the local co-op. I understand the one way system, but are you allowed to overtake? :) I need to go but the list is mainly things I can't get locally so don't need something from every aisle.

I have a packed trolley as I am buying for three households. I start off trying to keep the 3 lots of shopping separate but as I get to the end of the shop I am just bunging it in the trolley and sort it out once I get to the car, so I don’t spend too much time in the shop

talk of one way systems is not universal, it probably happens in superstores but not in my medium sized Aldi. I did note that the couple of shops I saw (obviously not walking round town) had a door sign showing maximum occupancy.

I also chuck everything in the car and sort it out when I get home, but both my 'customers' are in walking distance.

I usually go to Aldi as that is my closest. Queued 30 minutes one time, 12 the next. They have got rid of baskets and the guy on the door is sanitising trolleys and passing them to you when it’s your turn to go in. I have found it well stocked apart from meat and frozen veg. Done know about pasta and flour as we buy in bulk and got an order in January. Staff have been great.