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Original poster

Why do so many couples go to the supermarket together?

182 replies

Changingmyname1234 · 11/04/2020 15:41

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...

OP posts:
HandfulOfFlowers · 11/04/2020 17:40

This is not my experience at all where I live. Over 90% of the people in there are shopping alone.

touchtheceiling · 11/04/2020 17:40

Of course you can hear chat from 2 metres away, this was not a loud or busy street.

WotnoPasta · 11/04/2020 17:45

When I went to a big supermarket last week there were numerous couples. Including one where the bloke wandered around on his phone, blocking the aisles and getting in everyone’s frigging way. He didn’t participate in the shopping at all.

justlonelystars · 11/04/2020 17:46

Usually (pre lockdown times) my husband and I do go shopping together because we like each other’s company and it’s handy to have two people shopping rather than one.
If we’re doing a “big shop” now, just one of us goes in the car however sometimes we combine our once a day walk with a trip to the local supermarket when we just need a few things. At this point, we are together but my husband waits outside while I go in, it’s also helpful to have two people to carry bags home.
I don’t think that’s particularly unreasonable tbh!

PoorlyWeasels · 11/04/2020 17:51

I had to do a big shop yesterday; first time I've been to a supermarket in 3 weeks. Most of the people in the queue were alone. 2 in front of me was a couple. They strolled in, faffed about in the first aisle going backwards and forwards. Had to wait ages for them to move away from the fruit, then as soon as I'd got to the grapes and was picking them up the woman bundled back, stood right in front of me and leaned across me. Not elderly, but absolutely no clue.

Everyone else in the shop was taking care not to get too close, and not to spend too long browsing. On my way out I saw a young couple with a toddler in there. Just why?

Original poster
Changingmyname1234 · 11/04/2020 17:53

I'm sure they do it specially to piss off Mumsnet. Grin

I am really not a judgy person and don't generally care what other people do but it definitely made my shopping trip longer and more difficult today as I tried to manoeuvre round couples blocking aisles, spending ages discussing what they were having for dinner in front of the milk etc

I know there's people who go together and shop separately. This threads not about them so much more about the tag alongs who get in the way and aren't actually doing anything useful. Extra people in supermarkets aren't helping anyone especially not the staff!!

OP posts:
TARSCOUT · 11/04/2020 17:56

I am shopping for myself, my DM, my MIL and DS. Can't get it all due to limits, can't get deliveries so need to take DP with me with another trolley. Would really rather not have him there and he really doesn't want to be there either and we are both fed up with people looking down their noses at us wondering why couples are shopping together.............

Chelsea567 · 11/04/2020 18:00

I have been with my husband because we're shopping for us, my sister, my neighbour and my parents. Once a week only so they're big shops. So we queue together, get a big trolley each. He does 2 shops and I do 2. I tried doing all 4 at once and it took me about 90 minutes to do it! I get a staff discount on mine only so can't bundle it all together. So I think this is ok, but a whole family with one trolley is not ok.

safariboot · 11/04/2020 18:09

99% of cases, because they're idiots who aren't getting the message. It's one person per household in the store. If someone else has come to carry stuff home or to drive, they can wait outside.

HerRoyalCarbyLess · 11/04/2020 18:12

Well I've got the opposite problem to a lot of people here who need to take someone shopping so take their DP.
I have no DP.
I have to go shopping at some point this week.
I receive the food vouchers for my kids as they are on FSM.
The closest supermarket, and the one I got vouchers for, is sainsburys.
I cannot physically walk to sainsburys, do a shop and then carry it all back. To even get that far in the first place, I need my wheelchair.
Then I have to somehow shop, and get it all home, while I have someone who is not a member of my household babysitting my 3 children, one of whom had a heart attack earlier this week. He's 11 and I'm terrified of bringing something back to him. And I've no idea how I'm going to do it because the vouchers are in store only. But I know sainsburys have the one in one out rule, so even if my mum does come down to babysit my children (flouting the rules) and brings my brother so he can help me with shopping, he wouldn't be allowed in the shop with me.
I don't know what I'm meant to do.

Crystal87 · 11/04/2020 18:16

We don't drive so it helps if we both go because then we can carry it back. However we've been taking it in turns to go during the lockdown and just struggling back with it. One of us stays home and the other minds the kids. I think if possible, people shouldn't go as a couple as if say they're letting in 5 at a time, it just takes longer to let people in and it's more unnecessary people mingling.

Parker231 · 11/04/2020 18:33

@HerRoyalCarbyLess - could a friend or family do your shopping and leave it by your front door to avoid you needing to take any risks?

HerRoyalCarbyLess · 11/04/2020 18:36

parker I'm going to print the vouchers and see if my mum can do it for me, but it's made extra difficult as my youngest has coeliac and a tomato allergy, so everything has to be checked. And my mum doesn't drive either so getting it to mine would still be a struggle.

HerRoyalCarbyLess · 11/04/2020 18:37

And also, she would have to collect the vouchers from me, then go shopping, then bring it back, which is a lot of faffing about.
There doesn't seem to be a simple answer for me. I don't have RL friends. I'm autistic and struggle with maintaining friendships.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 11/04/2020 18:38

Because like so many common sense approaches to this lock down people think they are special and won’t catch or spread this disease.
Ignorant, selfish and pissing me off- it takes one capable adult to do a shop. Only single adults or a single parent with their children. I’ve seen couples of 20 something flat mates, couples, couples and their children, an adult and their teenage child all shopping. Disgraceful

Original poster
Changingmyname1234 · 11/04/2020 18:42

@HerRoyalCarbyLess
you sound like someone who could definitely use a bit of help in these unprecedented times. There's lots of people volunteering and would be more than happy to help. Not sure how to apply but it seems like it would take a load off your plate. Allergies and coeliac are fairly common so it would be reasonable that someone would be able to accommodate this...

OP posts:
AgeLikeWine · 11/04/2020 18:43

I have noticed that the people doing this are mostly older. I assume it’s a case of she doesn’t drive, because many women of that generation never learned and he doesn’t shop, because many men of that generation left that to their wives. My elderly PILs go shopping together for exactly that reason.

HerRoyalCarbyLess · 11/04/2020 18:46

@Changingmyname1234
I've no idea how to get help. Until now the school were dropping off food parceks as they were running a food bank, and now its half term I don't know what I'm meant to do or where I'm meant to turn for help Confused

Iflyaway · 11/04/2020 18:48

Well, as a LP I see it and have to laugh. Joined at the hip I think.

Most people are terrified to live their life alone and be independent.

MrsGrindah · 11/04/2020 18:52

In my circumstances it’s cos I don’t feel safe. I live in a city centre that still has a lot of drug users aggressively begging on the streets. I was harassed and followed the first week of lockdown so I’m not going out on my own again. There was no one around to help me.

So me and my husband go out together just once a week so we can buy and carry what we need.

PerfidiousAlbion · 11/04/2020 18:53

I dont know but I find it bizarre.

I always assume that one of them cant drive/theyre co-dependent/one of them is controlling/they enjoy being joined at the hip.

MrsGrindah · 11/04/2020 18:54

Posted too soon..

The rest of the time I stay indoors. DH has a walk each day. So I think on balance we are being sensible.

Iflyaway · 11/04/2020 18:55

I have noticed that the people doing this are mostly older. I assume it’s a case of she doesn’t drive, because many women of that generation never learned and he doesn’t shop, because many men of that generation left that to their wives

What age are you actually talking about? 60's? 80's.

I'm 65, learnt to drive at 17 and am perfectly able to shop by myself thanks. Even walking or on the bike.

wedding2020 · 11/04/2020 19:04

My partner and I have to go shopping together as we can’t drive there and one of us couldn’t carry it all back on our own. One person can’t wait outside as the supermarkets near us are mostly in the basement and you can’t take the trolleys outside so one person would have to carry all of the shopping out which isn’t really possible. Luckily there haven’t been any queues outside the supermarkets here so we haven’t had to deal with the one in one out rule. Everybody’s circumstances are different so don’t judge people so quickly.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 11/04/2020 19:13

MrsGrindah do you ever go out alone, even pre lock down?