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Original poster

Noticed Supermarkets feel glum?

247 replies

Neverendingdust · 03/08/2022 22:50

I don’t think I’m imagining this but I’ve started to notice over the last month or two an almost gloomy muted atmosphere in the supermarkets where I live. It’s pretty noticeable that people are now conscious of the rising prices, the mood is almost somber and tense as they’re shopping. Has anyone else noticed similar? M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco and Co Op all feel very different, you can tell people are worried about the prices they’re seeing.

That excitement of popping treats into the trolley has gone for so many, doing the weekly shop has now become a challenge to simply spend the least amount but make the shop last longer. Peoples behaviour has changed massively.

Does anyone work in any of the stores and noticed the same?

OP posts:
Delphigirl · 04/08/2022 00:38

karomakulture · 03/08/2022 23:49

@Davros really? I was in Sloane Square and Chelsea and most of the shops were empty. Salespeople sat around, this was on Sunday afternoon.

Everyone in Sloane Square and Chelsea is on holiday abroad, it is early August. Always dead in that neck of the woods at this time, save for the few Arab tourists escaping the summer in the Middle East

HaveringWavering · 04/08/2022 00:46

GuyMontag · 03/08/2022 23:59

Yes, I think more people feel stressed when shopping now. I certainly bloody do!

I was in the Co op the other week and Living On A Prayer came on. It spoke to me, I swear. Really, hear me out - I looked around and I could sort of see other people were thinking the same thing. Singing or humming along to it with feeling, like it was an anthem of the times or something, people catching each other's eye and looking wryly around. Then a different song came on and the moment was over but I was definitely not alone.

I can just imagine that scene in a movie.

MunchMunch · 04/08/2022 00:48

I've never noticed any changes in other people but I'll tell you what! It was a good job I was holding on to the trolley when I spotted the box of Yorkshire teabags (usually about £5) is now £7.99 in Morrisons!

Eeksteek · 04/08/2022 01:47

I can’t say I’ve noticed low mood, but then I find supermarkets unbearably garish and overwhelming anyway. I sort of shut down a bit in them.

What I have noticed is stock is an issue. Things are out of stock for weeks on end. Aldi can be like that, but huge gaps on shelves, and not just in Aldi. Morrisons and Tesco too. I’ve never seen that before. I’m not sure if it’s stock availability, or staff to close the gaps and make it look full - they used to be so hot on that.

Rickrollme · 04/08/2022 02:40

I thing you are projecting. Food shopping is a mind-numbing chore at the best of times so I’m sure I’m not the picture of bliss while I’m doing it. I am fortunate to be able to comfortably afford groceries even at current prices but it’s a boring and repetitive task and my kids are fussy eaters so it just feels thankless. Of course I worry in general about the economy and about people who are struggling but that’s not my main focus while I’m shopping. If you are stressed about prices as many people are you might think I was too but my expression is the same as it’s always been.

MarshaMelrose · 04/08/2022 02:51

Normal here. There’s always been a scrum when the discount shelves get newly stocked.

Same where I am. Long time before covid, I once saw at Tesco, a couple go to the fruit and veg yellow label shelves, open up carrier bags and just sweep everything into the bags. Right in front of the other people gathering around. No way could they eat all that green stuff.

I think I must live in a Utopia. All our fruit and veg seems sound and the shelves seem well-stocked. Maybe we're all too poor to buy too much! 😆

WomanHere · 04/08/2022 02:55

Yes and it’s not only supermarkets. Was behind an old man in the queue in Wilkinsons today he was bemoaning all the price increases of basic essentials. The lady on the tills was talking about her worries for the winter with everything going up.

carefullycourageous · 04/08/2022 02:57

I think everything feels a bit flat tbh, the supermarket and everywhere. I'm near a very popular destination, it just feels flat. Cafes are less busy, shops are less busy. Loads of our venues have cut their hours/menus back and now employ fewer staff. Other places can't get the staff due to Brexit (we used to have loads of young workers).

I think the financial situation is becoming visible.

StClare101 · 04/08/2022 03:49

Well, I’ve never found supermarkets to be uplifting?

The cheaper items have always sold first here.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 04/08/2022 04:51

It's the middle of summer here in the south. Normally stores are full or fruits and veggies and there are roadside stands beside the fields. Not this year.
Farmers can't get pickers, so they are harvesting mechanically and selling to the cannery.
The fresh fruit that makes it to the store is incredibly expensive ($9 a pound for cherries) and there are fewer choices of variety.
I am buying canned fruits now, especially peaches, since I can't get fresh and the prices are all going up.

ouch321 · 04/08/2022 04:59

Was v crowded in the supermarket today and noisy.

Tomato puree seems to have been OOS for 4 weeks now...

Other than that I could get what I wanted.

ToxicCuntMum · 04/08/2022 05:05

Allywill · 03/08/2022 23:59

Our local tesco seems to going downhill. Less and less staff about, only 3 tills open with long queues for the self scan. Several broken freezers so much less frozen food and the lift has been broken since Christmas. This is a very large 2 storey tesco - not a small metro type either.

I shop at Tesco first thing on a Saturday morning and for the last three or four months there have only been two manned tills open. The queue for them goes halfway down past the freezers.

Tesco absolutely need to have a recruitment drive and pay more if needed. It’s Saturday there must be dozens of local students who would do a shift.

It’s quicker for me now to go to Aldi then drive up the road to Tesco to get a few final bits and then use the self-service tills.

Featuredcreature · 04/08/2022 05:10

Haven't noticed any differences, don't spend a lot of time in supermarkets tho tbh. I'm probably one those you would have noted tho, I fucking hate food shopping and get immediately stressed. I mostly go to my very local little sainsburys, prices have shot up, even the reduced stuff is mostly bollocks.

GreenWheat · 04/08/2022 05:32

Can't say as I've noticed anything different round here.

MsMarvellous · 04/08/2022 05:46

Can't say I've noticed anything different and I've been able to get what I want. Can still get a shop in at under £100 a week and haven't had to make noticeable changes. That said, sainsburys haven't had squirty cream for over a month now.

BuffScrag · 04/08/2022 06:03

It is all just really hitting home for people. Kids are at home in the holidays so eating more. Trying to find free or cheap holiday activities for them to do. Trying to keep the cheery holidays spirit going for the kids while working as much as we can to protect ourselves from even more terrifying October and Jan forecast price rises.

Seeing the constant costs on the smart meter rising at home is extremely frightening then you’re out food shopping and it’s exactly the same experience. We can’t keep on absorbing this.

This Boris Johnson government.has failed us so dramatically and there’s no real hope of change coming, Liz Truss knows nothing about anything. It’s depressing and frightening. I just want someone competent in government to stabilise the economy. If mortgage interest rates rise as well, so many people will very start losing their homes. Personally I’ve never felt so apprehensive as I do right now.

User639921 · 04/08/2022 06:07

Our Tesco and Asda has always been like that so I get a Tesco shop online, Waitrose and M&S where I top up shop are same as usual. I'm down in Cornwall at moment sorting out DF's stuff and supermarkets are full of happy holidaymakers.

TroysMammy · 04/08/2022 06:20

I haven't noticed because I don't do a same day weekly shop and I'm not loyal to one supermarket. I hate supermarket shopping with a passion and recently had to go to Tesco for my parents on a Sunday. It was a nightmare.

TibetanTerrah · 04/08/2022 06:24

carefullycourageous · 04/08/2022 02:57

I think everything feels a bit flat tbh, the supermarket and everywhere. I'm near a very popular destination, it just feels flat. Cafes are less busy, shops are less busy. Loads of our venues have cut their hours/menus back and now employ fewer staff. Other places can't get the staff due to Brexit (we used to have loads of young workers).

I think the financial situation is becoming visible.

Agree. I live in a city very popular with tourists. It's very sad to walk around the centre and see half (I actually counted once) the shops, restaurants and cafes on any given street shut down and boarded up, the ones still struggling on half empty Sad

Ifailed · 04/08/2022 06:31

Like PPs, I don't recall a time when there ever was any "excitement" in supermarket shopping.

kateandme · 04/08/2022 06:36

Anyone noticed bread going off quicker!? Or just a bad few weeks?
Yup noticed it too.
And loooots more people with lists.
And looking working things out when before they be literally walking by seeing item,pick it up,in trolley.😥
And the empty shelves.

User639921 · 04/08/2022 06:42

There has never been any joy in going to Asda

sandgrown · 04/08/2022 06:43

I have a second job in a supermarket. We are short staffed but have been recruiting. Some gaps on shelves but that seems to be easing . Almost every customer remarks on the increased cost of their shopping.

dammit88 · 04/08/2022 06:52

Neverendingdust · 03/08/2022 22:50

I don’t think I’m imagining this but I’ve started to notice over the last month or two an almost gloomy muted atmosphere in the supermarkets where I live. It’s pretty noticeable that people are now conscious of the rising prices, the mood is almost somber and tense as they’re shopping. Has anyone else noticed similar? M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco and Co Op all feel very different, you can tell people are worried about the prices they’re seeing.

That excitement of popping treats into the trolley has gone for so many, doing the weekly shop has now become a challenge to simply spend the least amount but make the shop last longer. Peoples behaviour has changed massively.

Does anyone work in any of the stores and noticed the same?

Do people worrying about prices enough to look glum when shopping really go to M&S for food? As they might feel cheerier if they choose a different place for the weekly groceries!

justfiveminutes · 04/08/2022 06:59

I haven't noticed a different atmosphere but around here the more expensive supermarkets are noticeably quieter.

Small wonder with the rising costs and now talk of a 0.5% interest rate hike. It's really hurting a lot of people. As a tool to curb inflation, I am not sure that any number of interest rate rises can do that effectively when it is primarily due to fuel and energy, over which none of us has control.