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Anyone seen how the supermarkets are working this 1/2 hour slots for the older and vulnerable population
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 11:12
Anyone have any idea? I went down to Iceland today to ask and the guy on the door couldn't tell me what constituted as vulnerable. There seemed to be people there from every generation in the queue! Obviously you have hidden disabilities, women in early pregnancy, young people with chronic conditions...how do they show they're classed as vulnerable?
Really interested to hear from people who know how it's going to operate
lyralalala · 19/03/2020 11:18
They're basically hoping people will be decent and respect it and only go if they are elderly or vulnerable, or if they are shopping for someone who is elderly or vulnerable
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 11:19
Oh Jesus, I don't see that working out well!
SerendipityJane · 19/03/2020 11:21
Sainsburys Twitter feed has hundreds of customers asking the same questions to tumbleweed.
It's starting to look like a bad taste PR stunt from here.
QuimJongUn · 19/03/2020 11:32
I'm wondering about this, too.
I'm in my 40s and appear healthy but I have rheumatoid arthritis. My GP has told me that as I'm in the group that's recommended to have the flu jab I'm higher risk. Added to that, I often have completely unpredictable flares which mean I can't leave the house, isolation or not. And I'm pretty much always in pain.
I tweeted Tesco to ask them what the position was and if I need 'proof', eg my disabled bus pass, but I've had no response. I a) don't know whether I'm eligible and b) don't want to get funny looks from others who are more obviously older/disabled than me and think I'm taking the piss. I don't know what to do for the best.
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 11:50
I defo think they're going to have to ask for proof of some kind but don't think it will happen for another few weeks as I just don't think people are going to abide by the whole "we're trusting you" issue.
Which then opens the can of worms for people who have no proof and the chances of getting a doctors letter at the moment.
I've been dealing with everything quite well up to this point, but today's been hard. There's a lot of "plans" but they've not been thought through very well.
SerendipityJane · 19/03/2020 11:53
I tweeted Tesco to ask them what the position was and if I need 'proof', eg my disabled bus pass, but I've had no response.
If they had actually come up with more than a press release, there would have been a ready - automated - reply.
I don't appreciate the big supermarkets treating it as a game of "let's be the first in the press" over "let's actually come up with a proper system". It's only causing more distress to the elderly and vulnerable (as this thread shows). Not a nice thing to do, really.
Gingerkittykat · 19/03/2020 12:01
I'm wonder4ing this too, I am vulnerable because of multiple health conditions but look young and healthy. There are no online shopping slots for 3 weeks.
I do have my PIP letter and a disabled bus pass (not bad enough for a blue badge) to show but I've heard younger people have been abused for shopping then.
At the same time I can see the massive potential of people taking the piss.
ChillinInMyBacta · 19/03/2020 12:16
It's been elderly/disadvantaged hour all week to let them get first pick of the dregs. Went with my 82year old Father and was 10th in line so though we'd won the lottery, and only to have the Manager announce straight out that they had not received any TP, Tissues, Paper Towel or long life milk. I'm not dragging him out for 7:00am again.
TheMemoryLingers · 19/03/2020 12:24
My mum thought the slots should have been later because their bus passes don't kick in until 9:30.
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 12:38
ChillinInMyBacta ah god,that's shit. Hope you got something sorted in the end.
RubixCubix · 19/03/2020 12:41
@TheMemoryLingers in my area the bus companies have said they are now accepting bus passes at anytime.
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 12:41
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/sainsburys-dedicated-shopping-hour-for-vulnerable-people-chaotic-and-crowded
Surprise. It's already not working.
GrumpyHoonMain · 19/03/2020 12:43
Sainsburys lets pregnant women and parents of newborns under 3 months in early - no idea how they verify this. But it explains why nappies are being sold out by 9am. Some idiots are even buying up bigger nappies
TheMemoryLingers · 19/03/2020 12:48
That's a good idea, @RubixCubix - I'll check online and see if the one in my parents' area has said anything similar.
TheGreatWave · 19/03/2020 13:06
I popped in today, well I didn't as they shouted that anyone who wasn't vulnerable shouldn't be queuing, so quite a few of us left.
I am not sure that those in the 'forlorn looking' pictures on FB are the ones benefitting from this. They certainly weren't the ones in the queue this morning.
Ginkypig · 19/03/2020 13:26
I think part of the problem is that a lot of the shops have said that it's for the vulnerable or the elderly or someone who is buying for one of those groups
That means anyone can go.
onanothertrain · 19/03/2020 13:33
I was in asda earlier and they said they are opening for the elderly 6-9am tomorrow. No mention of anyone else in a vulnerable group.
SerendipityJane · 19/03/2020 13:34
I think part of the problem is that a lot of the shops have said that it's for the vulnerable or the elderly or someone who is buying for one of those groups
I think the entire problem is a bunch of marketing "geniuses" who had a brainwave about "What would look really good in the press" without having the faintest idea - or intention - of making good on it.
In normal times, we could all have a good old laugh. But in these times of heightened anxiety and genuine worry, it's borderline irresponsible. We already have to cope with a government that clearly hasn't a clue. You'd hope our favourite shops could do better.
RaininSummer · 19/03/2020 13:40
My 79 year old Mum and elderly uncle went to Tescos for the alloted time today but there was hardly anything left as they had already been open for three hours!! and so others had already descended. Mum said a lot of young people were trying to block their way.
My poor Mum asked me not to get her flowers for Sunday to keep me out of the shops but when I asked her about food supplies and joked, she took me up on my offer of a bag of spuds. They do have food but I think was she shocked. Tescos need to revise their timings here.
Layladylay234 · 19/03/2020 13:49
Absolutely terrible RaininSummer I felt guilty enough today hence why I asked the guy if I was in that category. So many younger people with their families with full trolleys that makes me hard to believe they're all vulnerable. Im seeing a lot of good on social media but stories about others make me despair. I took a few rolls of toilet roll down as we have mass deliveries with an online company every few months and wanted to give them to anyone older who was looking and if there was none,but I couldn't even get into the shop.
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