Is everyone going into shops as usual for things you can’t get online?

[Viv0321]

Is everyone going into shops as usual? The ones you can’t get online such as b&m home bargains etc.

Yes absolutely. I work in a shop so know how much they need the business. The high street really is dying 😭

I've swapped to online. I don't see much pleasure in it - masks can be hot and in spite of trying different ones my glasses still steam up! People seem more fraught and grumpy - some don't care about SD, some seem to care a lot, lot of "stepping around each other" if someone seems on edge. I know people keep saying the High St will die but really it has to be a much nicer place to be for me to go back.

I don't buy stuff online.

I want local shop assistants to keep their jobs, and the shops themselves to stay afloat.

Generally - why on earth are there people who haven’t been in a shop since March? Seems excessive

Because lots aren’t following the rules so case numbers don’t drop, lots won’t wear a mask, many seem to have no idea what 2m looks like. Plus I save parking and a car journey so better for the environment.

The local businesses that have adapted and deliver we have supported.

The more people and places the higher the risk and spread.

Yes. In fact I go to shops for stuff I could probably get online.

I go to the supermarket in person. I've used online deliveries twice and both times it was convenient but a TERRIBLE waste of plastic - about 20 separate plastic bags, including single items in one bag. It put me off.

I’m buying less on online and supporting the local high street and local farm shop, because I want then to be still here when this is over. Using click and collect if not in stock in store. If buying online using Etsy. But trying to buy less anyway because of the environment.
Plus I only managed to get one online food shop during lockdown, so had go to the shops.

I can imagine it is very stressful, in some cases, for people in customer facing roles. I've done similar roles before my current job and close relatives are currently working in stores.
What has really put me off going into more shops is how rude people have been, generally. Of course, this is potentially in response to previous customers who have been abusive to them. But I really don't want to be snapped at/have my shopping basket shoved out the way/eye rolling when I've been perfectly polite.

No everything online since March and with a few exceptions when I haven't been able to get delivery slots for groceries, it's been okay. It's just occurred to me really that there isn't really anything we have not been able to get yet, what are folks needing I wonder?

I want local shop assistants to keep their jobs, and the shops themselves to stay afloat.

I’m with you. A wholesale shift from in store to online shopping is very detrimental in terms of both quality and quantity of employment.

I go to shops. I would rather support my independent bookshop than Amazon. And I would rather buy my littles boys Christmas presents in the independent toy shop rather than online. If we all had the attitude that we only need to buy "essential for life" things then shops will close and people will lose their jobs. The high street is dying as it is, I don't want to lose my lovely local shops

Only been to clarks for the kids shoes - no other shops, all done online.

@Athrawes

Why would anyone go to the shops for anything that is not essential. Essential for life. Unless your bedding has vanished, it is not essential right now surely? What can you possibly need from IKEA that is essential to life and not just "nice to have"? This is how the virus spreads.

Why shouldn't anyone go shopping? Do you have data that shows that shopping is a major cause of being infected?

There is no ban anywhere in England on buying whatever the hell you like from any shop that's open.

We were all sick and self-isolating in March, couldn't get a delivery slot at all until the end of May. Seen through isolation by our Brexit stash, plus a couple of diamond friends who dropped off fresh fruit and milk and paracetomol when we ran out. Weekly shop on foot with DH after that (no car, heavy shopping, not fun when your lungs are still feeling battered), mask-wearing still a minority pursuit back then, ran a mile after seeing a member of staff gently coughing a dry cough all over the cheese...

As soon as we could get supermarket delivery slots, you'd best believe we did! Also got a milkman and have only set foot in a supermarket once since the end of May (to buy sushi for DS's birthday, as I couldn't get it delivered). Been to post office twice and local farm shop for beer maybe 3 times for 5 mins. Thank god for the internet...

Never liked shopping so barely shopped before and not at all now. All online. Love it. High street where I live is dead anyway and has been for years. Not been in a shop since March. Been to the pharmacy a few times that's all.

Why would anyone go to the shops for anything that is not essential. Essential for life.

I find this a very odd position to take.

I enjoy visiting stores. Why wouldn’t I do it? All things considered it’s not a high risk activity.

Been going to the supermarket throughout, which is next door to home bargins so in there most weeks too. Get cleaning stuff & toiletries there plus pack lunch stuff.
Once to a big shopping centre for school shoes and once to a retail park (argos, the range & asda) for Xmas presents and that's been it. Just waiting for pay day to finish off the Xmas shopping in a few stores early on a Sunday morning and I'll be back to only going to Aldi for the foreseeable.

Yes. I mean, I don't go shopping for enjoyment or a browse now, but I go where I need to.

Yes, but not as normal. I plan my visits for quieter times, and I go much less frequently. Maybe once per month, if that?

I get completely wound up by idiots not social distancing or wearing masks properly so I don't really want to go at all.

Mostly only going into shops for essential things. There are lots of reasons - got out of the habit in lockdown, no money for non-essentials as DH was out for work for 8 months, and no pleasure in browsing wearing a mask (35 degrees here in summer when the shops reopened), long queues and not being able to try things on. DH was doing the supermarket shop but now he's back at work I'm trying a collection, although I still go in to a few smaller shops for things the main supermarket doesn't sell. I wouldn't quite be listed as vulnerable but have a lot of medical conditions and mobility problems so would prefer not to add a dose of Covid to my problems.

To the person who asked why you would need bedding - I haven't bought any yet but my bottom sheets are full of holes and I'd really like to replace them. I'd count replacement underwear and maybe t-shirts as essential too (I don't have enough black cotton knickers for a week any more!). While people were out panic-buying toilet roll and pasta, I wasn't aware of anyone panic-buying sheets or underwear, so statistically, after more than 6 months, some people must need to replace these items by now.

@PetitFours

Yes. In fact I go to shops for stuff I could probably get online.

I go to the supermarket in person. I've used online deliveries twice and both times it was convenient but a TERRIBLE waste of plastic - about 20 separate plastic bags, including single items in one bag. It put me off.

The supermarkets don't care about the plastic waste, looking at what is happening in the welsh supermarkets they seem hell bent on adding to it, the more the better by the look of it.

Yes. In fact, I find myself shopping a lot more on the high road than ever before. I seem to enjoy it a lot more too. So sick of my 4 walls and this is coming from a complete recluse who's always hated shopping. I think I will emerge from our covid crisis a social butterfly who loves getting out. I certainly appreciate the high road more. Fed up of online shopping (apart from groceries- I don't drive and I've been getting deliveries for years) and I am sure I'll be doing a lot less.
I think online shopping is brilliant if getting out is hard (due to mobility issues, illness, living in a remote place, long working hours, or you have nursing babies and tiny tots to look after). Online shopping can be a godsend. So I don't want to knock it.

@BlueJava

I've swapped to online. I don't see much pleasure in it - masks can be hot and in spite of trying different ones my glasses still steam up! People seem more fraught and grumpy - some don't care about SD, some seem to care a lot, lot of "stepping around each other" if someone seems on edge. I know people keep saying the High St will die but really it has to be a much nicer place to be for me to go back.

Same here.

I buy lots from Amazon as returns are no quibble.

The last two times I've been in TK Maxx the bouncer on the door has given us a grilling.

H&M was chaos at the door with a ridiculous system, and Poundland was shut, not open since March. The queue at Dunhelm saw me soaked through and standing behind a massive family for 15 minutes who were coughing away. We're tier 2 and fairly big numbers here, so no thanks.

I go to Aldi early before work and find that fine, but the pleasure of going shopping for clothes etc has gone.

Yes, I very rarely shop online, I just don't like shopping on line. I work in a shop, I want to support other retailers and our local High Street, I enjoy the personal contact you get when shopping and, personally, I believe the risks are very low.

Plus I save parking and a car journey so better for the environment.

Is it better for the environment? A car or van brings it a usually a further distance to your house, plus the packaging

I’m going in to the shops for pretty much everything and anything

Other than my old friend Amazon for unusual stuff