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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:
kimchio · 22/12/2023 06:22

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.

This go for 610 or something

fatandhappy47 · 22/12/2023 06:23

@MyChristmasUsername

We always do the Tesco Xmas shop at 6am! It's bliss

Xmastime2023 · 22/12/2023 06:26

Today I think it will be ok - tomorrow not as much - also marking my place for the update!

BatshitCrazyWoman · 22/12/2023 06:30

I've always done this, as I loathe supermarkets, and people shopping in groups, getting in the way. I'm normally sitting in the car, waiting for it to open (and I'm not the only one!). It won't be mobbed, but there will be a fair amount of people there, I'd say.

It helps if you have done all your non-perishable shopping in advance, so you have a streamlined list, and also knowing where everything is. I'm in and out so quickly because of this.

poorbuthappy · 22/12/2023 06:31

Sat in bed drinking a coffee with a slight hangover having had the same plan to go at 6. DH is snoring next to me with a hangover and a stinking cold. We are aiming for 7 but I'm not hopeful

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 22/12/2023 06:33

I'm in a very long queue for checkout at M&S.

Rammed.

Flashy migraine starting.

Readingineading · 22/12/2023 06:38

For a few years DH had to be in work at 4 am in the week leading up to Xmas ( delivery driver) and I would drop him off then do the Xmas shop on one of those days. Be aware that the overnight refill staff may still be stocking up, and that fresh produce may not be out yet but yes, it was less stressful.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 22/12/2023 06:40

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 22/12/2023 06:33

I'm in a very long queue for checkout at M&S.

Rammed.

Flashy migraine starting.

M&S is always horrible because of people collecting their pre-orders. I did that once, then switched to Waitrose or Tesco.

PurBal · 22/12/2023 06:43

Not necessarily. I went for 6 one Christmas and there was a queue of about 40 people waiting for the store to open. How was it @MyChristmasUsername ?

cuthbertthecat · 22/12/2023 06:46

I've woken up very early on my first day off. I was going to go tonight about 7 but maybe I could go in a minute.

I have done the non perishable bits so it's the fresh stuff I have to get. I am going to the butchers tomorrow but that will be a leisurely walk down to the village, chilled queue up (they are very efficient) and a coffee before I walk home to do my crimbo baking so I'm quite looking forward to it.

spanieleyes · 22/12/2023 06:47

I do this every year, it's quite a jolly experience as everyone seems to be of the same" aren't we all mad" attitude. There also tends to be fewer children as they are generally tucked up in bed and it's just one hassled parent going round!

Beryls · 22/12/2023 06:50

I've just got back, it wasn't too bad, a good few people for that time but not as busy as I expect it will be later/tomorrow.

Sussudio · 22/12/2023 06:57

If anyone is shopping at M&S - have the app downloaded so you can do scan & shop on your phone if your store doesn’t have the handheld devices. If your shop is under £45 you can pay on your phone and just walk out without queuing. If it’s more than £45 you can then scan your way out at the usual self service machines so likely smaller and quicker queue than the manned tills this time of year.

MoltenLasagne · 22/12/2023 06:58

I did this at Sainsburys last time we hosted and it was fab - nice and quiet, plus the staff were handing out vouchers for something (maybe double points?) As a thank you for coming early.

WellOwlBeDamned · 22/12/2023 07:06

I was for 6,30 too but that was before the rozzers were called leading to late night reading 😂

followed by very bloody annoying caterwauling by elderly cat thinking me being awake meant middle of night food 😾

followed by inevitable insomnia 🤷🏻‍♀️

encouraged to hear it is still quieter early doors so if the man can shift hisself in next half hour we might get done 🤔

thanks for the thread or I might have just given up today as a bad job still might

JaninaDuszejko · 22/12/2023 07:11

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.

This. There's always a gap between the organised early folk and everyone else, that's the sweet spot.

Almondmum · 22/12/2023 07:12

We're planning on going late tonight. I imagine there'll be some bits we won't be able to get so I'll probably go again early tomorrow.

EverythingLouderThanEverythingElse · 22/12/2023 07:13

I've been to Tesco at 6am this morning and it was a lot busier than I expected. The shelf stackers have got their cages down the middle of every aisle and the online order pickers are trying to squeeze past them, if one customer stops to look at something then everyone else has to wait!

thesnailandthewhale · 22/12/2023 07:25

Been and done mine this morning in Sainsburys. Not that busy with shoppers but aisles full of online shopping trolleys blocking everywhere and only one checkout open, yes one, who wants to use self service with full up Xmas trollies?!

WellOwlBeDamned · 22/12/2023 07:27

Bugger well no shifting hisself

faint, or perhaps feint, promises of ‘tomorrow’

anyone been at like midnight or 1am?

not overly worried about stock as nothing that couldn’t be substituted I suppose, more the traffic/crowds avoidance really

calexico · 22/12/2023 07:31

I am planning to go at 8am but I now feel that might be too late! Went last night at 8:30 and it was quiet but I couldn't get the turkey I wanted.

AuntieMarys · 22/12/2023 07:33

thesnailandthewhale · 22/12/2023 07:25

Been and done mine this morning in Sainsburys. Not that busy with shoppers but aisles full of online shopping trolleys blocking everywhere and only one checkout open, yes one, who wants to use self service with full up Xmas trollies?!

Scan and shop all the way!!!!

nearlyemptynes · 22/12/2023 07:34

My sons girlfriend is working in M and S she says people have been queueing at 6am for days-crazy!

Turrican · 22/12/2023 07:41

Just back from Tesco, very busy and car park almost full. Probably still better than it will be later, though. Managed to grab what I needed and was only in there for about ten minutes as the queues for the tills weren't too bad yet.

Original poster
MyChristmasUsername · 22/12/2023 07:43

update: I went to M&S at 6am. A crowd of probably 30 other people had the same idea but tbh that’s not actually many shoppers when you get inside. Most things fully replenished. Would recommend! Busy, but not like it’ll be at lunchtime!

OP posts: