Essential retailer?

[Oldbagface]

I've just noticed on Instagram that our local Superdrug store will remain open during lockdown. They don't have a pharmacy. I am now genuinely confused. How can they be classified as an essential retailer?

@cardibach our Range still sells everything they stock and did so throughout lockdown. The government site said that a shop that is allowed to remain open can sell all items it stocks not just the essential ones. Maybe it's different elsewhere but in England that's how it worked

I'm wondering what's actually shutting to be honest.

In terms of retail, with click and collect allowed, I imagine many of chains are going to find a way to stay open.

[quote combatbarbie]@GrumpySausage the Range thought smart when the first lock down was looming.... They started to stock fridges....it made them essential. [/quote]
My local Range sells things like DIY items which you might need for emergency repairs, and lightbulbs, and pet supplies, I assumed it was that sort of thing which made them essential?

@ChristmasCantComeSoonEnough - about £7 for a month's worth of beconase and loratadine is widely available at a quid a 30 tablet packet. I have a prescription prepayment certificate that would make these things free on prescription but doctors tend not to prescribe them because they're so readily and cheaply available otc and seeing a gp was a bit of a ball ache, this spring. I usually just sniff and bear it apart from the end of june when that big grass pollen hit happens but didn't think that would go down very well inthe M&S food hall, this year.

The Range here has just had an Iceland put in last month. So can definitely stay open now without people judging it I guess.

Its now in theory my closest Iceland. However if I had a trolley of food. I want to put on a conveyer belt or similar and not hold each item up at the perspex one at a time. And bag into the trolley as there's no supermarket style checkouts.

I used superdrug last time for baby essentials as there was no queue and the supermarket was rammed.

IKEAs in UK will close Wednesday night.
Most stores should do Click and collect or Click and Deliver.
However, some items will be out of stock and I'm not sure how long delivery will take...I'd opt for click and collect because of this

Be aware that if you go in person to IKEA today or Wednesday, you will probably queue up to three times. Once to get in, once for the travelator if they have one, and once to pay. The queues in the bigger stores are INSANE. I'm meant to be on holiday but having to go into work because of this. Please, please be kind to staff! Customers really weren't last time we went into lockdown.
Also..if an item shows on the website as only being a few left....it's very likely it will be zero left by the time you've queued. So don't bother unless you need quite a few items...

@GrumpySausage

I've just seen the Range is remaining open.

I mean I love the range but surprised it classed as essential?

The Range being open helped my DD's mental health last lockdown. It was literally the only shop open round here. She bought paint and decorated her bedroom. Compost, seeds and flowers for the garden. Wine making kits to make wine with her Grandpa. And a big paddling pool to cool down in the hot weather. It was also a place for her to go. Non of those items are strictly essential but for her they actually were - and kept her mind occupied and distracted away from the depression and anxiety that often overwhelms her.

I suspect the Range were allowed to open because they sell pet food, batteries, cleaning products, tools for urgent repairs and all kinds of other stuff.

Just because other shops sell the same products doesn't mean that Superdrug has to shut. It sells essential items. It therefore can stay open.

I've just seen the Range is remaining open.

They sell food. And loads of great tat that I'll be needing if schools remain open, so yay!!

many people do not do a big weekly shopping trip.
many have to walk to nearest available shop.
and superdrug sells many essential products for home nursing and care. this helps to keep people at home doing self care or by family. takes pressure off local health services.
as for wine shops, well just as alcohol poisoning can be fatal, for those who are alcoholics, the sudden absence of alcohol can also be dangerous. body chemistry is complex.

There's medication calpol, nappies, babies stuff, sanitary so it's essential. Why would you question it? Are you happy that shops will be closed as this lockdown is going to make hundreds of shops go bust, which these shops haven't eve contributed to the spread of the virus. Are you for real?

I'm sorry I'm so pissed off with this right now as it's going to be a absolute blood bath. I've just watched dispatches about hundreds of people applying for jobs that is well below their skills because their industry closed. Now with shops, hospitality and other industries that will be closing from Thursday, is going to cause absolute carnage and with you putting up a such a shitty post is showing how out of touch you are. 3 people working in each Superdrug store would mean, 3 family homes would have a roof over their heads and food on the table. Fucking hell.

@GuyFawkesHadTheRightIdea May well be different in Wales - we had the much derided rule that shops shouldn't sell non-essential items even if they were open this time. Maybe now people can see some of the reasons it was a good idea. I doubt Johnson will follow as he hasn't shown much desire to learn from other countries since.

Still think it's insane that South Africa banned the sale of alcohol entirely during their lockdown. As PP said, dangerous for alcoholics, a sudden shock to the body.

[quote cardibach]@GuyFawkesHadTheRightIdea May well be different in Wales - we had the much derided rule that shops shouldn't sell non-essential items even if they were open this time. Maybe now people can see some of the reasons it was a good idea. I doubt Johnson will follow as he hasn't shown much desire to learn from other countries since. [/quote]
It's not a good idea , how have you come to that conclusion.
Honestly I don't understand why people complain that the range is open it was open last time so why shut now .
It's not even a lockdown it's just really leisure shut and not mixing households.
If I need to go out and get toiletries and the nearest shop is the range then I'd go .
It's probably much better to have these shops open then go to the supermarket putting strain on their stock .
If you don't want to go out don't go out . But ffs stop with the doom mongering it's not pleasant.

Would you rather a massive queue to get into the only shop that's open, or to have a few open with essentials to avoid this ?

I'm not complaining about the Range remaining open at all. Like a previous PP's daughter, I am expecting the range and wilkos to help me stay slightly more positive and allow me to focus on something. We've just moved house and I can now continue decorating and making it nice. Either that or go stir crazy.

I was just surprised they were remaining open as I usually go to them for tat like a glittery lampshade and not essentials. Id forgotten my local one had an Iceland too.

It really is a different lockdown than last time.

@islockdownoveryet you've quoted that as if it was my statement and it wasn't. I think everywhere should stay open. If the range wasn't open my DSis wouldn't be working and would have no way of supporting her family. I am COMPLETELY against closing ANY shops. My son has lost his small business due to lockdown. It's abhorrent that peoples income isn't seen as essential just because they don't sell bread and milk in their particular line of work.

Our big Sainsbury's was busy this morning but they had lots of toilet rolls.
Pasta and tinned goods were a bit depleted , but everything else was fine. Was gutted that my favourite fabric conditioner without any smell or allergies was a on for a pound and completely sold out when usually its section is full!
All the big supermarkets will report a profit this year I bet and I hope they give the staff a bonus!

@the80sweregreat

Our big Sainsbury's was busy this morning but they had lots of toilet rolls. Pasta and tinned goods were a bit depleted , but everything else was fine. Was gutted that my favourite fabric conditioner without any smell or allergies was a on for a pound and completely sold out when usually its section is full! All the big supermarkets will report a profit this year I bet and I hope they give the staff a bonus!

Some already have given their staff extra bonuses. I think Tesco did and I'm sure others will have done.

The Range just up peoples hours that's their idea of a bonus, and there's talk of a whopping extra 5 days holiday next year but no promises.

Good to hear about a bonus! Brilliant news. They really deserve it.