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Covid

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Original poster

To ask people to think before attacking ALL bulk-buyers

60 replies

Lovingcup · 21/03/2020 06:57

Yesterday my cousin, who works in a care home, was verbally attacked and left in tears by several fellow customers at a supermarket. Yes, she was buying more than most, but it was for the residents and not for personal use. I can understand that people feel very fraught at the moment, but I beg you to please take a minute to consider those who need to buy essentials for the most vulnerable in our society.

Even after trying to explain the situation, my cousin was shot down as people didn’t believe her. This has left an already anxious lady feeling as though she doesn’t want to go out again right now, when she’s one of the people we need to still be going out to work. I’ve told her next time to put a sign on her trolley so people can see what she’s doing but I’m doubtful it would be believed anyway based on yesterday.

Please be kind to our care workers, we need them more than ever now.

OP posts:

Fatted · 21/03/2020 06:59

If she works in a care home, then why does the care home not have a proper delivery system in place for things?

AlternativePerspective · 21/03/2020 07:02

Why are places like care homes not bulk buying in shops like costco regardless of the current situation?

Surely that makes far more sense economically anyway?

slipperywhensparticus · 21/03/2020 07:02

Because our suppliers are not fulfilling orders

Otterses · 21/03/2020 07:03

@fatted

My Nan is in a home. Quite often deliveries are short or missing stuff meaning they end up at the supermarket to try to make up the shortfall. I'd imagine that's what happened to the OP's cousins work place.

Even my toddlers nursery have had to do the same the last few days, supermarket trawling to get bread.

AlternativePerspective · 21/03/2020 07:04

While I don’t agree with abusing anyone you only have to look on here to see that everyone seems to have their reasons why they feel they should be exempt, and this is partly what is leading to there being no stock available in the supermarkets. The shops have to draw a line somewhere.

Regardless of that your cousin’s care home sounds shockingly badly run if staff are going to the supermarkets and they don’t have a delivery system in place already. That’s not your cousin’s fault, obviously, but is something for her and others to think about

AgnesNitt1976 · 21/03/2020 07:05

I work on two care homes and usually we have Asda deliveries, now that these and other supermarkets are struggling to deliver we have to go out and buy. Staff are going out wearing their ID and have faced some backlash. All our service users are staying inside meaning we have to buy all their toiletries as well.

AlternativePerspective · 21/03/2020 07:06

Posts. Regardless, unfortunately everyone needs to make sacrifices, or it’ll be your cousin turning up next time and finding the shelves empty.

People have urged and urged and urged not to strip the shelves and no-one seems to be listening, so it’s going to have to end up with far more draconian measures being put in place.

AlternativePerspective · 21/03/2020 07:07

X-post, obviously.

Catsrus · 21/03/2020 07:12

I have an elderly relative in a retirement block of flats, she's 90. The block management have put it into lockdown, closed the communal areas and the dining room. The staff are doing the shopping for residents.

There must be a way for supermarkets to verify these people and maybe give then a dedicated till and staff?

lyralalala · 21/03/2020 07:14

Care homes staff are having to shop for things that visitors would normally bring / like toiletries

iamjustlurking · 21/03/2020 07:17

I've pondered this. Would be handy if care workers could perhaps be offered a lanyard or similar whilst shipping for the vulnerable?
I do also notice that vulnerable seems to have such a wide interpretation.

iamjustlurking · 21/03/2020 07:18

That of course would be shopping 🤔

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 21/03/2020 07:35

Folks, supermarket deliveries are being cancelled, or are arriving with much of the order missing. Please stop with the why don’t care homes just get a delivery.

FabulouslyFab · 21/03/2020 07:36

We have volunteers in our village who are helping out those who for one reason or another are unable to go for their own shopping.
There is enough for everyone if we don’t panic!

arethereanyleftatall · 21/03/2020 07:38

Yanbu. I now have to get more than I would usually get BECAUSE I haven't been for two weeks because I thought I'd let the vulnerable go first!

HandsDownRoundTheTown · 21/03/2020 07:39

If she works in a care home, then why does the care home not have a proper delivery system in place for things?

@Fatted spectacularly misses global meltdown under which just perhaps not all “proper delivery systems” are working as usual...

It is tough. I am confident but I think I would have felt pretty vulnerable and upset in a situation like that. Perhaps they go in pairs. The lanyard idea is a good one.

bmbonanza · 21/03/2020 07:39

People who are really shopping for places like that need a card they can show/put on the check out.

DivGirl · 21/03/2020 07:47

Despite it not being reported there are supply issues. My local Lidl said yesterday their deliveries haven't been coming in and they didn't know when that would change.

I think rationing needs to be brought in sooner rather than later, personally.

cantdothisnow1 · 21/03/2020 07:50

another issue is children and adults with sensory processing/ food issues. For them getting the correct food is essential or they may not eat. They ought to be able to reserve/ bulk buy food to ensure they would eat. They will probably be able to give evidence of DLA/ PIP etc to prove the point.

YeahWhatevver · 21/03/2020 07:56

Last night on the TV a, woman said "my dad's just spent £350 on bulk buying there's so much in the house he's had to store some of it in the bathroom cabinet"

Unfortunately, while I agree not every case is as it seems most are and deserve to be called out for being the selfish twats they are.

Original poster

Lovingcup · 21/03/2020 07:57

@bmbonanza @cantdothisnow1 I believe she was given a card to show at the till, the issue was other shoppers surrounding her trolley and screaming at her before she even got to the tills. Very sad - we should be supporting each other, not reducing each other to tears in public.

OP posts:

mumwon · 21/03/2020 07:57

consider this: first a lot of stuff we buy is imported - mostly from Europe &the transport system from there for one reason or another is spasmodic or halted
some staff who transport may be either self isolating or ill
more stuff has to be transported to places & people who are self isolating
all of the above means less variety & less goods

Orangecake123 · 21/03/2020 08:00

Not to scare anyone, but my parents went to a Chinese wholesale shop. The workers told them that what they had was what they had, and after everything had been sold they would be closing.

Tumbleweed101 · 21/03/2020 08:01

We’ve had to do the same for our nursery. The usual delivery slots were gone so we’ve had to go out and get stuff instead. Even cash and carry haven’t got much now.

Notso · 21/03/2020 08:02

Maybe next time she could use somewhere with the specific early opening hours for key workers.
Although honestly people should just stop being twats.

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