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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the supermarket will be quieter if I turn up at 6am?

76 replies

MyChristmasUsername · 22/12/2023 04:36

Or will the rest of my local area have precisely the same idea? 🙈

Made the mistake of going a few days ago at 11am and I’ve never been as stressed in my life, no parking spaces and the store was ridiculously busy. I left without a few of the things I needed. They open at 6am today (this is special Christmas hours, usually they open at 8am). It has not been widely publicised but happened to notice it on their website and the local shopping centre website too. DH has just got up for work and I am so tempted to go.

OP posts:
Onlymeagaina · 22/12/2023 04:38

Such an odd question. Of course no one will be there at 6 an

AnImaginaryCat · 22/12/2023 04:39

It'll be quiter but not quite. Certainly less stressful anyway!!

PiggieWig · 22/12/2023 04:39

Well if you need to go, you might as well give it a try. It’s definitely not going to be quieter if you leave it later.

Original poster
MyChristmasUsername · 22/12/2023 04:40

Onlymeagaina · 22/12/2023 04:38

Such an odd question. Of course no one will be there at 6 an

It’s not really, it’s just a lighthearted post about Christmas shopping

OP posts:
EdwinsActsOfKindness · 22/12/2023 04:42

We’re planning to do the same and be there for 6.30.

Obviously you need to report back and update us!

OverTheGrip · 22/12/2023 04:46

Just go.
Accept it may be busy.
Smile and spread Christmas cheer.
Realism.
It is what it is 😊

Ragwort · 22/12/2023 04:47

Am sure it will be quieter (not empty though!), I did the same a couple of years ago & got to Waitrose at opening time - think it was 7am. Was absolutely fine .. not at all crowded and parking was easy.

This year I've been much more organised and done several 'smaller shops' ... I have plenty of time and genuinely like food shopping .. hasn't been difficult at all.

Kiitos · 22/12/2023 04:48

In my experience evenings are fine too even at this time of year. 9pm or so.

PupInAPram · 22/12/2023 04:49

I always shop at the crack of dawn. I hate crowds. It's a little brisker in the days leading up to Christmas, but still much quieter than normal.

Catsknowbest · 22/12/2023 04:50

I'd go for it 👍

TerfTalking · 22/12/2023 04:52

It will be fine, there’s still tomorrow and Sunday for shopping.

MintJulia · 22/12/2023 04:53

Ours is almost deserted. Just shelf stackers, a few police officers coming off shift and others picking up lunch on the way to work.

I love it. Easy to park, whizz round with my trolley and home by 7 to make breakfast.

Whatevernext1 · 22/12/2023 04:53

I work in a supermarket and start at 5am,we open at 6am and we normally have a queue outside well before then. It's been extremely busy at this time all week but this is normal for our store every year. I would go and get it out of the way,you will at least be more likely to get a parking space than later on in the day. Good luck and happy shopping 🎄

TheGoogleMum · 22/12/2023 04:55

I think it'll be much quieter so early, give it a go

DifficultBloodyWoman · 22/12/2023 05:30

I had this idea a few years ago. Apparently, so did everyone else.

It was just like shopping at peak times.

FloofCloud · 22/12/2023 05:32

Yes a lot quieter, I went last year at that sort of time.
I couldn't use the scan and go thingy though as it opens at 7am 😩

PermanentTemporary · 22/12/2023 05:33

I did a Christmas shop at 5am about 20 years ago at a 24 hour Sainsburys in London. It was unsurprisingly so full of people shelf stacking that it was almost impossible to get round.

But yes, probably shorter queues at the checkout.

PheobeBebe · 22/12/2023 05:35

Definitely go. I went yesterday at 8am and while busy there was plenty of spaces in the car park and not stressful inside the shop. By lunchtime there were marshalls in the car park!

VeganNugsNotDrugs · 22/12/2023 06:04

It'll be quieter with fully stocked shelves as theyll have been replenished overnight

YireosDodeAver · 22/12/2023 06:08

I did this a few Christmases ago. There was a queue of about 40 people who had had the same idea at 5:58. Once the soors opened it certainly didn't feel too crowded. There was a lot of shelf-stacking going on so many aisles difficult to navigate and some basics out of stock the the morning deliveries hadn't been completed yet. But it was a reasonable tactic.

CluelessPadme · 22/12/2023 06:11

If you are getting freshly baked things (baguettes and so on) they might not be there yet. Our Tesco doesn’t put them out till about 7am in the instore bakery

willsandnoodle · 22/12/2023 06:11

I went Tuesday at about 11am and it was wild. I had to drive round the carpark a few times to get a space, and inside was carnage.

Went yesterday at 2.30, and it was like a normal day, a normal amount of people in the shop, and parking in mother and baby.

This was a big Sainsburys

liveforsummer · 22/12/2023 06:13

Go, you'll feel great back home at 7!knowing it's done and the whole day is still ahead. There might be some folks there but will certainly be quieter. We have an abundance of supermarkets within a couple of mine radius (2 Tesco, 2 Morrisons, 2 Lidl, an Aldi and a 24 hour Asda (thats not including the local/metros/little coops) so nothing is THAT busy

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 22/12/2023 06:20

Go at 6:20am. That way the early birds queuing at 6am will be part way round and you'll find it nice and quiet.

kimchio · 22/12/2023 06:22

I'd go but be prepared to maybe hang back a bit and let the initial surge go into the shop or you'll all be trying to look at turkeys at the same time