Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Familys shopping together

213 replies

Amira19 · 10/01/2021 11:32

Went to my local Morrisons yesterday and it was crazy, family's of 5 plus shopping together despite the schools closing to prevent spread , groups of people blocking aisles gossiping to each other trying to get past whilst keeping distance. I thought the whole point was to reduce the number of people going into the shops. I heard the staff getting frustrated with the situation. ( single parents of course should shop with dc but this was groups of families, seems like its going to be never ending)

OP posts:
Ragwort · 10/01/2021 13:03

There may be a few genuine cases where one adult can't shop alone but I also get fed up of seeing families using shopping as an 'outing' ... but people never seem to think they are the problem ... my own brother was complaining about the same thing before admitting that he, his wife & teenager all went shopping together (no health/mobility issues, each can drive & has their own car .... Hmm).

Sparklingbrook · 10/01/2021 13:03

Our local Waitrose restricts numbers going in, and has a regular tannoy message requested people shop alone if at all possible.

I think the supermarket family day outs are because there's nothing else to do.

LooneyLovefood · 10/01/2021 13:05

I have friends who have been looking for things to do with their DS (2) since everything closed. Their favourite activity now is taking him to the supermarket on a daily basis as "he likes to help put things in the trolley!" I was horrified when they told me. My DS (also 2) has been in one shop since last March and that was an absolute necessity as he needed new shoes in the summer - we literally went in to the shoe shop, got shoes and left for home. The thought of taking him shopping for entertainment would horrify me at the best of times but especially now. I've been furloughed since March last year but DH has still been working, because of this if we need something from the shop (which isn't often as we get a weekly delivery from Tesco and I very carefully meal plan before it) he goes by himself. Shopping is not a family event! Unless you have a really clear need to shop as a pair (as some PPs have stated), there is no need to shop with anyone.

MynephewR · 10/01/2021 13:06

People are bored, kids are bored, people aren't scared of covid any more.

When there were queues to get into shops then I would shop alone so that I wasn't making other people wait longer to get in. But now that there's no queues to get in shops anywhere we go as a family. I don't care if we catch covid in tesco 🤷‍♀️

amateursleuth · 10/01/2021 13:07

@Ilovemyhairbeingstroked

They need to be putting people on the door and have a queuing system In place again , like in March
Yes, get the army to enforce one adult only either alone or with their kids if necessary.
Santaiscovidfree · 10/01/2021 13:11

Our Asda has 2 mahoosive blokes on the door. Who stood and watched a family of 5 none mask wearing walk in without a care... Boiled me.

Mogwaimug · 10/01/2021 13:11

I have to admit people going for family trips out and coffee mornings in the supermarket is something that has annoyed the heck out of me even before covid.

Original poster
Amira19 · 10/01/2021 13:14

MynephewR
You don't care that you catch coving in the supermarket but what about the potential to affect someone vulnerable who has no option to go out do you still not care then?

OP posts:
Funkypolar · 10/01/2021 13:15

Why not get the army to shoot anybody not shopping alone?

wishingitwasfriday · 10/01/2021 13:16

@MynephewR

People are bored, kids are bored, people aren't scared of covid any more.

When there were queues to get into shops then I would shop alone so that I wasn't making other people wait longer to get in. But now that there's no queues to get in shops anywhere we go as a family. I don't care if we catch covid in tesco 🤷‍♀️

It'll be interesting to see if you still feel the same should a member of your family end up in intensive care with COVID.
EvilPea · 10/01/2021 13:18

I get some people have to, but surely not the numbers you see.

They all seem to spread out in the aisles meaning social distancing is impossible.

peak2021 · 10/01/2021 13:18

Shopping should be a sole activity unless one of the people has a disability or there is really absolutely 100% no way childcare can be provided (lone parent for example). In normal times as well in my opinion.

One of the ways I would reduce it as a social activity is to bring back large shops closing altogether on Sundays.

lynsey91 · 10/01/2021 13:19

It may not be a law (it should be at present) but the advice is to shop alone.

I do get that is not convenient for some people for instance if they don't drive and have to get a bus but for the majority it is perfectly possible.

I have never really understood why so many families treat supermarket shopping as a fun outing. I am sure for the majority of children it isn't. At the moment though it is just pretty stupid and selfish.

I can't believe people are going because "there is nothing else to do"!! There must be something other than going to a supermarket to do. Something indoors or just going for a walk, going to the park etc.

I did click & collect from the start of the first lock down until around October last year. I am going back to click & collect because I am sick of supermarkets being full of groups who don't keep their distance, people not wearing masks properly, trolleys not being cleaned any more, no one way system any more etc.

One of my neighbours have 3 children. They both drive. They are still all going to the supermarket and at least 4 times a week. Goodness knows why

IceDiscoSkater · 10/01/2021 13:20

This really pisses me off too

Members of our family work in supermarkets
They are aghast at families coming into shop.

It is becoming a day out.

I go and shop alone when everyone else is at home.

Zero policing of the one member rule at any supermarkets in our town.

And there have been outbreaks in supermarkets with supermarket staff , it’s been in the press in the last few days.

Awful selfish behaviour , normal NT adult couples should not be shopping together.

Doubles the infection risk.

People are thick and selfish.

movingonup20 · 10/01/2021 13:22

We go together, but on foot no kids. Lidl is pretty empty so not a space issue. Waitrose were enforcing a 2 person per group limit unless a single parent/sn situation by politely asking if one parent could wait in the car/take kids to the park across the road (I was at the cash point queuing for a bit, lady ahead took ages)

PaddingtonsSister · 10/01/2021 13:22

Staff on doors to enforce masks santising and numbers

lynsey91 · 10/01/2021 13:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AgathaX · 10/01/2021 13:23

MynephewR - that's such a selfish, uncaring attitude. It's not all about you.

hobbyiscodefordogging · 10/01/2021 13:24

@Funkypolar

Why not get the army to shoot anybody not shopping alone?

😂
I'm glad you made me laugh, because I was getting annoyed thinking, oh here we go again with the "I went somewhere and couldn't believe the number of people who had gone there!"

I know of someone who has chosen not to learn to drive but likes to choose her own fruit and vegetables etc so shopping is always a family outing for them. She also complains about the number of people sending their children into school because she doesn't like too many people accessing it along with her children, so figure that one out 😂

darksideofthemooncup · 10/01/2021 13:25

I work in a supermarket and it's driving me nuts. We can only advise it and can't enforce it. I have absolutely no issue with one parent and small kids, or elderly/ disabled people with a carer but families shuffling about together and blocking ailed, chatting with friends they happen to bump into isn't on. They treat us workers as invisible and reach across us as if we aren't there.
I don't know the solution but people need to think about how their actions are impacting others

Nicknamegoeshere · 10/01/2021 13:27

I asked this same question ages ago before the proverbial really hit the fan. I was mostly told to mind my own.
It's apparently because a lot of men are supposedly incapable of shopping and their partners are supposedly incapable of writing a list. And/or one of them can't drive.
Also because it's a "fun family day out" when there is nowhere else to go.

hyunasthebest · 10/01/2021 13:29

My family do go shopping together atm, is this not allowed again now? It's hard to keep up with the changing restrictions

RedskyAtnight · 10/01/2021 13:30

I think some of it is habit. My parents are still buoycotting one local supermarket that refused to let them both go into the shop at the same time back in the first lockdown. They've done their big shop together for years and don't see why they should stop now (both perfectly capable of shopping on their own).

Nonamealoud · 10/01/2021 13:31

@Funkypolar

Why not get the army to shoot anybody not shopping alone?
Maybe we should bring back the gallows for anyone who dare to leave their own home 🙄
Funkypolar · 10/01/2021 13:31

Why not close the supermarkets? No shopping allowed. We are in the middle of a global pandemic you know, granny killers the lot of you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread