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Covid

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Original poster

Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't been to the supermarket

164 replies

Snuggles81 · 29/05/2020 23:35

So the last time I stepped foot in a supermarket was March 20th on my way home from work, before all the social distancing changes happened in stores.

Since then my DH has done all our shopping and I have now got myself all stressed and anxious about going to one.

It's not the risk of catching the virus that worries me (I'm still working in school, going out for social distance walks etc) but the change and rules on the supermarkets and some of the way people have be treated.

I suffer with anxiety anyway and always overthink new situations.

I've now made going to the supermarket this big issue in my head.

Am I the only one feeling this way? Such a silly thing to worry about but the thought of going shopping of any kind worries me.

OP posts:

ScarfLadysBag · 30/05/2020 05:59

We've had our weekly online shop as usual. We don't ever tend to physically go to the supermarket (pre-Covid),and no plans to change that now

PoloNeckKnickers · 30/05/2020 06:06

I go to the Co-op as there's never a queue and it's quiet and calm. The local Tesco/Sainsburys/Aldi still have horrendous queues so I'm sticking with small shops and the Co-op not in case I do anything 'wrong', but because I don't want to queue for longer than 5 minutes

2catsblack · 30/05/2020 06:16

I am shielding and have only left the house once since before lockdown. My husband is shielding with me as we live in a small house (1 bathroom etc). I only went to the hospital for a check up - had to wear a mask. I nearly got run over, got confused, irritated about people coming too close etc. When I got home I thought I was so lucky not to have to do the social distancing!!!

Whenwillthisbeover · 30/05/2020 06:27

Oh I’ve been to them all, highlight of my week. Avoid Asda is their customers are incapable of following arrows on the floor. I have only been to a smaller Morrison’s and that was chaotic, sexist I know but usually middle aged men dumping their trollies in the middle of the aisles and browsing elsewhere also in the middle of a narrow aisle.

Our Tesco is good and well organised and Sainsbury’s and M&S a dream.

Follow the arrows, keep your distance, gel before and after and wash your hands when you get home.

Happynow001 · 30/05/2020 06:39

I've been out twice since lockdown as initially I couldn't get online slots from any of the supermarkets I registered with. Couldn't get shopping for my mother either though managed to get her some charity food bags. Then managed to register her as a priority with Sainsbury's and she's had regular deliveries.

I can also now get online deliveries from another supermarket but will go out in the next couple of days as some of the items on my online order seem more available on store.

Social distancing seems well organised in the stores I've been in - I've just taken a book to read in the queue.

SunshineCake · 30/05/2020 06:43

I could have written most of your post. I had done one shop in over nine weeks. I could tell going out was becoming a fear. I told a friend, they challenged me to go. I went. Wasn't as normal but nowhere near as bad as I was worrying about.

Miriel · 30/05/2020 06:45

I haven't been in ages. The last time I went there were socially distanced queues outside and a free-for-all inside. I got very panicky and overwhelmed. I decided to leave with only half my shopping done and then because of my emotional state I accidentally skipped the queue. Logically I should have known that a supermarket that busy would have a long queue somewhere but I wasn't thinking clearly and stood in an aisle with an open checkout but no queue. I didn't realise my mistake until I'd finished emptying my basket, and I still feel guilty about it now.

Since then I've been shopping online. It means trying to get a slot at midnight sometimes, but it's better than the alternative.

YinuCeatleAyru · 30/05/2020 06:55

I haven't been in a big supermarket but I have had to go into smaller local shops a few times and that's felt rather unsafe as the aisles are narrow and if you are waiting to pay you are standing right by a shelf of bread and people keep coming too close to get a loaf.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/05/2020 07:02

I go twice a week to both Asda and Aldi, I also take DS as I'm a single parent.

justanextrahalfhour · 30/05/2020 07:09

I've hardly been either, I did have to pop in once as I had no choice.

From the ones round here Tesco have been dealing with it the most efficiently, they have one way system and limiting numbers. I'm told evenings are pretty empty so it's worth checking with locals (maybe via local fb page) to find out when is the best time to go.

I had to go to M&S last week and their food hall had no system in place whatsoever, people going up and down narrow aisles etc, reaching over people, and it was full of pensioners!

ihatelockdown · 30/05/2020 07:12

This was exactly me! I met my neighbour (socially distanced) and she walked round with me and showed me what to do! It's actually fine and I've been a few times now

shivbo2014 · 30/05/2020 07:19

I have been going every week but I am a very anxious person and if like you I hadn't been I would be feeling nervous too. Honestly it will fine though. Maybe go around 7pm the first time when it's quiet.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 30/05/2020 07:20

Very rarely, i am lucky to have got a delivery/click and collect.

i did once, and it was awful, anxiety inducing.
actually i did it again which was far better but i wasnt familiar with the shop.

cortex10 · 30/05/2020 07:39

Also not been in a shop of any sort since mid March. DH goes to the local M&S once a week and rarely has to queue to get in. Online shopping has increased significantly though.

Aridane · 30/05/2020 07:42

I prefer supermarket shopping now (speaking about Tesco here). What I particularly like is the single queue for the tills, with the staff ushering you to the till when it’s your turn (instead of the inevitable bad luck I have in choosing the slowest moving queue). Plus not having people ra, their trolleys up my arse or crowding round me, reaching over me to get their items.

wherestheotherone · 30/05/2020 07:46

Shops in march we're awful. Empty shelves, panic buying, huge queues, just awful.

I was in for 7 weeks before I either went mad or went for food shopping.

It's totally different! Calm, quieter, plenty of stock. I like the bigger shops such as they have wider isles and more room. I wear a mask. I wait for people to pass to keep my distance and I try to follow the arrows as best I can. I feel safer now than I did in march!

Oysterbabe · 30/05/2020 07:46

Honestly you'll be fine. I enjoy going. But I have a 2 and 4 year old so it's like a little holiday.
Different supermarkets are dealing in different ways. I tend to go to Lidl because it's closest. Often a small queue to get in but then inside it's the same just with fewer people. I think they should leave it like this forever

wherestheotherone · 30/05/2020 07:48

Oh and definitely go later in the day. It's much quieter and usually not a queue.

Alialialiali · 30/05/2020 07:51

I wish more people stayed at home to be honest. Hopefully this is something that will persist. Just to warn you.. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS OUT THERE.. A DEADLY VIRUS IS ON THE LOOSE. Protect yourself and your family, stay at home.. do it for the key workers.. do it for the NHS.. do it to teach Cummings a lesson... do it for whatever you hold dear... In fact, you are literally exposing your husband to DEATH by sending him out to do your groceries... keep him indoors..cherish the people you love... yes, stay indoors. Don't be fooled by all these people saying it's safe out there. They're literally trying to murder you by saying that.
Stay safe.

Hellothere19999 · 30/05/2020 07:55

I go all the time and have a 5 month old baby who comes too and I am fine. It’s not that bad. Almost normal tbh. The only annoying thing Is awkward people trying to not go near anyone, well sometimes you have to and you might touch something someone else has touched anyway, get over it.

TakemetoGreeceplease · 30/05/2020 07:57

When I went to pick up my click and collect yesterday the queue to get in must have been at least 100 strong. Right round the carpark and onto the street. There is no chance I will ever stand in a queue like that to get into a shop. Took me less than 2 minutes to get my shopping. If I didn't have a car I'd be getting home delivery.

Oysterbabe · 30/05/2020 07:58

What a helpful thing to say to someone with anxiety.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 30/05/2020 07:59

in the beginning there were people telling when to go in to the shop, but that seems to have lapsed a bit , unfortunatley.

Batshitmeansbatshit · 30/05/2020 08:02

Hello, we had to self isolate because of symptoms at the beginning of lockdown, so were in need of a big shop at the end of 2 weeks. I felt very odd the first time I went to supermarket and I actually explained I was “new” to the chap at the door, who couldn’t have been nicer about it.

Ask local friends for a “good” supermarket for Social distance shopping. Here Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s are Doing well, but not so much Asda. I’d leave Aldi And Lidl until you have got you hand in elsewhere

And clean your hands when you are done.It is honestly fine.

ChippityDoDa · 30/05/2020 08:08

@Alialialiali I’m assuming that’s a wind up. Which is not very funny for the people on here who seem to have a genuine anxiety about this. If it’s not a wind up then you need to talk to someone, your thoughts are more dangerous than the virus.

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