Just abandoned trolley in supermarket.......

[Milssofadoesntreallyfit]

Shops always busy at Christmas, I've just stupidly tried to pop in for a few things, first aisle got jammed in and couldn't move trolley round with out bumping someone, everywhere I turned trolleys and people darting around. Put my apples back, decided to go back later but still struggled to navigate round people. Get near doors decide to keep walking at this point as a man walk down my right side trying to cut across in front and because I decided to keep going, got called a F**king nut case and he kept calling me to the man behind me.

As I left I stated to the man behind that I'd spend a good while trying to stay out of people way that I didnt actually get anywhere and he was being a bit harsh, he replied well I never f**king said anything did I.
I need stuff but I'm I the only one to find the shops today so unbearable that I left and Im prepared to just get whats left later rather than deal with crowds like that.
Christ it had me dizzy and demented.

Sorry, just feel calmer already just typing my stress out!!!

Sounds super stressful. Id have aborted mission too

I would have left too, don't supermarkets bother with restricting numbers anymore and provide social distancing rules? Go later tonight if you need to and just get what you can, no one died from not eating pigs in blankets, pringles or mince pies.

Also abandoned M&S after the massive queue for checkouts, which went halfway around the store. My fault for going at a time that clearly wasn’t sensible.

Just go in the evening - I've been doing this at Christmas for a few years. Instead of a pitched battle with all the type A early birds, you get to mooch around with a handful of students and single people.

It's great! And the shelves are fully stocked.

They were staring a queue as I left, they are usually on the ball, they possibly just had a mad influx of people, you literally couldn't swing a cat!

Thankfully we have most stuff in so I was able to abandon the extras for now. Hopefully it will be a bit quieter later.

Go tonight, I went to sainsburys about 9pm last night, shelves fully stocked, still busy-ish but not manic, no queues at the tills.

Went shopping in Sainsburys yesterday around 11am, and M&S about 5.45pm, both just normal, not busy.

don't supermarkets bother with restricting numbers anymore and provide social distancing rules?

No, they stopped bothering in June here.

Need to be there as the doors open. M&S food hall local to me is opening at 6 am tomorrow. I will be there waiting at that time.

We went to Tesco's yesterday afternoon and abandoned it when we saw people queuing half way round the car park in the pissing down rain. Went this morning and it was much better. Still a bit stressful but managed it.

I'm planning on going later, around 8-9pm. May need to go to more than one shop, but they are all close by.

I have also abandoned a full trolley load in Tesco because of their infuriating lack of staff on checkouts a couple of weeks ago.
When I stomped out I fully expected to be wrestled to the ground as went out the one way system ‘in’
I have been using ASDA click and collect but thought , just this one, I’d like to go into a shop.

I always go really early or late if I need to do a big shop, most shops put deliveries out throughout the night and also during the day at this time of year, and it's so much quieter.

Friend who works in essential orange shop said she had never seen the shops so empty last night.

I don't know where you live OP but a village budgens/coop or tesco express might be better if you don't need anything to elaborate. Apparently late evening is the quietest time.

Because abandoning trolleys for the staff to deal with wont cause more bother or lots of food waste.

Imagine shops being busy three days before Christmas. Who would have thought?

We went to Tesco at half 5 this morning, DP had just finished work and was just easier to toddle off then. The shop had very few actual shoppers, was well stocked, but oh those pickers for home delivery! Bloody everywhere! So many not following the distancing rule either. We are in a Tier 4 area, and if it wasn't for the fact that I needed some essentials I wouldn't have bothered.

My usual time is 9 and that’s normally okay

Hopefully it will be okay tonight!

I had this in M&S on Sunday, got there at opening and queued up, but once inside all the customers were not being patient and waiting their turn, just cutting around and butting in. Gave me the creeps and I had to leave.

Went to the local Waitrose today and it was perfectly normal for a midday weekday.

Both shops have a door monitor, but M&S was tiny and put all the Christmas meat and veg on both sides of a narrow aisle.

That sounds mega-stressful and I can't help thinking that many have a simmering background rage this year, more so than ever.

Can you try some corner/convenience stores OP (or maybe there is a garage with a mini store in it)?

Evenings are usually a lot quieter?

"
I have also abandoned a full trolley load in Tesco because of their infuriating lack of staff on checkouts a couple of weeks ago.
When I stomped out I fully expected to be wrestled to the ground as went out the one way system ‘in’
I have been using ASDA click and collect but thought , just this one, I’d like to go into a shop."

Well done. You sure showed them. 🙄

Matter of interest are the ones who are unbearably busy in tier 4. I’ve just got back from Sainsbury’s and it was almost enjoyable

I went at 8:30 in the evening, busy but not rammed, lots of bargains but fruit and veg not yet restocked, but so much better than earlier when I passed and the cars were queuing to get in. Got everything I needed bar some veg.

Sounds awful. I just got back from Asda, they have the line outside again, leeting one is as one comes out and people positioned all over to stop isles getting to crowded, like traffic control. Some lovely cheeful people, but not as Christmassy as they usually are, but no one being rude. Managed to get everything but goose fat, we'll do without.
Tesco by us still open 24hrs, maybe go after teatime or kids bedtime if yours is too.