Why do so many couples go to the supermarket together?

[Changingmyname1234]

I was at the supermarket this morning. I go once at the weekend so dh can supervise our young DC without WFH distractions. The past 3 weeks I've noticed quite a few couples shopping together. Some have even been wearing gloves and masks... I'm totally baffled why people need to do this. It makes social distancing so much harder and increases their risk of passing it on or catching it. Surely if one doesn't drive the other can just wait in the car. Maybe there a good reason that I'm just missing. I am just curious really...

Because it’s much easier and quicker with 2. I mean, I’m sure you’re a superwoman and can do every single thing without a partner, but some people can’t and do you know what? That’s ok

And yeah it's def quicker with two... which helps for one in one out

If the shop is letting say 30 people in at one time then surely of you going non-singly recognise the queue will move much much slower.

It is very annoying when you are single as it’s making the queues to get in even bigger as the shops are limiting total people allowed in. Plus you can’t distance as well once inside as there are so many groups clumping around together.

They don't do that where I've been going- one person comes out, me and my partner go in. We're quicker together so quicker all round

I can’t believe some of the responses on here!
What part of one person should go shopping unless absolutely necessary do you not understand?
People seem desperate to bend rules to make life more convenient for them. As someone who doesn’t it’s so frustrating.

I've never seen anything saying one person should go shopping, where is that?

I've been quite careful following guidance so surprised if I've missed it

My parents do. It’s just how they have always done things.

Since lockdown only one of them is going to do the shop.

I imagine when it’s over they’ll shop together again. I do hope so

Just checked the official guidance and it isn't mentioned. The shops I use don't use this system for queuing, so can't see I'm doing anything wrong. It's frustrating when you think you're following the guidance right and people judge.

Beaker. You really aren’t one and the same! What bit of 35 people only do you not get. If there is 2 of you then only 33 are then allowed in.

I think a PP touched on this point. If there are two people doing the same shop then it cuts the time in half as they can load and pack much faster. Leaving more time for other shoppers and less queuing time

I don't think the focus of this thread is people going round the shop separately to save time. It's the couples that go together even though one party (usually the man) is just a spare part out for a jolly getting in people's way.

And why if you need help carrying the shopping home can't the helper wait outside.

Of course after all this is over please do go back to couple shopping, taking the kids for a day out and getting in the way...

Because the shop I use doesn't do that system. One person comes out and two go in. They don't have overall limit. It's just the next group in the queue, whether that's one, two or three, so what is there to get??

amp.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/03/coronavirus-sainsburys-to-ease-shopping-limits-but-allow-only-one-adult-per-household

@beaker25 where I live all the supermarkets have signs to say one adult only and theyre running adverts on the TV saying the same thing.

That is a daft system. One comes out and then five go in? You do realise that’s how it gets overcrowded?

I don't shop at the supermarket so maybe that's it. None of the shops I use are using systems like this, so prob why is missed it as not relevant to me.

These are pretty small shops and don't tend to get too crowded. I've never seen five go in but people in pairs doesn't seem to be an issue

I know Sainsbury’s do it and Waitrose will tell the people couple shopping to come separately next time although I suspect some people will think it cannot possibly mean them.

It’s only for the lockdown.

Because we need to decide what to buy and like to share chores. We walk to the supermarket so for carrying reasons 2 people are needed. I do nip on my own occasionally but usually we tie the shopping onto a walk to avoid leaving the house more times. Food is the only pleasure we have left

As the number of deaths each day still hasn’t reached its peak, I would expect all shops to introduce the one person rule to help limit the risk of passing the virus on.

You have no idea if one or more persons in the couple has a medical condition in which they may need to rely on the other. Some conditions may not be outwardly apparent.

The thread is talking about supermarkets so I guess that is where the confusion has come from. You must be talking about very small corner shops. Everything else is closed.

Ps we have separate finances