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?

Does your supermarket have the self scanning method? Forgetting real name for it, Waitrose/Sainsburys have the guns you hold and zap it all yourself then go to the special till, self service again. Much better if you have anxiety and you won’t have to talk to anyone. Also means you can pack it as you go and minimise what and who touches your food.

Have hand sanitizer with you for before, during and after. I’ve been making sure my hair is tightly up so that I don’t end up touching my face unnecessarily. I don’t have any disposable gloves so like I say, hand sanitizer before going in, some point(s) during and as soon as you have finished.

I’ve found most people are following rules. My local supermarkets all have blocked areas taped on the floor. So ideally one in each. Most people are very aware in my experience. Till queues are also very obviously positioned.

You don’t need to talk to anyone or rush. You’re already in the building so rushing won’t help you. Take your time, steadily up the aisles making sure you’ve picked up what you need meaning you won’t have to go back. You won’t need to talk to anyone. If anything, mine seemed so quiet because there wasn’t the usual groups having a chat every few meters. Everyone is very focused.

You’ll be fine OP, be calm and it will be ok

Here Waitrose, Tesco and Asda have Self Scan. A bit further afield I know of a Sainsbury’s that has it.

I went to Morrison’s at 6.00pm could get almost everything I wanted (no flour or icing sugar though) and it was quiet with just 3 people in front of me waiting it go in. There was plenty of signage up explaining how to queue when you want to pay and there weren’t any direction for how to get round the store - you just walk around as usual.

Some people wear masks and gloves but it isn’t a necessity. They make you queue outside 2m apart so there isn’t too many people in the store at one time. You also have to stand apart in the queue and the staff are behind sneeze guards. Contactless payments are recommended for obvious reasons.

That’s about it really.

In the last fortnight I have made 3 brief shopping trips, one to Morrissons, one to Waitrose and one to Tesco. I was able to walk straight in at all 3, very few people about. I went at 5.30pm on my way home from work, as very few people going to work now I presume this is why it was so quiet.

It all depends on the shop!! Ives stopped going to Sainsbury's as it was chaos. Our local M&S is better. They have stuff to sanitise the baskets and trolleys with. Agree there's a lot of faffers. Make a list.

I went to the supermarket this week and after a short queue we were admitted but directed to the back of the store to start as the front was more busy.

It’s surprisingly hard to shop backwards! A well planned list is your friend.

hope

Friend of mine left sainsburys last week in tears

She’ll never go back