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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:
PanicAtTheDiscLo · 11/04/2020 19:19

DH has been sick and barely able to leave the house in two years. And I have complications from a recent injury that mean neither one of us is safe to go on our own.

Ugzbugz · 11/04/2020 19:20

Why do a full family all shop together during normal times? Bizarre Confused

PanicAtTheDiscLo · 11/04/2020 19:25

@HerRoyalCarbyLess
Oh lovely you sound like you’re having a time of it. You can take a “carer” with you into the supermarket. Our local branch didn’t bat an eyelid at us both going in together. Xx

Lordamighty · 11/04/2020 19:34

I complain about this every time I have to wait 40/75 minutes to get into my nearest M&S. If you are restricting numbers why on earth are you allowing couples in, it’s selfish & stupid. I shop for 3 households but still manage to go on my own.

FlappyFish · 11/04/2020 19:37

I just think people are doing it because they’re bored shitless and all normal routines are out the window.

Redwinestillfine · 11/04/2020 19:40

No idea. Irrespective of Corona virus I can't think of anything worse. Cooking together I get, but shopping?

MrsGrindah · 11/04/2020 19:46

@OnlyFoolsnMothers of course I do. But I usually feel totally safe. I don’t at the moment.

ginghamstarfish · 11/04/2020 19:46

Usual answer - twats. Even before this I've always thought it a bit sad for couples to be shopping together, seems pathetic that an otherwise competent adult can't do it alone. COuldn't pay my husband to go round a supermarket with me at the best of times. I am of course excepting special need etc before I get shouted down.

motheroftwoboys · 11/04/2020 19:47

I shop alone as shielding my higher risk DH. Mostly using local shops but went to local huge Tesco the other day - walked with granny trolley on wheels. Grin. Queue was huge but fine as take phone and headphones and listen to radio plays. Was surprised to see not just couples in the queue but some large family groups - one with 4 adults and 5 children plus one in a pram. Why they didn't leave the children at home with one or two of the adults was beyond me. I REALLY think the larger stores should be restricting to one adult per shop - apart from single parents with very young children who obviously can't manage otherwise.

Sunflower20 · 11/04/2020 19:52

I think they just want a chance to leave the house. It's stupid though.

MrsFezziwig · 11/04/2020 23:48

Because we need to decide what to buy and like to share chores

You have missed the point - since we are in the middle of a global pandemic, shopping has temporarily ceased to be a leisure activity. If you need two of you to carry the shopping then one can wait outside. Your liking of “sharing chores” does not trump my right to shop safely, given that as I am following the guidelines the most likely place I will pick up the virus is at the supermarket.

Oldsu · 12/04/2020 01:13

ginghamstarfish you can sod right off SAD and PATHETIC ???? how dare you DH and I have been shopping together for all the 48 years we have been married, its only me doing shopping at the moment because he is 71 and self isolating , but as soon as its safe to do so we will continue to shop together because we enjoy it, its part of our lives.

ineedaholidaynow · 12/04/2020 01:37

@HerRoyalCarbyLess are you on Facebook? Most areas have a Facebook group set up for volunteers to help families like yours. If you are not can you contact your school, they will likely have contact details of organisations that can help you.

I am a governor for a group of schools and they have continued with the food parcels probably because of the various issues that can make the voucher scheme not workable for a number of families.

I too wonder why there seem to be so many couples shopping. I am the designated shopper in our family, we decided it was better to just have one person having to risk going to the shops. I hate going and it does make it more difficult with a couple ahead of you if they are shopping together, especially if they are on opposite sides of the aisles. I am shopping for more than one household and you can normally tell the people who are, with the different bags, lists and look of concentration on their face as they try and tick everything off!

Bandia · 12/04/2020 01:48

I've been doing all our shopping alone. Next week we'll be going together. I'll do the shopping for our house, my brother and my parents. DP will shop for his parents, uncle and one of our neighbours. With six households to shop for now, it'll take both of us.

cologne4711 · 12/04/2020 14:26

its only me doing shopping at the moment because he is 71 and self isolating , but as soon as its safe to do so we will continue to shop together because we enjoy it, its part of our lives

You're being sensible enough not to do it now aren't you? And that is the point of this thread. Not people who do it in normal times.

Crickets · 12/04/2020 14:32

If you possibly can shop alone, you absolutely should. It's not just about the codependent or selfish shoppers. People shopping together are exposing themselves and the retail staff.

Most people are shopping for more than one household. Most people have one person going to the shops.

ifonly4 · 12/04/2020 14:33

DH volunteered to come with me as I'm struggling with getting food for us, my Mum and a few things for neighbours (can't push a big trolley) and then having to pay for all the shops separately, but I declined (which he agreed was the right thing to do).

DD works in a shop, she said there was clearly a Granny, Mum and DD (about 16) together in the shop yesterday. Why?

Every time one of us steps foot in a supermarket, there's a risk (albeit small) of using picking it up. If you're shopping as a couple, you've got double the risk of taking it home with you.

Sunshine1239 · 12/04/2020 15:20

None of the shops near me - even the it shops- are forcing a one person per shop rule

They have forcing a trolley per person to help with distancing not to control who goes in

So yesterday I went into Booths alone and didn’t need a trolley but still had to take one as they’re using the trolleys to maintain a distance

Sunshine1239 · 12/04/2020 15:20

Big shops

Kinneddar · 12/04/2020 15:59

My friend and her husband go together. They have 5 adults in the house & are also shopping for both sets of parents & an elderly aunt

tapdancingmum · 12/04/2020 16:05

We go together for our one big shop per week as we are shopping for 4 different households (sometimes 5 if our neighbours need anything). We have one trolley and a couple of baskets to keep shopping and bills seperate. The rest of the time it's either him or me going individually but I also need him to help carry the bags as one shop we go to is down the other end of town from Tesco.

I can see people's frustration when couples seem to be shopping as normal but nothing is normal at the moment.

Oldsu · 12/04/2020 16:11

cologne4711 I suggest you read ginghamstarfish post where they say Even before this I've always thought it a bit sad for couples to be shopping together, seems pathetic that an otherwise competent adult can't do it alone so the point of this thread maybe what people need to do during the crisis but her post was nasty and judgy about what people like me do in 'normal times' and that's not on

Stellamboscha · 12/04/2020 17:07

Saw a man arguing with the manager in Aldi last week insisting his partner came in and the manager insisting she stayed outside.
I was definitely on the side of the manager who is protecting his staff and customers by having as few people in the shop as possible.
Say you have capacity for 50 people in the shop at once -if you take couples and families others have to queue for even longer...

Fourfantasticfrogs · 12/04/2020 17:13

The couples I've seen recently at the supermarket also spend ages in front of shelves discussing what ham to choose completely oblivious to others waiting to get to the shelf. I went up and down three aisles and then doubled back and they were still there debating the merits of sliced meats. Drives me nuts ... that was Thursday. Hopefully they'll have tightened up on numbers next time I venture out.

curlyfries · 12/04/2020 17:22

It will be the same couples that have to constantly hold hands and can’t let go even if it means others have walk on the road to keep their distance 😡