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Original poster

I dread having to go to the supermarket

29 replies

Realitea · 04/04/2020 17:20

For the first time today in nearly three weeks, I had to go shopping. I queued up keeping a distance apart but spent an HOUR in there! I just couldn't find what I needed and kept trying to dodge people then had to queue for ages to pay.

Not many people keeping their distance and no one sticking to the one way system they have on each isle

One member of staff kept talking to me about how she wanted a particular Easter egg and it had gone, she was too close and then she sort of sniffed and I instantly thought 'doom'!

Then I bloody dropped my debit card on the floor for good measure!

I just feel terrified now that I've picked something up as I was in there for so long. I used hand sanitiser as soon as I got out and again when I got in the car but I can't stop thinking now that I might have caught it today.
I really feel for the people working there.

OP posts:
LilyPond2 · 04/04/2020 17:49

If they are having loads of people inside queuing, that doesn't sound very well organised. Is there anywhere else in your local area where you could shop?

Original poster
Realitea · 04/04/2020 18:32

Yes, There are other supermarkets, I’ll definitely try a different one next time.
I wish I hadn’t have had to go, I felt quite safe tucked away in my house

OP posts:
Survivingchipandkippee · 04/04/2020 21:11

I had the same experience today in a large well known supermarket. It took me 1 hour 20 to get round. At one point there was 10 people in an aisle. I hadn’t been out in two weeks and feel I’ve just put myself and family as risk. I’m sticking the corner shop now

MissClementine · 04/04/2020 21:15

I go half an hour before closing to a largish supermarket and on a weekday evening. It has been fairly quiet and easy to keep a distance from others. I would not go in the daytime or at a weekend. I wear gloves too and only carry my phone in my pocket and my credit card so no fumbling in handbag.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 04/04/2020 21:28

Yes I feel the same OP. Used the Sainsbury’s scan and pack for the first time but found it very difficult and time consuming to do, so won’t be using that again.

People were all over the place. No one way system. The tannoy kept repeatedly announcing the social distancing measures but the staff were taking no notice of it at all. I had to ask for help at the veg weighing (wouldn’t scan) and the bloke I was talking to kept moving towards me and I had to tell him to stop. And he couldn’t help me anyway.

At the pay area one assistant was helping me with the non-scanning veg, but another passed me twice about a foot away.

It was a shambles and I don’t think I can face going back.

Original poster
Realitea · 04/04/2020 21:48

I feel the same, I’m not going g back to that again. It was horrible. Groups of staff standing around chatting, people coming up close.. one woman kept stopping for ages in every aisle and I made it quite obvious it was a real pain for me to try to get round her every time.

I’m sticking to small shops from now on, or going late on a weekday evening

I really hope I haven’t picked up anything today apart from my shopping Confused

OP posts:
Defenbaker · 04/04/2020 21:54

Me, too, OP, especially after my last visit, which was not great. I've decided to avoid shopping altogether now, unless we run out of something absolutely essential.

I've ordered a Morrisons food box to tide us over. £35 for enough food and basic household supplies for 2 adults, for one week. I got one for elderly MIL last week and it means she has enough for roughly 2 weeks, if she freezes some of the chilled meat. The site is very busy and sometimes the boxes are not available, but I've struck lucky twice, by going online after midnight.

cologne4711 · 04/04/2020 21:57

Well what would make it better is if Sainsburys removed the weight thing so you could just bag up as you go. Having to put everything on the scale, then pay, then bag, takes twice as long. In Waitrose you can bag as you go. But there was a queue to get in there today so I used Sainsburys instead.

I know you are supposed to be able to weigh the bag but it doesn't work for me and I don't want to have to call staff over.

catsandlavender · 04/04/2020 22:00

I agree. I went to Asda yesterday and there wasn’t much in the way of organisation, and there was a woman walking coughing without covering her mouth. People standing very close, a man asked another man to step back and he walked off coughing in a mocking way. A woman putting her fingers in her mouth?!?!

I’m finding it much harder than I thought I would. I feel paranoid until I’ve disinfected all the shopping and everything I’ve touched and washed my hands about four times. It’s just getting worse for me really. Hmm

Carbosug · 04/04/2020 22:02

My local supermarket, Supervalu in Dublin, was a shambles on wed. Too many people being let in, staff making no effort to keep out of customers way, a queuing system that meant people had to brush past each other and trollies not being sanitised. Won't be going back there.

ssd · 04/04/2020 22:16

I hope the shops aren't getting slack on the guidelines. My local tesco is very good, someone at the door monitoring customers entering. All other shops have dropped someone at the door and people come and go as they please. Staff don't seem to mind, although they gave probably had enough by now.
Thankfully most shops have the perspex screens up now.

Deux · 04/04/2020 22:21

Have you tried going in the evening? Ours closes at 10.00 and I’ve found if I go about 9.20pm I can whizz round and there’s hardly anyone there.

It might be better going once a week as late as possible. I think numerically your risk would be less even with more trips iyswim.

My local Lidl is really quiet in the hour before closing as well. Very well stocked as well.

Femail · 04/04/2020 22:24

I work in a supermarket so feel for us workers putting our health at risk. We have no choice to be there and putting up with abuse from customers to is not fun.

Northernsoullover · 04/04/2020 22:26

The Lidl nearest me is quiet if you go first thing. Preparation is key. I wear a hat, shades, mask and gloves. I have recruited my mothers shopping trolley so I don't have to use one of theirs.
When I get in I wash my hands and jump in the shower. Then I bag up the clothes I wore and put them in the wash. Overkill? I don't know but my behaviour is all I can control in this.

Femail · 04/04/2020 22:28

staff making no effort to keep out of customers way

More like customers getting in the staffs way. I've told many to step back and either ask me nicely to move or wait a few seconds so I can move to a safe distance . Customers all the time coming upto us close asking where stuff is and even barging through the aisles hitting other customers with there baskets.

Snorkelface · 04/04/2020 22:29

I'm going at night, I've just got back. I'm in a urban area where there's plenty of Tesco Express and Sainsbury Local type shops. There's no queue and they're still well stocked at that time or actively restocking. Got everything, even a ream of printer paper which I was going to have to get delivered otherwise. I've been to the big supermarket near me once in the last week and it was feckin awful, the worst bit was the 30 min queue outside on a pavement about a yard wide and next to two bus stops, so literally no social distancing outside the shop at all.

cowfacemonkey · 04/04/2020 22:38

We're sticking to Aldi and local small coop. Coop is empty first thing and DH says Aldi has been well stocked and not too busy when he's been. Haven't gone anywhere near the big supermarkets and will avoid as long as I can.

EightNineTen · 04/04/2020 22:38

My local asda have been the same, way too many people in the shop, half of them couldn't be arsed with social distancing, there was supposed to be a queuing system in place but it wasn't. Staff weren't adhering to distancing.

I was really upset and wished I'd never gone in.

Floatyboat · 04/04/2020 22:48

Northern soul. You should wear an apron. I don't think wearing a hat is necessary though.

Northernsoullover · 04/04/2020 22:53

I don't own an apron floaty or I would Wink. The hat? Probably not if I am showering as soon as I come in but I am such a fiddler. I am always scratching my scalp and it would be just my luck to have a good dig while I am waiting for the water to heat up.

Angelw · 04/04/2020 23:04

OP I suspect you unknowingly suffer from OCD.

Angelw · 04/04/2020 23:07

No specific advice I’m afraid Flowers

Original poster
Realitea · 06/04/2020 08:48

I do have OCD and generalised anxiety disorder so yes you’re right. How could you tell from my post? I’m quite impressed!

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 06/04/2020 09:01

Tesco’s has a queue outside and we all kept to the guidelines, bleach wipes for the trollies and hand sanitizer for every person entering the store - it was kind of a little work station

Enough room for one person per isle, sometimes two.

Tills one open one closed no queue straight into bags, pleasant lady on the till chatting.

I think the risk was extremely small. It also means less shops in the week and the kids are happy.

Ilikewinter · 06/04/2020 09:09

We went to Morrisons yesterday morning and I was dreading it, first proper supermarket trip in about 3 weeks.
We queued 20 minutes to get in, everyone kept their distance, security on the doors. They set the numbers of customers allowed in depending on the number of cashiers they have.
It was soooooo quiet in the store, plenty of room to move around, most things in stock, no queues at the checkouts.
I actually wish it was like that every sunday!

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