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.

[purpleme12]

Most of the clothes I try on don't fit me either
This is a nightmare
I really need some new clothes
I never buy online because of the amount that doesn't fit
I'm worried it'll make the shops go under

[highmarkingsnowbile]

I'm with lljkk. 100% agree!

[bumblingbovine49]

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

This is why people should be wearing masks in public places. A mask on that customer would have added protection for you, in addition to the screen

[Alsohuman]

I love the shops but can see no pleasure in going into them now. I’ve got a hair appointment on 13 July so I may see what they’re like then but I’m not going anywhere near them for the next six weeks.

[Pepperwand]

Absolutely @lljkk it's like people have forgotten that the general public have been swarming supermarkets for weeks touching everything in sight, including clothes. I want to get out and spend money, I want to help the economy, I want something to do after 10 weeks of lockdown but if they continue with this sort of ridiculous plan I won't be bothering.

[JudgeRindersMinder]

This is my kind of shopping! It’s about time people found better ways to spend their time rather than shopping for a hobby

[BarbaraofSeville]

Very few clothes fit me either and I'm a fairly normal shape, or at least I thought I was, but last time I tried a dress on in M&S I came to the conclusion that in their world, I had size 8 shoulders, size 12 bust, size 10 waist and size 14 hips going by where it was too big and too small.

I'm currently a bit short in summer clothes and have just ordered size 14s of a dress, some cropped jeans and some cycling short type things to wear while walking and running in the heat. I will be astonished if they all fit as I'm currently of the size where a 14 is just a bit tighter than I'd like but a 16 looks like the after picture in a weight loss advert. I really have no idea why there is so much difference between two sizes that are only supposed to differ by 2 inches in circumference.

[woodhill]

The sizes are erratic, M&S trousers 12 way too small this time. I always buy that size.

I like to feel the fabric

[exexpat]

I don't think a 'no touching' policy will work at all, and given that it has not been in force for supermarkets and other 'essential' shops, I don't think it is necessary.

In countries where there has been efficient tracing of outbreaks, they have all come from close contact, not from picking up a book or a bottle in a supermarket that someone may have touched a few minutes/hours/days earlier.

Hand sanitiser on entry to all shops (and promotion of mask wearing so customers don't cough or sneeze on goods, shop staff or each other) would be a good compromise measure.

[Followthelight99]

Not much different to online shopping really.
You can't feel the fabric or try it on until it arrives.

[ifonly4]

I enjoy a potter around the shops, so would really like to support them, but I'm not sure I can face up to the queuing, masks, regular use of hand sanitizer, social distancing and not being able to touch items (especially clothes for washing labels, fit), on top of which there's the question of toilets and getting the bus for some. Still I suppose it has to be done.

[mencken]

I always shop like that. With so little choice in clothes shops (it's the ghastly current fashion or nothing) my infrequent visits are go in, look around, realise there is nothing I would be seen dead in and leave.

shopping is not a hobby, it is a bore. Ideally this would be an opportunity for shops to make it something you can do as rapidly as possible.

[Pygmyseahorse]

The only real need we have to go into a shop would be for dd shoes (and fitting) maternity bra (and fitting) and an opticians check up.. So think we will be making do on all those for a while at least

Not sure how it's possible to rifle through to find sizes, especially those on wrong hangers so you need to check in the clothes, checking fabric for sensitive skin and don't fancy having to go through it all twice to return anything that doesn't fit.. Which makes me wonder how that would work.. If you can't try on in store you try on at home then return, shops will be left with items tried on or the very least touched and kept in customers homes? I know it doesn't linger for long but still.

[Ravenclawgirl]

Our local garden centre has just re-opened with a 'No browsing' rule. I thought the whole point of going there was to browse!

[Tropical2]

My DM can't wait for the shops to open. She doesn't need anything, it's the afternoon out she's looking forward to. She loves an afternoon browsing the shops and buying nothing. I've tried telling her it isn't going to be like that in two weeks time but she's adamant she's going. She'll drive there in the car, stay until she needs the toilet and knows she won't be getting her usual coffee and cake in the cafe. Time will tell if she goes more than once.

[Mistlewoeandwhine]

People will touch the things, lift the books etc. Of course they will, but then BoJo can claim it isn’t his fault. That’s how it works now.

[MarshaBradyo]

I pretty much always shop online anyway, except a couple of places that are particularly nice and I like walking around.

I do mostly order shoes online. Check the true to size comment first and rarely get the size wrong.

[Kelsoooo]

I went in Matalan earlier, next to the store I was working in, and it was calm. People were browsing calmly, plenty of distancing.

[Ginfordinner]

It doesn't work like that for me Marsha. I take a size 6 in shoes. Not all size 6 shoes are comfortable. I often end up trying on 10 or 12 pairs of shoes before I find the right ones.

[woodhill]

In a garden centre you do like to browse to pick your plants, some look better than others.

does someone bring them to you?

[Igtg]

So if you are not allowed to browse, you have to know what you want before you go in, then get it, pay for it and leave. May as well get it online and avoid the queues.

[BarbaraofSeville]

I've found that size 41 shoes nearly always fit me, but then I have to guess which size out of 7, 7.5 or sometimes even 8 different online suppliers have decided is a size 41 in their shop and it's not always consistent or matches what their online information says.

I've even bought shoes in a similar style from the same brand a year or two apart and found that what they tell me is a size 7 is actually bigger than the size 8 that they sold me last year, or some other annoying inconsistency that makes what should be a simple process harder and more boring than it should be.

Good thing that I don't really need any new clothes, given that I'm WFH and can't go anywhere that I'd like to get dressed up for.

[PollyPelargonium52]

It isn't just usual stores being affected. I am so put off buying from a charity shop from now on in case the corona virus is still in the clothing. So far as I understand it clothes need to be washed at 60 degrees to remove the virus. It may shrink many items. I am just not going near any charity shops to be honest. I don't need any new c!othing anyway.

[Thighmageddon]

There were people browsing everywhere in the local garden centre when I went in this week, a no browsing policy won't work.

[Leflic]

I think the high street us dead because essentially everyone works between the hours of 9 and 5.50. Which us when all the shops in town are open.
Coronavirus has meant them delivering, going on line locally and essentially offering a better service than normal.I’m really hoping thus carries on.