What’s it like in the small shops now?

[TotesGodsWill]

I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to work from home so literally haven’t left home for a week and a half (I’ve been outside just not further than putting the bins out).

I have to go out in the next few days for some essentials that I can’t have delivered. But the world seems to have changed hugely in the last week! What should I expect when I go to the shop? It’ll be two smallish local shops, I’ll walk there and back, very happy to follow social distancing policies but would be more comfortable if I know what to expect.

Sorry if it seems stupid, this whole situation is making pre-existing anxiety spiral

I hve three local shops / mini mart type places one of them has hiked the prices up to such a stupid amount that there is no way I will go in there now or ever again £2.70 for a pot noodle £ 2.95 for half doz caged bird eggs .

The other two ( not near each other ) are doing well , both have most of the normal stock in but are sensibly keeping a check on the amounts that people can buy . as far as I can tell have not increased there prices

I prefer the bigger shops, simply as its easier to keep your distance that is until someone wants something off of the shelf you are looking at and simply leans in front of you, most are adhering but there are some who seem to be deliberately walking in the middle of an aisle.

As for small shops one near me has been slated for doubling the price of baby milk powder from around £7.50 to £15, shouts of boycott for life were heard but then the shop owner was seen in Farmfoods, someone posted a pic of him buying the entire stock of bread and they let him take it? So then the calls were to boycott Farmfoods as they should not have allowed this to happen.

Since trading standards are saying it is illegal to profit in these times I think any huge hikes should be punished by boycott, though we should understand that some supply issues may naturally bump prices up a little.

I popped into a local corner shop yesterday. There was one other person in there and I was able to get everything I needed, nothing was ridiculously priced either - cleaning spray and wipes only £1.80 each which I expected they'd have hiked the prices on! They had bread, eggs etc - didn't think to look for pasta though, damn it! I'm sure the small shops are coping better than the supermarkets because people don't go in there intending to do a huge 2 week shop, they just get a few bits to keep them going, much like normal really.

My sister went to our local shop yesterday (in a medium sized village) and told me it was fine, quiet, well stocked. The staff had gloves/ face masks on but that was the only real difference to normal.

We went to Costco about a week and a half ago. THAT was a bit more like you see on the news (massive queues to get in, very busy). Hopefully going to a local small shop won't be too much of a shock to the system.

I haven’t been in a big supermarket for nearly a week. However, I needed to buy milk and soap bars as we ran out. I went once to the local petrol station which a surprisingly well stocked with the usual merchandise and there was only one other customer in at the time and we kept well apart. Second time I went to the local newsagent yesterday where they had visible markers, the ‘check-out’ processed involved a well choreographed scenario and they were well stocked including items they wouldn’t normally keep like pasta and different cleaning products. Although it is a small shop, it is well laid out and big enough for people to keep their distance for more than 2m. I think they will introduce a one person in at a time rule because my experience was some people feel too familiar going there and don’t observe the safety rules. I went in and there was an elderly man at the desk paying so I stayed well away waiting for him to leave the shop. As I waited, a lady came in and walked straight to the front gathering items along the way. So I had to wait for her - she took ages and had zero sense of social distancing even after she was told. I was still waiting in my corner when an older cheerful couple breezed right in with and the woman from the couple making a beeline for my dog. I stepped back and asked her not to do it. Small sample, but women appeared to be more blasé about the rules.
I think a small independent shop is less contaminated because it has much less traffic and the owners tend to be more careful about cleanliness. And customers tend not to pick things up then put back on the shelf like in an ordinary supermarket. And it’s easier to communicate with customers and tell them to keep their distance. But, look, some people simply don’t get the message.
I am reluctant to go shopping again but when I do, will be wearing gloves and one of those diy masks I found in the garage (I think a masks makes others think twice and they tend to keep their distance better).

I went and it was fine, all very calm and polite

Good to hear OP.