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Finally supermarkets are being stricter!

201 replies

Nicknamegoeshere · 22/01/2021 15:01

Re the Shop Alone rule.
It felt safer shopping in-store yesterday.
They should have toughened up earlier but st least they are now!

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 23/01/2021 13:25

@Whatever9999

Who the hell would want to make a trip to the supermarket family day out. Maybe its just because of my autism, but no way would I want to be in a supermarket a second more than necessary. In fact I don't even want to be in there that long. If I had to shop in a supermarket I would need someone with me, but you wouldn't know that just by looking (unless you actually understood what stimming can look like). They're too big, there's too many people, too many products, keep changing which aisles things are in. I always forget what I actually went in for, or end up trying to escape.

Not that we have a big supermarket here, but if we did if I didn't have someone with me I'd end up having to go in 3 or 4 times, one after another as I become overwhelmed.

Again I look perfectly "normal", but I was wearing a lanyard in these situations well before mask exemption became a thing. How would you be able to tell just by looking at me that I need a carer?

My ds is the opposite. It is his birthday today, him and I are going to Asda later for his birthday treat. (I do need some shopping) No convincing him otherwise, he wants to go to a shop and then have a Domino's for tea.
WalrusWife · 23/01/2021 13:37

DH works on a military base. They only wear masks for PR photos but day to day, nobody seems to care about Covid or distancing. No masks indoors. I think he’s at much greater risk going to work with hundreds of people than his weekly shop to Waitrose to do our big shop.

LucilleTheVampireBat · 23/01/2021 14:06

@WalrusWife

What happens to people like OP when Covid is over? What is there to judge then?
I wonder this too. They are going to be bored rigid when this is over. I suppose they will have to count down the days until the next GLOBAL (caps for emphasis) pandemic. 🤣
WTAFIhavelosttheferret · 23/01/2021 15:53

@WalrusWife

DH works on a military base. They only wear masks for PR photos but day to day, nobody seems to care about Covid or distancing. No masks indoors. I think he’s at much greater risk going to work with hundreds of people than his weekly shop to Waitrose to do our big shop.
Catterick Garrison typically has the highest covid rate in North Yorkshire each week.
WTAFIhavelosttheferret · 23/01/2021 15:55

@WalrusWife

DH works on a military base. They only wear masks for PR photos but day to day, nobody seems to care about Covid or distancing. No masks indoors. I think he’s at much greater risk going to work with hundreds of people than his weekly shop to Waitrose to do our big shop.
During lockdown 1 the army were building the local nightingale.

They swarmed down the street in massive groups and then the Tesco express made them line up socially distanced and limited how many could enter- it was quite funny

redsquirrelfan · 23/01/2021 16:59

What happens to people like OP when Covid is over? What is there to judge then

To be fair I have always judged people who make family outings to the supermarket and let their kids run amok and scream the house down.

And although covid has made it worse, people who take up a whole pavement and won't give way to people coming towards them have always annoyed me.

Plenty of parent and child parking threads to delight the judgey MNer too.

My particularly bugbears are pavement parking and garden bonfires. And there are all the things I can pick up on as a grammar pedant too!

Everyone is judgey, this has just given them more things to hoik their judgey pants up about.

Catterick Garrison typically has the highest covid rate in North Yorkshire each week

Yes interestingly Rushmoor in Hampshire has had some of the highest infection rates - it houses the Aldershot garrison.

LApprentiSorcier · 23/01/2021 17:10

My elderly parents shop together - they've had to give up driving and it takes two of them to get their weekly shop home on public transport. The alternative would be one of them having to make multiple trips on different days. My father is partially sighted and wouldn't be confident alone, and my mum is so tiny she'd be limited in what she could carry.

DdraigGoch · 23/01/2021 17:21

@Souther

And what are single parents without support supposed to do? Get shouted at in front of their kids? As long as it works for you I guess it must be ok.
If you are a single parent then you are not going to be with another adult then are you? The signs at Tesco are quite clear, shop alone unless with children or a carer.

No need to bring hubby (or wifey) along for the journey in other words. Your teenager can also wait in the car.

itsgettingweird · 23/01/2021 17:27

I got collared today.

Even I couldn't work out if I was breaking the rules Grin

Have a support bubble. Another single parent family and we met through our teens doing a club so we are friends and teens are friends. They also have same disability.

Met today and as usual left teens gaming and we went for a walk.

So 2 adults walking which again is another rule.

On way back decided to stop at supermarket as both needed a few things to tide us over for a few days.

At door asked if we were together - yes.
Same household - no but yes as a support bubble we are!
Shopping separately? Well no! But yes buying for each household.
You need to SD as you weren't if 2 adults meeting - actually we don't as support bubble and one household under that rule but shopping for 2 physically separated households.

Even me and my friend were confused and laughed and poor guy looked confused and we just said we know he has to ask and actually what are the rules in this circumstance? Even he didn't know!

Trickyboy · 23/01/2021 17:33

@LApprentiSorcier

My elderly parents shop together - they've had to give up driving and it takes two of them to get their weekly shop home on public transport. The alternative would be one of them having to make multiple trips on different days. My father is partially sighted and wouldn't be confident alone, and my mum is so tiny she'd be limited in what she could carry.
What on Earth are your parents doing ? There are services offered throughout all the councils in the country, not to mention numerous charities who will shop for the elderly. (If family are unwilling or unable)

Not only should they not be doing it as a couple .. but elderly people travelling to a supermarket on public transport and back is just about ticking EVERY risk factor for adding to a NHS already in its knees.

Please ask them to stop and arrange for someone less vulnerable to collect their shopping for them.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 23/01/2021 17:36

@Littlefluffyclouds13

I'm taking my 20 yr old dd with me every time. Guess what? She's had covid in October and in the period since then, has developed acute anxiety and is currently medicated and living at home instead of living the life she should be at uni.

Op, I bloody can't wait to win the argument when you start on me in the supermarket or are you more of a keyboard 'warrior' and only keen to share your shit hidden away?

None of these are reasons for shopping in a pair. I'm sure it's good for your DD to get out of the house, but there is no need for her to be in a supermarket.

It's so selfish. The more people like you enable the virus to spread, the longer all of us have to spend in lockdown. But apparently you don't give a fuck about everyone else's child/YA who is struggling with isolation?

tinytemper66 · 23/01/2021 18:17

I am taking the vulnerable, disabled person I care for shopping on Thursday afternoon.

TroosAndShoes · 23/01/2021 18:31

None of these are reasons for shopping in a pair.

Could you give us a link to the legislation showing the approved reasons for shopping in a pair? I've looked on www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#when-you-can-leave-home and can't see them listed anywhere.

tinytemper66 · 23/01/2021 18:43

The mention above about the military. My son is in the RAF and is confined to his room as someone went into work with Covid. He had a negative test but still feels poorly so is having another one tomorrow(on advice from the medical staff.on base). He told us tonight they have tightened up on safety now as too many are off or isolating due to a few not isolating when they should have been.
We live over 5 hrs away so am anxious wait to see if he has it.

LApprentiSorcier · 23/01/2021 18:47

Please ask them to stop and arrange for someone less vulnerable to collect their shopping for them.

Well, I would if I could. I live 200 miles away so I don't have much influence.

TroosAndShoes · 23/01/2021 18:47

I hope your son is feeling much better soon, tinytemper66. Flowers

tinytemper66 · 23/01/2021 19:30

TROOS- thank you ☺

KylieGreatorex · 23/01/2021 19:42

I don't feel safe around anybody who isn't wearing a mask. I understand that some people have their reasons and all that but nobody ever thinks about the effect their exemption could possibly have on the rest of us who have to be in the shop with them. It feels like we don't matter.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 23/01/2021 19:44

@TroosAndShoes

None of these are reasons for shopping in a pair.

Could you give us a link to the legislation showing the approved reasons for shopping in a pair? I've looked on www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#when-you-can-leave-home and can't see them listed anywhere.

It's not about compliance with the rules/law. It's about reducing the spread. Anyone who wants lockdown to end as quickly as possible is avoiding any unnecessary contacts that can pass on Covid.

If one person in a supermarket has Covid and 60 other people are there at the same time, Covid is more likely to be spread than if 30 people are there. The Law is there to act as a safety net for people who are too stupid to understand this.

AvoidingNextdoorNeighbour · 23/01/2021 20:27

@nettytree

As a cashier my heart sinks when a single person comes to my till with an overflowing trolley. It takes ages for them to unload it and then repack it the other end. It is so much quicker if there was 2 people. One at each end.

I always shop with DH for our large family. We usually buy a full trolley load plus extra in our hands. Comes to about £250, sometimes nearer £300 if we want to fill the two freezers. We live over 45 minutes drive from a supermarket so go monthly or less if possible. Now we can't go at all.. Neither DH or I would be able to do it alone. One unloads while the other packs. Alone I'd be in Tesco for a significantly longer time or would have to go 3 to 4 times as often. Surely longer, more regular visits increases possible exposure for me and all the other people in there than two people getting and getting out as quickly as possible. Delivery limits us to 90 items and we can only get a delivery almost a month in advance and we can't wait that long between shops.

I agree you don't need to go in groups to buy a small weekly shop but stricter rules have screwed us and we now spend 3x as much in the local shops despite the fact I cannot work now thanks to needing to homeschool!

ilovesooty · 23/01/2021 20:37

@LolaSmiles

What happens to people like OP when Covid is over? What is there to judge then?

No idea, but it seems on here that wanting people to apply common sense is enough to be called judgey.

Common sense says that if you need to shop with others then do, but if you don't need to then don't have a family outing or day date to the supermarket because your husband apparently is incapable of selecting the right brand of beans and you fancy the company.

The government have handled this whole pandemic awfully, but it's also highlighted what we probably already knew: there's a sub group of people who think that rules and guidelines and laws apply to everyone else other than them. When the majority of people are behaving reasonably and want life back to normal, it's irritating knowing there's other's doing what they like and prolonging the situation for everyone else.

Well said.
Redrivershore · 23/01/2021 20:43

If one person in a supermarket has Covid and 60 other people are there at the same time, Covid is more likely to be spread than if 30 people are there. The Law is there to act as a safety net for people who are too stupid to understand this.

It doesn't make any difference to the number of people in there if it is at capacity though, it won't be double the amount of customers in there at a time if it's all couples.

Pumpertrumper · 24/01/2021 07:30

Who the hell would want to make a trip to the supermarket family day out

I thought this but I’ve been told numerous times by cashiers now that when family groups are challenged (Saturday morning with 2 parents and 3 kids doing the shop) the ‘standard’ defence is an angry ‘well they’ve not been out the house all week! There’s nowhere to go nothing else is open!’ Hmm As though this justifies bringing 3 kids to Asda without any need to!

Of course these parents also kick off when they’re expected to control their kids, who are running around mask free refusing to social distance from the single, safety conscious other shoppers ‘they’re just kids they don’t get it’
Which is why they shouldn’t be in ASDA on a Saturday morning needlessly it’s bad enough for parents who have no choice!

All of the judgment, irritation, anger and confrontation of covid is 100% caused by inequality and shitty entitlement of the general public. If everyone were subject to the same rules and these were uniformly enforced then people would not resent each other! Unfortunately we live in a society where 90% lack a social conscience, common sense, perspective or any shame. It’s all about them and what they want, whatever makes their lives a tiny bit easier regardless of who it hurts.

Of course a struggling single shopper is going to resent a family of 5 and it’s clear from supermarket staff reports that 9/10 shoppers in groups do not have a reason other than a selfish entitled one.
Those who do have a genuine reason then automatically (unless visible) get lumped in with these idiots and treated totally unfairly!

But ofc that is going to happen when 9/10 are in fact taking the p and 1/10 ‘don’t think they should have to explain themselves’ 🤔 it’s ridiculous to expect any different. Arguing that we need a ‘judgment free’ and ‘totally accepting’ society is absolute idiocracy. It’s never going to happen, the human race are not capable of it!
Maybe if people were you know ‘not totally selfish entitled idiots in general’ then we’d be able to walk around Asda on a Saturday morning thinking ‘well of course that young healthy looking couple and their 3 kids must have a genuine reason to be here together, poor them’ but instead we know there is a 90% chance they just brought their kids to f about in the toy aisles for fun!

evouk · 24/01/2021 07:46

I went to Morrison's yesterday and it was shocking how busy the aisles were. Very, very hard to distance

There was nobody on the door controlling how many ppl were going in like in the first lockdown

I think now almost everybody has masks on they don't care about keeping away from others as much. I won't shop there again

KatherineJaneway · 24/01/2021 07:53

Unless something remarkable happens, I never even notice who else is shopping or if they are alone.