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.

They are important as they sell low cost essentials. Shutting them would force people to pay higher proces for the same products in the supermarkets which many cannot afford.

I don't recall cases in Wales being brought down drastically when 'non-essentials' were prohibited.

Yay! we're back to March with the "selfish covidiots" buying non-essentials!

The more things close the better ATM. Places of worship, garden centres, playgrounds and parks, funerals to reduce to 10 mourners, non essential shops should be just that supermarket and small convenience food shops only. In April takeaways were closed until end of May where I live. Schools closed too but online learning should be more consistent for all children primary get 4 hours daily and 5 hours each day for secondary children and all exams cancelled. Boris must take this chance to try to get ahead of the mutated strain before it spreads exponentially up the whole of UK. He can't be behind the game this time. He has just announced he will read a 8pm statement.

Some people do rely on those shops for food and groceries, particularly people on a lower income.

So are we not allowed to buy non-food now?

Those stores do sell essential non-food items.

I fail to understand what funnelling people into an ever reducing number of shops helps the situation.

Airports must be closed for all. We must stop this South African mutation believed could be immune to vacines.

Yes - it at the very least, click and collect only.

@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.

I buy the majority of my food & all of my cleaning/toiletries in Home Bargains & B & M apart from my weekly delivery from the milklady (who does fruit and veg boxes)

I buy loads of my food and toiletries and cleaning stuff from places like B+M. Also other bits and bobs that I need from time to time like batteries or light bulbs. Yes I could get it from the supermarket but I can only buy what I can fit in my pull along trolley and carry (no car) so I have to shop 2 or 3 times a week. Does it matter if one of those times is Tesco and one B+M? No it doesn't. Also B+M etc tend to be cheaper for non food goods than the supermarkets.
So we could either
A: all cram into supermarkets together causing product shortages or
B: spread the general public out in various different retailers and allow products that are physically there sat on the shelves and in their distribution centres to be sold.

My local B and M sells toiletries like shampoo and medicine like paracetamol as well as diy materials so you can do a repair in an emergency. So do Poundland

@BlueBaubles12

So are we not allowed to buy non-food now?

Those stores do sell essential non-food items.

I fail to understand what funnelling people into an ever reducing number of shops helps the situation.

It's because these shops aren't used by the typical MN demographic. Say that Waitrose should be shut because they sell lots of 'non-essentials' and you'll see a whole other reaction!

But can't you get these items in a supermarket?

Yes, however...

1. They sell essential items - therefore are allowed to be open under the restrictions
2. Supermarkets should not get all the business - our economy is struggling and we should do what we can to support it
3. Supermarkets will be even busier if these shops are closed - which is not productive for keeping the virus under control
4. B&M/ Home Bargains are a lifeline for some people on very low incomes. Yes, even Tesco is expensive for some!

I think there is enough to justify keeping these shops open, and they do sell food and essentials. Just because they sell other things as well doesn't mean they should have to close. Supermarkets sell lots of non-essential items as well - I don't see ASDA closing its clothing and electronics sections.

B & M and Home Bargains are both within walking distance of where I live. There is a Sainsbury's but they are very expensive for essential household items. To get to Morrisons or Aldi or Lidl I'd have to drive several miles.

I usually bypass the toy/household tat aisles.

Please don't take B & M away from me. It would be the last straw.

B&M and Home Bargains (in my area anyway) are in huge buildings with massive square footage. Easy to maintain social distancing. Traffic lights on the door at HB. Unfortunately smaller shops pose more risk IMO.

According to most people schools are the main places for transmission and supermarkets and shops are safe, on that basis they should stay open.

They may start condoning off aisles, just keep the food and cleaning ones accessible

The more things close the better

Re shops, I'd say the opposite. If there are more shops open, shoppers will be more spread out and social distancing is easier. Fewer shops mean more people crowded into the few that are open.

We also need to think about how the closed shops are supported. They're not allowed to trade, so the large shops/supermarkets are coining it in. I think we need to quickly increase corporation tax rates for larger businesses to bring in some funds to support the smaller ones.

What about M&S? Fair enough the food halls are open but at my local dept store one (huge) floor selling clothing is open. Due to the one way system they now have the entrance to the food hall via the main dept store. I was astounded on Saturday to see loads of people milling around looking at clothing. There were a number of tills open in the clothing section. I commented to the greeter that I thought it was illegal and she said she thought it was too and didn't agree with it.

The lower floor is ladies'wear. The upper floor has been sealed off but they have brought down all the children's clothes and all the men's clothing that is in the sale as they consider it "essential". It's a total piss-take when other clothing stores are not open because they are not considered essential.

I think B&M and Home bargains have more right to be open than M&S. I see plenty of people buying food and cleaning products in them.

I went to our local B&M the other day to buy cleaning products and was amazed at how many couples/families there were having a browse. This meant that to get to the cleaning aisle I had to squeeze past several groups (who refused to move aside when I said excuse me) looking at reduced Xmas decorations etc. When I went to pay there was only 1 till open and markers instructing people to queue along the electrical goods aisle. Whilst I was queueing I was knocked aside by several couples/families wanting to look at the goods on display near me.

I think if these shops want to stay open they should be forced to think more carefully about layout and also be stricter about people shopping alone where possible. I quite understand that some people need help and single parents can't leave their children at home but I very much doubt that all the groups I saw fell in to those categories. Supermarkets seem to be much better at this.

@Onetimenamechanger

They may start condoning off aisles, just keep the food and cleaning ones accessible

For a short while, I think there's a lot of merit in closing off the "non essential" aisles. We don't want to do the stupid Tesco thing in Wales where they closed off the aisle selling toothpaste and sanitary products, but there's certainly something to say for closing the clothing/homeware aisles for browsers to reduce the number of "leisure" shoppers.

Local Wilko was busy the other day (tier 4) - presumably because they sell some food items along with masses of other stuff, inc.cleaning and laundry products.

I buy food/cleaning products from HB & B&M. I don't mind if they cordon off the tat aisles, but hope they don't close.
These places, plus Aldi/Lidl, are essential for many people who can't afford to shop at the big supermarkets.

@Calmandmeasured1

What about M&S? Fair enough the food halls are open but at my local dept store one (huge) floor selling clothing is open. Due to the one way system they now have the entrance to the food hall via the main dept store. I was astounded on Saturday to see loads of people milling around looking at clothing. There were a number of tills open in the clothing section. I commented to the greeter that I thought it was illegal and she said she thought it was too and didn't agree with it.

The lower floor is ladies'wear. The upper floor has been sealed off but they have brought down all the children's clothes and all the men's clothing that is in the sale as they consider it "essential". It's a total piss-take when other clothing stores are not open because they are not considered essential.

I think B&M and Home bargains have more right to be open than M&S. I see plenty of people buying food and cleaning products in them.

Only the food hall is open at my local M & S. I'm astounded that the clothes floor is open at one.

There is a small M & S Food where you can get a few basics such as knickers, socks and slippers at the tills.