Do you think the likes of home bargains/b&m need to close?

[mammamia345]

I don't understand why they are open.
Keep the supermarkets open (obviously ) but the majority of people don't go in home bargains etc for food so just close them.
They don't need to be open.

But the message is clear - STAY AT HOME (this means not popping to B and M for cheap tat with all your wains for a ‘trip out’).

@maddiemookins16mum

But the message is clear - STAY AT HOME (this means not popping to B and M for cheap tat with all your wains for a ‘trip out’).

Or taking Ella and Tobias to browse the artisan sourdough selection in Waitrose.

@maddiemookins16mum

But the message is clear - STAY AT HOME (this means not popping to B and M for cheap tat with all your wains for a ‘trip out’).

If a shop is open, people are allowed to go in.

I'd rather not encourage for even more draconian rules tbh.

I'm on the fence. Obvs they're classed as essential and of course many go for non essential. But who decides what's essential?
During the march lockdown my 2m old at the time had barley any clothes so I got some in asda.. Online was out of stock.
He also moved from a crib to cot during the lockdown so had to buy that.

We had a small kitchen fire. Thankfully we managed to deal with it but 2 pans fooked.. I went to get pans in the range.
No pans.. No food.

And I know I was probably judged for being in the range looking at pans but tuff. I needed something to tide over.

I agree. In the last lockdown I know people who went there with kids for a trip as every where else closed. They should be closed or restricted to essentials only, as should supermarkets. If we're going through lockdown hell again every where needs to close.

The home bargains in my town is a third food and has a big chiller and small freezer section. The ex mill town I live in is quite deprived with a few pockets of wealth, was involved with a study of it about 7 years ago. So maybe that’s why mine sells a lot of food as there is a definite market for it.

@maddiemookins16mum

But the message is clear - STAY AT HOME (this means not popping to B and M for cheap tat with all your wains for a ‘trip out’).

Nope, but you can pop into B&M with your wains if you're a single mum and you need food, toiletries and washing powder.

Not sure if it’s been said but I get my guinea pig’s hay in b and m. The only alternative they eat (but doesn’t set off piggie 2 with allergies) is sold by the range..

I also get my guinea pigs hay from B&M. Fist bump.

Yes, they should be closed.... garden centres should be closed too!

I buy most of my weekly shop at B&M - why the fuck should I have to go somewhere else because they also sell candles and tat?

@Valkadin

The home bargains in my town is a third food and has a big chiller and small freezer section. The ex mill town I live in is quite deprived with a few pockets of wealth, was involved with a study of it about 7 years ago. So maybe that’s why mine sells a lot of food as there is a definite market for it.

Definitely a market for it here too. Lots of town centres here don't have any supermarkets but they do have lots of discount retailers - B&M, Home Bargains and PoundStretcher, for example, all of whom sell a large amount of food and other necessities.

It's very privileged to be able to say "Shut the bargain stores" when you can afford supermarket prices and also have a vehicle to get you to them. Not everyone can drive to out-of-town superstores and many rely on bargain stores to feed themselves. Not everyone has internet access to buy online, either.

Bargain stores like B&M are a lifeline to many families. Shutting them would cause more problems than it solves.

@AxMan76 why does WFH make Ryman essential? I survived perfectly well WFH in the first lockdown without Ryman, as did...everyone. I honestly don’t think people understand what ‘essential’ actually means anymore. I think we can safely assume people will find a way if their printer or mouse packs up. There’s this thing called ‘the internet’.

@Lanaa

Yes. There's a Home Bargains appreciation society Facebook group. There are 133000 members. 99.9% of the posts are people buying vases, candles and wax burners. Is ridiculous.

Ooo thanks for the tip I'll join

@category12 oh hi!
Do you also have to make multiple trips a week as usually their shelves are bare? I have 5 piggies and we go through 2kg a week.
I go to B&M as little as often but hay is 80% of their diet. I’m not going to neglect or ration them because a stranger said so!

Maybe they could shut off the non essential sections like they did with shops in Wales.

I buy cat litter in B and M because it is around 1/3 of the price of Asda, a lot of their food is also cheaper than the supermarket as are some of their toiletries and household goods.

I think the biggest thing IMO is queueing needs to come back. Supermarkets especially are letting far too many people in!

And of course some don’t have access to the internet, a car, the means to buy at supermarket prices but I fail to understand how these people’s needs take precedence over the lives/longterm health of retail workers and their families. I’d love to see how many of these stores opened if everyone shopping there was means-tested to ensure they couldn’t afford/didn’t have access to alternatives elsewhere. (And no, I’m not suggesting they do this).

@StudentHelp It's the one place I can rely on to get hay usually - the supermarkets stuff is usually rubbish, even if they have any in. I've got 3 piggies, so we go through quite a lot too.

They sell food, often at a better price point than the likes of aldi and they sell toiletries and cleaning stuff. What difference would shutting them make, other than forcing people into fewer shops and possibly having to pay more than they can afford for things?

why does WFH make Ryman essential? I survived perfectly well WFH in the first lockdown without Ryman , as did...everyone

Well, good for you, but why presume everyone is in the same boat as yourself?
Printer ink/cartridges?
Paper etc?
Not everyone can order online.

Asda and tesco and even waitrose also sell candles and tat.

But closing every other outlet down and forcing everyone into the big supermarkets isn't exactly great for supermarket workers, is it? If you care so much for retail workers.

Oh ffs not this shite again. They are a shop that sells food and cleaning products/toiletries, usually a a much better price than a lot of supermarkets. If they are open (which they should be) they can sell whatever is in their shop, why not? Honestly taking an extra 10 mims to have a look at lampshades or blankets isn't going to kill anyone. So bored of people demanding that every single shop except supermarkets shut, and all "non essential" items should not be sold. Like the tampons someone was refuse last lockdown? If you don't want to go, don't go, its that simple.

If they forced them to close it ff nn essential aisles they would shut and furlough staff as it wouldn't be worth temhem being open.