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.

I'm in Wales but was in home bargains earlier and many of the non essential things are taped off and signs saying please don't shop for non essentials - including men's gloves but not women's for some reason

My daughter works for tesco though and has said if someone asks for something because they need it then they will go and get it from those taped off aisles and can buy them (kids clothes are also deemed essential now) - but if someone says 'I need a new kettle' they can have one, but can't go and browse down the aisle

@llovetheshippingforecast

Yes definitely garden centres should close ! Around my way they have been teaming with the over 70s... who seem to show little regard for the virus.

No we needs a hydrangea as an essential item .

It’s the wrong time of year for hydrangeas.

See, i think that's insane. Whats essential to someone may not be essential to someone else

Garden centres have shut in scotland

Gaping shops?! I mean vaping shops

absolutely they should open

essential items inc stuff in addition to food
e.g toiletries
pe supplies
medicine
not to mention stationery - i needed it loads to home school

yes supermarkets sell this but then you could argue you then don't need corner shops, why asda and tesco? why not only aldi etc

@demented pickle yes bulbs need to be replaced but kettles we are not all replacing regularly and if you can't order online then for the ode customer that needs this they could let them in to pick one
But reality is for a month most people won't need to

@dementedpixie

Garden centres have shut in scotland

Mind you so has everything else including schools Need home bargains for somewhere to go 😉

@randomsabreuse

I'd say B&M and Home Bargains are basically as essential as Lidl and Aldi except no fresh produce. Slightly more cleaning stuff to food, probably similar level of non essentials. Barely more "proper non essentials" than a big Tesco or Asda. Poundland/poundstretcher would be more on the essential side as well.

The Range, not so much. Click and Collect only please, same for Dunelm and Hobbycraft.

Basic clothes (socks, pants, tights) pretty well all kids' clothes

theyre already doing click and collect and its mayhem they should stop that tonight

@dementedpixie essential is quite obvious , a new rug or curtains or new lampshade is not essential , food , medicines are
And also most things can be bought online if you really want them

They need to make shopping a pain in the arse - to the degree that people only leave their homes because they really really need to and are prepared to stand in a queue to get what they actually need.. not because they are bored and fancy a wander around the shops spreading the virus.

People also need to work out what is really essential.. Little Bobby out grown a coat ? No you don't need to go buy him another . Improvise. Cut down an adult one.. bundle him up with 3 sweaters.. we have all gotten so used to thinking we NEED stuff - when in fact we have probably got enough stuff in our cupboards, sheds and garages to keep MOST people away from the shops for a few weeks. (Accept this is not the case for people living hand to mouth) ..

The ONLY way this will stop is when people stop mixing. Stop making going to the shops somewhere to mix.

[quote mammamia345]@implantsandaDyson but you then could argue why close fashion shops when we all need to wear clothes.
You could buy books /crafts online
If people are saying buy clothes online well then people could buy books /crafts online too [/quote]
But I'd yiu are on a very low income. Buying a few craft bits for 69p each or 99p 3ach from home bargains will be way cheaper than buying online. I know to most people, myself included £10 or £20 for some craft bits to get th free delivery is no big deal but for some it's unaffordable.

I went to b&M today, to stock up on the products I buy...rabbit food, straw etc.
Aldi don’t sell it.

@llovetheshippingforecast

They need to make shopping a pain in the arse - to the degree that people only leave their homes because they really really need to and are prepared to stand in a queue to get what they actually need.. not because they are bored and fancy a wander around the shops spreading the virus.

People also need to work out what is really essential.. Little Bobby out grown a coat ? No you don't need to go buy him another . Improvise. Cut down an adult one.. bundle him up with 3 sweaters.. we have all gotten so used to thinking we NEED stuff - when in fact we have probably got enough stuff in our cupboards, sheds and garages to keep MOST people away from the shops for a few weeks. (Accept this is not the case for people living hand to mouth) ..

The ONLY way this will stop is when people stop mixing. Stop making going to the shops somewhere to mix.

People also need to work out what is really essential.. Little Bobby out grown a coat ? No you don't need to go buy him another . Improvise. Cut down an adult one.. bundle him up with 3 sweaters.. we have all gotten so used to thinking we NEED stuff - when in fact we have probably got enough stuff in our cupboards, sheds and garages to keep MOST people away from the shops for a few weeks. (Accept this is not the case for people living hand to mouth) ..

Cut up an adult's coat to fit a child?

I was going to ask if you were having a laugh but experience tells me you think you're being clever, though I'm willing to bet you would never act on your own advice.

And what if you need sewing supplies to 'cut down' your husband's coat to fit your 8 year old? What if someone on MN deems them 'non-essential'?

I agree it is not good to have small funerals in normal times, but we are on Covid times. Better that than some mourners catching Covid at the funeral. Funerals are no place for small children anyway. In my family young children under 14 or 15 don't go to funerals. Instead they paint a pebble with a rainbow 🌈 to be placed on the grave while awaiting head stone.

@IcedPurple you can order a coat /sewing supplies online

People also need to work out what is really essential.. Little Bobby out grown a coat ? No you don't need to go buy him another . Improvise. Cut down an adult one.. bundle him up with 3 sweaters.. we have all gotten so used to thinking we NEED stuff - when in fact we have probably got enough stuff in our cupboards, sheds and garages to keep MOST people away from the shops for a few weeks. (Accept this is not the case for people living hand to mouth) ..

You do realise that most kids in the care system have spent their entire lives not fitting in because of the way the adults around them neglect them? Is it really OK to do this to them too?

[quote mammamia345]@IcedPurple you can order a coat /sewing supplies online [/quote]
So wait for maybe days for a needle and thread to 'cut down' a coat instead of running the massive risk of picking one up in a shop?

In any case, the poster believes it's not essential to buy children's clothes, so why put delivery drivers at risk to send one to you?

Do you really not see how absurd this discussion is becoming?

They sell cheap food and medicines and toiletries/sanitary products.

They should remain open.

If you are foinf down that thinking you should also close off clothing/housewares and all other non-essentials in supermarkets.

The range no.. that's just to maxx with a few food items but b&m have affordable food including chilled goods plus laundry and cleaning products and pet food

@bloodywhitecat

People also need to work out what is really essential.. Little Bobby out grown a coat ? No you don't need to go buy him another . Improvise. Cut down an adult one.. bundle him up with 3 sweaters.. we have all gotten so used to thinking we NEED stuff - when in fact we have probably got enough stuff in our cupboards, sheds and garages to keep MOST people away from the shops for a few weeks. (Accept this is not the case for people living hand to mouth) ..

You do realise that most kids in the care system have spent their entire lives not fitting in because of the way the adults around them neglect them? Is it really OK to do this to them too?

Kids who arrive at mine often arrive in what they are wearing and nothing else, if they are lucky they might have a carrier bag of dirty, tatty clothing that often doesn't fit them. I have had babies arrive in soiled babygrows and with a bottle of milk that has mould in the teat. Even with Amazon Prime I am sometimes lucky to get new supplies in 48 hours. What you define as non-essential can be essential to others in different circumstances to yours.

3 sweaters instead of getting your kid a new coat in this weather when it's in minus degrees here this week
I swear MN gets more and more bonkers.
As for cutting up one of mine or DH's old coats to fit, yeah that's all well and good if you can make a coat out of an old one I wouldn't have a clue where to start!
As for OP, of course places like Home Bargains should stay open.
They sell essential cleaning items, and food.
For some it might be their nearest shop.
Or would you prefer we all rammed into the same places instead - 'cos that makes no sense - surely it'd be better to have essential items shops open for those who need them?!

What you define as non-essential can be essential to others in different circumstances to yours

Well indeed.

Most of the foods sold in supermarkets are not essential. Nobody needs broccoli, ice cream or bottled water. People might be using trips to the shops as social outings to linger over the cherry tomatoes. Maybe having once weekly deliveries of bread, dripping and (maybe) milk is the best solution?

Major Tesco shareholders will be rubbing their hands with glee at this idea.