To think Aldi were completely OTT with social distancing.

[Lhigg]

So I appreciate there are rules. I've been to several shops which have had the 2 metre rule and people have been very good with it.

However I went to Aldi 2 days ago.

There were couples in the que, a few people with kids.

There were markers on the floor and someone letting people in when other shoppers come out. Very normal upto now.

However the guy at the door was saying you aren't allowed to shop as a couple so only 1 person per shop.

People who had come together (for whatever reasons) were seperating and getting their own trollies.

This guy was then saying 'I saw you come here together /getn out of the same car/Talk to each other.. You're not both coming in'

He was making plolder people stand out in the absolutely blazing sun) a older couple got out of a taxi together... He tried to say he had dementia. Guy was having non of it.

Then when we got inside they had staff patrolling the aisles looking for people talking to each other and telling them off like school kids.

It was a really tense atmosphere.

Then on the way out I heard staff say something to security about a gentleman with a stick.

I was waiting for my taxi and there was an Asian woman who went in. This guy was behind her. I'd seen no interaction between them.
He stopped the old fella and asked if they were together. He didn't seem to speak English and was confused.
The staff member gestured to this bewildered woman and said 'are tou with her?'
He said no

The fella came right up to his face (great social distancing) and said 'if I see you talk to her, or put anything in her trolley YOU. ARE. OUT'

Punctuating each word loudly like an angry dad.

The customer looked so upset.

I saw this with several Asian families but funnily enough he didn't stop to say the same thing to consecutive with people going in

The whole thing just felt OTT and intimidating.

I won't be going back. I inface WAS there with a friend who brings me shopping because I have alMH problems and mild learning difficulties but I still like to get my own shopping. He didn't say anything to us. Even when he saw us packing up the taxi together.

I'm scared to go back now as people were being shouted at like school kids. One woman questioned back inside the shop if the security guard was the police as she had only asked a woman in the dairy section if she could see an item flavour for her as she left her glasses at home

Consecutive WHITE people sorry

One person per household to do the shopping makes sense. The less people, the easier to socially distance.

Our local Waitrose only lets one person per household in. Obviously there can be exceptions but I think it makes sense.

That all sounds very OTT I shop in Aldi nearest me and I know they don't let any couples in. The other week a man and pregnant woman were in the queue, been queuing about 35 min. Didn't hear what was said but when they got to the front the pregnant woman was made to go and sit in the car.
Not sure if rules are being relaxed but last week I saw a woman with 3 kids being allowed in.

The rules make sense but their approach was all wrong. That's clear, nobody will dispute that shouting at people like that is uncalled for.

What's the point in coming on here to talk about it? Pick it up at the time, speak to the manager, tell the guy himself?

People who had come together (for whatever reasons) were seperating and getting their own trollies.

And that defeats the purpose and breaks the spirit of the rules. No wonder we have higher cases in the UK.

I have avoided Aldi & Lidl since lockdown even though would use them beforehand - heard stressful things about them and flick between the major supermarkets although I use the gun to scan my own stuff and tend to only shop Mon - Wed and early to avoid crowds and queues - found it ok so far. On FB keep hearing about people not maintaining SD in Aldi & Lidl and fights or people trying to hand cashiers bank notes that they were holding inbetween their lips. All sounded grim but would go back there if things improved perhaps.

Couple of years ago in Aldi, saw a bloke take off his false leg and hit another customer with it - always avoided that one since.

I think some discretion needs to be exercised but on the whole it's sensible. The fewer people go in, the quicker they can keep the queue moving.

It does make sense but I was more the intimation and rudeness. Plus patrolling inside and shouting at people. Surely that's not on?!

And some people do need someone with them.. You could say I didn't need to go but 1. I don't want to put the burden of a £90 shop onto my friend who is already shopping for her own family and 2. Just because I have learning difficulties, can't fldrive and have panic attacks if I'm alone in public doesn't mean I don't have the right to shop for my family. I just need a little assistance

It could be the same situation for many. Or other circumstances. He wouldn't listen to anyone. He was just shouting over them

Children have never been barred from shops. What if she is a single parent?
Or a million other scenarios of why she can't leave three children at home?

Not sure if rules are being relaxed but last week I saw a woman with 3 kids being allowed in.

That's fucking discusting. I think when you give some people an ounce of "power" they take a mile. Also racist assholes will always show their true colours.
I'm still shopping in my local aldi. They have markings on the floor and a guy at the door with a clicker but there the only differences I've noticed and there pretty common to all supermarkets at the moment.

I would complain to aldi's head office about the staff in that particular store. Especially the racism!

Nothing will change if nobody lets the management know.

Sounds weird. I'm surprised they have enough staff to execute that level of observation over peoples movements. They don't usually. It makes sense that only one person from each household should shop though unless there are circumstances that prevent this.

Bold fail.

It does make sense but I was more the intimation and rudeness. Plus patrolling inside and shouting at people. Surely that's not on?!

But maybe the customers at that Aldi wouldn't listen otherwise. Especially if they defy the rules by getting their own trolleys!! Maybe they needed to shout.

I didn't take it up with anyone as I was already shaking from doing my shop (please don't make fun, I have really bad anxiety) and I cannot deal with confrontation.

I'm just musing over it.

Isn't that what half of mumsnet threads are?

I'd be overjoyed if people took it seriously in shops here.

They queue outside then once in its madness. No one following the one way signs, entire families on a day trip, groups of teenagers etc etc.

I would report any racism though, that can't be allowed to continue.

I wish more shops were strict with enforcing social distancing rules. I'm shocked that families didn't follow the rules and even got their own trolleys.

@Cheeeeislifenow

I'm a single parent but I've been leaving my 2 at home by themselves as when I've queued previously I've never seen any other children in the queue so I didn't take mine.
These kids were teenagers 14, 16 ish and one smaller one. That's why I was unsure

The rules make sense, the way he was enforcing them sounds OTT and nasty.

Last time I was in Aldi, the extra people just made it harder to shop. I'm not saying that amongst them there won't have been exceptions as to why 2 people needed to be shopping. However there were many many couples or families in there and no way could ALL of them had a reason why just one person couldn't do the shopping.

Two people next to each other are harder to pass that a singleton. They block more of the shelf if you're looking for something.

Worst one was man, woman, 1 child, adults had a trolley each, then they kept stopping one on each side of the aisle having discussions about what they should or shouldn't buy. Honestly, for him it looked like some kind of novelty trip to a new place. He kept picking stuff up, ooh look, can we get this, what's this, shouted across the aisle to woman. Her saying no, we get this one walking over to him picking up something else. They were all over the place. Why on earth she couldn't have shopped on her own while he stayed at home/outside with the child I have no idea but he definitely wasn't helping with the shopping.

Someone should phone the shop manager. This really isn't on.

My local Aldi has been fab!

My local Aldi is brilliant I went in with my dd(18) we shared a trolley but I did my shopping she did hers and I paid for it separately nobody said anything about it I think it depends on the staff . My oh and I also do it when shopping for us and my parents at Tesco again nobody said anything

Please complain. Sounds like a little power has gone to this person’s head and the racism is unacceptable.

If someone is with a carer or has dementia then surely they should be allowed to both go together?
Generally as few people as possible in a shop at any time is the most sensible approach but there are times when it needs to be two people together and not just one from a household.
As ever, common sense seems to be overruled by "sticking to the rules" and I say this as someone who has pretty much isolated with my family for the past 8 weeks.