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.

[Bumply]

Just listened to something on Radio 4 where They talked about bookshops having plan for books to be put away for 72 hours if browsed but not bought.
Customer just has to put on trolley if picked up books but not bought them

[Holothane]

Online for me now most things, shopping is a nightmare anyway so I won’t be going into nearest town any time soon.

[grey12]

The problem I see is you'd have to buy the same item in different sizes to take home to try. Some people can't really afford that.....

[Thighmageddon]

What'll happen is that although you can't try on in the store, you can take items home to try and then return. Those returned items will then be quarantined for a period of time before being put back out.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

This where clothes manufacturers have missed a trick.

If they had uniformed sizing

Yes! This! I was looking at dresses earlier thanks to a link someone posted on here and realised I'd be a 10 going by the size guide posted and could probably get away with an 8 in some styles, whereas in most shops I'm a 12 and sometimes a 14. I don't care which size is mine, whether it's 8 or 18 or anything in between, but I would really love sizing to be consistent across shops.

(Also I would really love to know how I can possibly be an 8-10 in anyone's sizing now, when I was a 10-12 years ago with a waist 4 inches smaller than I have now).

[IcedPurple]

It's nonsensical. I could maybe understand not trying on clothes - although in that case you might as well shop online - but the not touching stuff rule is ridiculous. People have been picking up and putting back items in supermarkets as normal for the past 3 months. Why is a pawed book or a pair of shoes more dangerous than a can of beans or bottle of shower gel?

I expect that these 'rules' will quickly lapse. I hope so too.

[MintyMabel]

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

I’m not a standard size, stores have never catered for short people. I’ve hardly ever tried on anything in store. I shop online mainly and if I need to return stuff, I just do it next time I’m out.

[MintyMabel]

Why is a pawed book or a pair of shoes more dangerous than a can of beans or bottle of shower gel?

Why did anyone stay home and work, if key workers were still going to work?

[Earnsomething]

There's no such thing as a standard size, I have Jean's in my wardrobe that fit well but range from sizes 10 - 14.

Tops are even worse. Often I'm a 12, some 8s are far too big.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

I can't see myself physically going shopping whilst any of these measures are in place. Luckily my favourite book shop and toy shop have both remained open (family run) for online orders.

[CarlaH]

Standard sizing for all shops would be a wonderful thing if you happen to be a size 8, 10, 12 etc but not a whole lot of fun if you might be a size 9, 11, 13?

Maybe shops should start separating clothes into sizes rather than styles and perhaps have less stuff on each rail. Just temporarily while things are so uncertain in terms of spread of Covid.

At least then you would be able to go straight to your size which might reduce the need to browse only to find that your size isn't in stock.

[thatsallineed]

I fail to see how you can buy a pair of shoes without trying them on. Especially when you have awkward feet like mine.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

Standard sizing for all shops would be a wonderful thing if you happen to be a size 8, 10, 12 etc but not a whole lot of fun if you might be a size 9, 11, 13?

They should definitely introduce that also. Actually, someone who knows, why don't they already have that?

[nasalspray]

Actually, someone who knows, why don't they already have that?

Marks and Spencer used to sell odd sizes.

[pigsDOfly]

I've just order several summer tops from a well know store online.

I'm usually a size 8 in tops but because, before lockdown, I bought a similar top from one of their shops in a size 10, I also ordered the online stuff in a size 10, except for one, which a couple of reviews said came up big; I order that in a size 8.

All the tops fitted me fine except for the size 8 that absolutely swam on me.

Standard sizing would be an excellent idea, even if it was just from withing the same store.

[dottiedodah]

I think online shopping is the way to go really.High Street has been on its knees for years .I order Hotter Shoes online ,and there is no problem at all with refunds /exchanges .I think its a shame ,but Amazon and so on are first class with prices ,no quibble refunds and so on.Bookshops for children are fantastic ,and its a pity that we wont any more be allowed to browse and see what "surprises" books have in store for us .Also what will happen to public libraries ?

[CoronaMoaner]

It’s there being no toilets open that puts me off.
So I can drive into town, wonder around the shops, get a take away meal and drink but I can’t do a wee? No thanks.

[pigsDOfly]

Not quite a shop but similar situation with touching.

I'm wondering when and if, libraries are ever going to open again.

I got a massive pile of books from my library before they closed at the start of lockdown and I'm halfway through my last one.

I love my local library. Surely if people were given hand sanitiser to use at the door as they come in and all returned books were quarantined for a few days they could open soon.

With all the cuts and the state of the future economy I fear our libraries may be a thing of the past.

[cooperage]

I saw in one country where shops have opened that clothes that have been tried on and not bought are steamed or isolated for 12 hours before being replaced on the racks.
It's not ideal, but better than requiring people to buy anything they've touched (which is unworkable anyway)

[Ginfordinner]

I always have to try clothes and footwear on before buying. The amount of time I would spend queuing in the post office to return badly fitting itmes would be a ridiculous waste of time..

As PP have pointed out there is no standardisation of sizes and I am often between sizes and usually end up taking three sizes into a changing room at a time.

Good suggestion CarlaH

I understand that some people hate shopping under normal circumstances, but if everyone only ever bought online that would be a sad state of affairs for retail, and take the joy out of clothes shopping for those of us who actually like clothes shopping or need to try several articles of clothing on before buying.

[lljkk]

I dunno, I didn't vote for this crazy regime that thinks we can't cope with any germs on anything. I have zero fear of the virus & would happily live in Sweden to take my chances. But I don't have that opportunity. Most UK people want to strive for zero risk & rest of us have to conform to their nutty rules. I guess this is democracy in action.

I plan to avoid shops as much as possible for long time to come coz the shops all have weird rules. I'll start going again when I hear this madness is over. I can end up wearing rags maybe. I refuse to treat fellow human beings like walking biohazards or happily have myself treated that way, too. Problem is my kids have growing feet. How do you get the right shoes for kids without trying them on. Any ideas?

[lljkk]

"It's to save the government furlough money."

You mean save us tax papers money, rather. Bojo isn't paying for anyone's salary out of his own pocket (ok, maybe the nanny). But not for furloughed retail workers.

That's my money paying those salaries. And yours if you pay tax, too.

[IcedPurple]

Why did anyone stay home and work, if key workers were still going to work?

Not really a good analogy. If touching an item and then returning it is dangerous, then that applies to cans of beans and bottles of shower gel as much as it does to books or clothes. There has been zero policing of item touching in supermarkets, which have been busy the whole time, so it seems odd to say it's a big risk now when it's been going on for months with no apparant links to cases.

[Pleasenodont]

I don’t think staff will be able to properly police this and it’s ridiculous to expect them to.

[toomuchtooold]

I was quite glad when they opened here in Germany as the delivery companies were so busy that my H&M order for the kids kept getting cancelled. Lot easier to just go to the shop, then you have the stuff in your hands. (Although when our lockdown relaxed, at first it was only for stores under 800 sq m, so they didn't open the top floor of the local H&M, you had to tell them what you wanted and they went up and got it for you. Still better than walking about in last year's summer clothes that are now too small for the kids.