What the point of shops opening when you can't "shop" - can't browse, can't try on...

[ACautionaryTale]

So you have to walk in, select what you want, Pay and leave.

You shouldn't touch anything you don't end up buying

For clothes shops especially, you can't feel the fabric to see what its like, you can't try it on in the shop.....

Given that a lot of shops have shite returns policies it would make buying anything almost impossible.


Even ones that do have returns policies have often changed them during Covid.

you might as well buy on line.

[borntohula]

Surely it's better to try on in the shop than take back to our virus riddled houses only to return afterwards?

[Ginkypig]

This where clothes manufacturers have missed a trick.

If they had uniformed sizing like the majority of consumers have wanted for ages! so we as shoppers knew that these measurements fits this size at whatever shop you went to more people wouldn't feel the need to take three different sizes in, they would be far more likely to just pick up a certain size and buy it (like lots of men do) I know that in normal circumstances that people may still want to try on for a style perspective but with that being off the table for now it would have driven sales.

I also know that for certain shoppers that don't fit into stereotypical sizes it may be harder to find clothes so it doesn't suit everyone.

[TheStuffedPenguin]

Haven't you heard about the regulations that will be in place eg any book touched by someone will have to go out the back for 24 /36 hours before being put back on the shelves. Re shoes you will have to use disposable socks and then the shoes if not bought will have to go back in stock room isolation for 24 hours.

[Unshriven]

It will work for places like Primark.

I don't shop as a leisure activity, I just need to go in and buy vest tops, t shirts and kids clothes.

No trying on or mauling required, and it won't bankrupt me.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Why can’t people just wash/sanitize their hands on entering and leaving?"

I do that, but if you were in a shop for a while it might be hard not to touch your face all that time.

[vanillandhoney]

Sanitising your hands is one thing but people will hold things up against themselves to see what they look like. They'll want to try on stuff over what they're already wearing, try on hats or shoes.

Some shops I'm a 14 others I can fit a 10. I need to try on. I'll just stick to shopping brands I know online.

[Lynda07]

You're not being unreasonable. It's easier to buy online anyway, the sellers never mind things being returned, couriers collect. I bought online before lockdown, hate going around shops.

[Needmoresleep]

Devlesko

I assume you are a standard size. When you get a bit older and your shape becomes a bit more "middle-aged" you will find that you really want to try things on before buying. Even in a favourite shop I would expect to try half a dozen items before buying. I really could not be faffed with mail order, having to be in when the delivery guy comes (OK outside lockdown) or slogging of to a local collection centre. Then slogging back to return things.

I just want to go into a shop and buy. Far more convenient.

It would be lovely to buy some new post-lockdown items, but I will wait until full try-on service is available.

[DahliaDay]

@Unshriven I don’t think primark are planning on opening!

[SomewhereEast]

To be honest I think all the distancing & touching rules will slide pretty quickly, just as they've already slid in the places which are open (at least in my experience).

[KitKat1985]

I agree OP. I had some money saved up to buy myself some new clothes after lockdown. I wanted to wait until after lockdown so I could try some stuff on and see what suited me now. But now I've realised I won't be able to try stuff on anyway I've just ordered online. At least that way I haven't got to queue for ages to get into every shop.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

I'm desperate for a couple of pairs of shoes - desperate! But it's pointless buying on line as so many shoes aren't true to size (and fit is also affected by style).

[MrsWooster]

If people would use handsan on the way into the shop, and wear a mask to keep their exhalations to themselves, it would probably be fine. But they won’t.

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

Well bully for you @Devlesko but not everyone (including my DM) is happy to shop online .

[milveycrohn]

I actually feel I have a duty to visit some shops and buy something!
In my case, my income has remained the same, but with fewer opportunities to spend it, whereas shop owners (non-food) have been really suffering, as well as many people whose income has gone, been furloughed, or small businesses who have really suffered.
So, when shops open, I will try hard to find something, although if the guidance makes it too hard, this may not be feasible.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

I assume you are a standard size. When you get a bit older and your shape becomes a bit more "middle-aged" you will find that you really want to try things on before buying. Even in a favourite shop I would expect to try half a dozen items before buying. I really could not be faffed with mail order, having to be in when the delivery guy comes (OK outside lockdown) or slogging of to a local collection centre. Then slogging back to return things.

Surely people of standard size are far more catered for on the high street. I havent been able to actually buy anything from a shop that isnt yours clothing or a supermarket for years and like many plus size people (or people in general) trying on is pretty essential but we still have to put up with online ordering.

I dont know how no touching is doable though.

[rowlett]

I was in work the other day in a customer-facing role and an older gentleman, after I had served him while still standing in front of me, started a coughing fit. I don't necessarily think it was THE cough but he made no attempt to cover his mouth or even move away from me. Luckily we do have flimsy plastic screens installed which is better than nothing, but from personal experience I have to reiterate PPs that all these rules about shops will fall away almost instantly as soon as the general public get in them. As a location which never closed so has been through the gauntlet, it's been utterly horrific. There is no point asking/telling people to follow very simple instructions for the benefit of everyone as 80% or more of them will ignore it or become abusive.

[exiledfromcornwall]

@TheGreatWave

Yet we've all been rummaging around in the clothes section at the local supermarket.

And I was surprised to find the clothing section of our Marks and Spencer accessible to customers the other day, and there were people in there rummaging through the displays. I was expecting it to be closed off.

[safariboot]

It'll be useful for people who can't or won't shop online, that's about it. For most things except food, I don't go into the shop looking for a specific item.

[pigsDOfly]

Yes, I was a bit when we were told we could go shopping but we mustn't touch anything.

It won't work.

I already find supermarket shopping unpleasant with the one way system and trying to doge everyone else in the shop. I don't want more of the same when I'm trying to shop for clothes that I can't try on and mustn't touch before I, somehow, get them to 'float' towards the checkout without my assistance.

I've been ordering stuff online as I'm desperate for some summer tops. I shall probably continue to shop that way and the online shops that give free delivery and returns will be the ones that get my custom.

[Siepie]

I need some new bras as I'm pregnant and my boobs have grown a lot.

I've ordered a few soft bralettes and sports bras online during lockdown, but I was waiting for shops to open to get some proper bras. If I can't try on in the shop, I'll probably end up ordering a few different sizes online and sending most of them back. No better for infection control and much less convenient.

[matchboxtwentyunwell]

Of course you can touch things and move them about to look at them. Everyone still does that when food shopping, household supply shopping, and buying clothing/shoes in supermarkets that have clothing. Just can't try on and you have to remember not to touch your face like always.

[Earnsomething]

Are there rules about not browsing or touching things you don't buy or are people assuming that because it seems sensible?

I looked through the revised guidance and I can't see anything specifically relating to that.

I think once shops are open, they'll be open as usual, except for restricting the numbers allowed in at a time and (possibly) screens for staff and hand sanitising facilities.

I went to a small local garden centre yesterday. People were browsing and picking things up and back down. They were limiting numbers and asking people to queue 2m apart. That's it. I didn't stay long, I'd gone for something specific but most people there were treating it as a trip out, as it would have been before

[youngestisapsycho]

My local M&S is open and I bought some clothes in there yesterday. You can't try on but you can freely walk around and touch any that you want. Can also try shoes on.

[nasalspray]

Maybe, you should wear gloves to protect yourselves and others

How do gloves protect anyone when they are shopping

Honestly all the media coverage and still people think gloves are some sort of super surface that can't transmit a virus. Wearing gloves is absolutely no fucking different to not wearing gloves when you are going shopping. Yes, they have their place, but it's not in bloody Primark