Anyone been shopping this week?

[starfish4]

Just wondering if anyone has been into town this week. If so, how did you find it in terms of queues and access to goods you wanted to look at? Was town busy? Did you feel the shop assistants were watching you in case items needed to be quarantined? Either way, hope you managed to buy something nice.

I'm not that patient and want to feel I can relax while shopping, so probably won't go for a while. On the other hand, I used to enjoy a potter around town and at the back of my mind know I should support the shops if I want them to remain.

I went to Clark's to buy DS new shoes. We were the only ones in the shop. I had to measure DS's feet myself with the assistant telling me how to do it. Contactless payment. Absolutely fine

I went to Specsavers for an eye test & to buy new glasses. It was lovely! Only 3 people trying on glasses, all very clean & hygienic. Shop assistants were so lovely bar one. She wasn’t horrible but clearly thought all the PPE etc was pointless 🙈 she crossly put on gloves muttering they were a waste of time, kept taking off her mask & goggles & rolled her eyes at the fact she had to clean each pair of glasses people tried on!

I then popped into H&M to see if I could return an online order. Again, queue was calm, numbers in the shop sensible & shop assistants very nice. It was easy enough to keep apart although at times probs not 2m (but no different to the supermarket). The only thing I think they’ll have issues with is asking people not to touch clothes they aren’t buying. Kinda impossible if you need to access a size towards the back of the rail! Be alright if you are a size 6 but I need a size 10 which is usually in the middle of the rail!

I went to get some bits for Father's Day on Wednesday. There weren't any queues. The small retailers we friendly and felt little different to before COVID. Some of the bigger stores with one way systems, arrows, signs galore and people in masks felt a bit strange.

I went out today for Fathers' Day cards but, sadly, neither of the two card shops were open (Clintons' and Card Factory). I presume it is because lots of people would want Fathers' Day cards so maybe they wouldn't be able to manage the queues for them.

I popped to the Building Society (I was the only one in there but that is the norm, even in non-Covid times) then was pretty shocked at CEX having a non-socially distanced queue. There was a long queue outside the Post Office too as it now closes for lunch.

Yep went to the city centre, west mids!
Was lovely. Practically had the shops to myself.

I went yesterday - no queues to get into shops. Primark queue to pay was long. Lots of one way signs round the shopping centre.
I was very surprised how quiet it was. Ikea and dunelm today. Ikea took 5 minutes to do my return - about 20% of the time it took pre Covid! Straight in Dunelm and about 6/7 minutes to pay.

I have been out to the shops yesterday and today. It was fairly quiet possibly because weather has been crap. Had to queue for a few minutes outside a couple of shops. Overall it was totally fine, in my small northern city I did not go into a shop with rules about touching things and putting them back, but I have tried to get into this habit anyway since lockdown. Most people were not wearing face coverings.

I went 2 days because I had to go separately with my kids for Father's Day stuff as they won't go out together if they can help it (and frankly it's not worth the stress). One was also desperate for some new clothes.

It was ridiculous trying to get Father's Day cards, Boots had decided not to stock any, Wilko had 3 cards left, Tesco had a small selection. Not sure why retailers have decided Father's Day doesn't really matter this year.

Good shopping experiences (apart from card situation) - Wilko, Boots, Primark, Next, Tesco. Bad experience - M&S. They have gone so OTT with making their store "safe", it is now a totally shit shopping experience, like a big random jumble sale discount shop, awful. I will now avoid until they come back to their senses.

However shopping is definitely not a pleasant pottering experience at the moment.

I have avoided going out , not through covid fears but not wanting to do the wrong thing and be moaned at. This week I am back at work and popped into town a few times. It’s been great, the only queues here are for Robert dyas and the laura Ashley sale. All the other shops it’s straight in, smiley door people and all relaxed and chilled. Quieter than normal by far.

I heard Boots is not great, found M&S same as above, not great. Got caught up in following arrows past very frumpy frocks and difficult to find way out. Smaller shops seemed easier

I went to M&S just as they opened to collect an online order. It was in through one door, out through that door and the door in the food hall. There were more staff than shoppers. Great chunks of space have been created in front of the tills for queues for payment which looks very odd but I suppose it's another thing we'll get used to.

I went to Specsavers and it was the most relaxed and least stressful experience I've ever had in there. Normally it's packed but I was the only customer.

Our boots has been brilliant I went in last week and today and had only a very short and had sanitiser as you went in. I also went into primark, while there was a queue and I didn't find social distancing brilliant I got what I needed.

Yes I didnt go into the city, just our local town high street. I went into the post office, card shop, toy shop, bakery and mountain warehouse. No queues for any of them (perks of visiting on a rainy Thursday afternoon). All the shops had hand sanitizer at the entrance, one way systems and screens at the tills. Very well organised and safe.

Went to next. No one in there and they have sales on in all sections. All the staff are wearing PPE

Been to H&M, Superdrug, Next, Dunelm and smyths store. Quite calm experiences overall not much queueing involved I think this weekend will be busy however. Most staff lovely apart from a couple of the 'door' staff who were a bit abrupt/rude in a couple of the shops but not enough to put me off going back.

Shoe shop owner fell over himself happy to have us be his customers today. Nobody objected to dS trying shoes on (2 shops we went to). I notice the barbers are busy renovating...

My town is only crowded in mornings, fine rest of the day. No retail staff in PPE locally.

I went into a very small town yesterday, some shops were still closed but lots were open and it seemed quite busy. There was a one way system for pedestrians in the Main Street but not everyone was aware of it, I wasn't at first. It was not possible to always be 2 m apart from others in the street.

I only went in two shops. One I had to queue as only two people allowed in at once, which was fine, not a long queue but it started raining and I didn't have an umbrella. Inside most of the shop was taped off as it is quite big, a staff member asked me what I wanted and went and got it for me. Second shop was florist, you stand behind a taped line and say what you want, then when ready just step forward to pay.

It looked like many of the other shops were doing browsing of a sort but with limited numbers inside and sanitiser at the door. Some also had notices on displayed items, eg on dresses saying 'please don't touch the fabric. What I don't know is what will happen if queues formed at all the shops as very few have any room outside for queues to form.

Things are different, obvioulsy but the atmosphere was pleasant. People seemed pleased to be out and everyone was relaxed/friendly.