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Original poster

Is anyone “going for a wander around the shops” anymore

197 replies

Makinganewthinghappen · 22/07/2020 07:55

I used to enjoy going for a wander around the shops, charity shops, books shops etc and just picking up bits and pieces.

Since Covid though it’s just not enjoyable doing that - Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining about the measures taken I know they are needed but it has made a relaxing rummage pretty impossible. Wearing a mask, the one way systems etc and notices not to touch anything your not going to buy makes are a little off putting!

I really miss my little trips to our local shops and I have been trying since they reopened to get back into the swing of it Smile one or two have on mine delivery which I have used but most don’t, a few have already shut down.

Is anyone else finding shops difficult to use at the moment? I feel bad for not supporting the shops - I literally live on the Main Street I look out of the window and see how empty they are!

OP posts:
JacobReesMogadishu · 23/07/2020 07:26

Nope.

I needed socks and knickers and thought about popping to M&S or next. But instead paid £3.50 demand shopped online.

And that’s when I actually needed something....can’t imagine just going browsing for nothing in particular.

JacobReesMogadishu · 23/07/2020 07:33

I think the no touching thing is odd. I have actually been in a bike shop as needed a new helmet. I tried a few on.....not sure if I wasn’t supposed to, no staff about to ask. But I can’t buy one without trying.

My thought is that people need to wash their hands after touching anything, then it does matter if the item has the virus on it (unlikely). If you buy something leave it in the bag at home for 72 hrs.

I also test rode a bike and they did say if I didn’t buy it they’d have to quarentine It for 72 Hrs. I think impressing on me that I needed to be serious about the bike not just fancying a spin round the car park ( I did buy it).

thisstooshallpass · 23/07/2020 07:37

I tried when all non essential shops opened but not all non essential shops were open?!

I miss the charity shops. Two of about 8 are open in my town.

I have learned to be more patient, a supermarket shop does take longer so I switched to Sainsbury's and use the smart shop app.

Waiting in line to choose a broccoli can be painful though.

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 07:40

@Titsywoo

I'll still go when I need things. So many people on here saying "i go when it's all back to normal" but if too many people say that these places won't be there anymore and so many jobs will be lost.
That’s true, and it’s obviously not a good thing. But unfortunately people aren’t going to spend their leisure time and spare cash doing something they find stressful and an unpleasant experience.
SallyCinnamon3009 · 23/07/2020 07:51

Going into our local large city today and very excited about it. I've also been to a nearby smaller city and it was fine. So nice to have a wander around Primark. I'm trying where possible to avoid online and buy in shops at the moment as the high street is really struggling which I find quite scary.

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 23/07/2020 08:00

but if too many people say that these places won't be there anymore and so many jobs will be lost

Yes. So the government need to realise they are strangling the economy and lift some restrictions so that shopping becomes something people can enjoy again.

Kazzyhoward · 23/07/2020 08:06

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

but if too many people say that these places won't be there anymore and so many jobs will be lost

Yes. So the government need to realise they are strangling the economy and lift some restrictions so that shopping becomes something people can enjoy again.

If they lift restrictions and people continue to be idiots by not social distancing, washing hands, etc., we'll be back into lockdowns which will do a hell of a lot more harm!
literategiraffe · 23/07/2020 08:08

I did a lot of shopping online anyway as I always used to find going into the city a bit of a faff! More so since I had my DD.
I dont mind wearing a mask but all the shops having different rules about which way to go and what you can do just gives me anxiety and makes me feel stressed so its not really an appealing idea. I'll stick with online shopping and using my small local cafe for my coffee fix!

Kazzyhoward · 23/07/2020 08:09

these places won't be there anymore and so many jobs will be lost

I think the chain stores are doing more damage to themselves by not having stock in the shops, some branches still not re-opened and random shopping opening times.

Small independents are weathering the storm far better because generally they're stocked up and open pretty normal hours.

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 08:10

If they lift restrictions and people continue to be idiots by not social distancing, washing hands, etc., we'll be back into lockdowns which will do a hell of a lot more harm!

So I guess the government are going to have to accept that the High Street, which was already struggling, is probably a goner. They cannot expect people to put themselves through a miserable experience in order to keep the high street afloat, and obviously it won’t survive another lockdown if that were to happen.
So what are they going to do about it?

Porcupineinwaiting · 23/07/2020 08:47

There's nothing can be done about it immediately @Drivingdownthe101. Maybe the high street will come back once it's safe, maybe it wont.
Our local shops, many of which were on their last legs in January , are doing really well. So maybe post COVID we'll shop locally or online.

calllaaalllaaammma · 23/07/2020 08:53

I think the problem is that a lot of shopping centres will go bust and they are normally owned by pension funds.
I think they should try and open cafe seating etc to make shopping a more pleasant experience. I will hope every now and then, we enjoyed shopping in Brighton last week.

Sunshinegirl82 · 23/07/2020 09:09

I just popped into the co-op next to my office to pick up a few bits and I was the only person in a mask despite the new rules today so it will be interesting to see how that goes!

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 09:14

@Sunshinegirl82

I just popped into the co-op next to my office to pick up a few bits and I was the only person in a mask despite the new rules today so it will be interesting to see how that goes!
New rules are tomorrow aren’t they? They certainly haven’t made it into any legislation yet.
TheLegendOfZelda · 23/07/2020 09:16

There's really no need for half the things that make it a miserable experience. Up to the shops themselves to create a warm and welcoming environment. I don't feel like I am a plague carrier walking round my local supermarket as they have got a grip of themselves.
Tannoy announcements, signs everywhere, staff in masks hovering anxiously. Just don't bother if you think it's that risky. Shut your shop and stay at home. Normal music isn't going to increase covid risk, and I think we all know by now that there's a pandemic. Smiling staff, or at least ones who don't look petrified, might help too.

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 09:22

@Porcupineinwaiting

There's nothing can be done about it immediately *@Drivingdownthe101*. Maybe the high street will come back once it's safe, maybe it wont. Our local shops, many of which were on their last legs in January , are doing really well. So maybe post COVID we'll shop locally or online.
I disagree. Waiting for something bad to happen and deciding how to deal with it after the event is how we got into this mess in the first place, let’s face it. There are already empty premises all over the high street. It’s only going to get worse. Taking action now (or at least putting plans in place) will help to mitigate that damage.
makingmiracles · 23/07/2020 09:28

Went into town yesterday for school shoes and a browse, thankfully Clark’s was not too busy and we only queued for 5 mins for sizing, their hand gel was really sticky though as was card factory so in future I’ll just apply my own in front of them as mine absorbs quickly and is not sticky at all. Had a browse round a charity shop, had to wait outside for a couple of minutes for less people but found 3 dresses for dd for £1 each and 2 gingham school dresses for £1 each so happy with that. Planning on heading back out today. We all have facemasks so not too worried and I always carry handgel in handbag so apply before entering and when leaving shops.
Didn’t bother with boots as queue was huge and some thing I will just opt to get online tbh as with prime it’s just as easy. I will however continue to try and support charity shops as I love them and they really need the custom to survive, going to see what others are open today.

Bloops · 23/07/2020 09:28

The main thing I miss is having a wander around the shops and then just going for a coffee and a chat with my partner :( I can't bring myself to go shopping right now (apart from essential food) I also HAVE to try things on which you can't do atm. I'm short and slim and finding things that fit is disastrous at times.
I cant wait for the day I can just go for a wander and a sit down coffee and not feel nervous about it. Seems like a very long way off at the moment though.

makingmiracles · 23/07/2020 09:29

THE mask wearing is unpleasant, but we only wear them in the actual shop unlike some who are walking around everywhere with them on, I don’t know how they do it as 20mins in a shop and my face is sweating!

Porcupineinwaiting · 23/07/2020 09:35

@Drivingdownthe101 putting in place plans to support economic recovery and job creation yes. But to prop up something that was struggling anyway,? Not sure.

Maybe the idea that we all drive into town to work Mon-Fri to work and again on Saturdays and Sundays to shop/eat/recreate has had its day?

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 09:41

[quote Porcupineinwaiting]@Drivingdownthe101 putting in place plans to support economic recovery and job creation yes. But to prop up something that was struggling anyway,? Not sure.

Maybe the idea that we all drive into town to work Mon-Fri to work and again on Saturdays and Sundays to shop/eat/recreate has had its day?[/quote]
I didn’t say they need to prop it up. Maybe it’s had his day... in which case we need plans around how to use the empty premises productively and how to support the swathes of unemployed. But doing nothing until it happens isn’t the way to go.

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/07/2020 09:48

But to start off with they could do some proper research into which of these measures are actually necessary to prevent transmission. For example would trying on clothes actually lead to an increased risk? As a PP says, it’s likely that a lot of these measures that make the experience miserable are completely unnecessary.

FluffyKittensinabasket · 23/07/2020 10:17

I’ve been to John Lewis, Boots and Dunelm. Very quiet, I enjoyed browsing.

flumposie · 23/07/2020 14:15

Went to Debenhams, M and S , River Island and New Look with my daughter yesterday. All very quiet ( about 4 other shoppers in each shop/ floor) . I love trying clothes on, especially as I often try 2 sizes on. Came back with 4 items each. For both of us 1 didn't fit. Too short for my daughter and too tight for me. Cant be bothered returning them. Now trying to lose the lockdown weight to get into the top. But it does put me off buying things when I cant try different sizes.

LittleRen · 23/07/2020 14:21

Yesterday I went with my Mum and three boys (aged 2, 4 and 7) to our local huge Marks and Spencers. My kids all used to love going there, they love the coffee shop and food hall. It was fine, we went to the coffee shop and it was nice and relaxing, had a look around, went into the food hall. I have a really great mask, I have bought lots but fell on this one from Ebay - barely know I am wearing it. The older boys wore a mask too, they like it. Not many other people wore masks.

It was still enjoyable and I will do it again. Sanitiser everywhere, people generally respecting each other. However it was a huge, lovely, spacious, clean store to start off with.

I am a big shopper though, online and offline, I am shopaholic so it would take a lot to keep me away Grin. I tend to do my clothes shopping online but will buy home wear etc from shops,