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Original poster

Are we still supposed to be shopping solo?

115 replies

biser · 26/02/2021 18:31

I've just come back from the supermarket. There were a LOT of twosomes. Also saw masks being warn as chin-warmers.

Have the supermarkets, again, given up monitoring this?

OP posts:
WombatChocolate · 27/02/2021 11:10

When people can go in pairs, they often see it as a social outing and loiter longer.

The rule is still to shop alone.

As Professor Van-Tam said in the briefing yesterday, it’s these little things that make a difference. The people who decide it will be fine to just pop quickly into someone’s house, or to meet as a group in a garden or to shop in groups.....it all boosts transmission.

Unless there is seriously no alternative but to shop with the other person, just don’t. What would be the reason anyway to do this, except ‘you feel like it’. There’s no actual need from the point of just getting food is there?

RichardMarxisinnocent · 27/02/2021 11:42

@mrurddhasabitpart

God I hate this. I cannot see why counting people in and out isn't enough? I shop with my husband. I have my reasons for that. I'd hate to be challenged by some fucking stranger as to why. I hate that clear other customers hate us for it. I hate that it may wind others up so much that they start threads about it. It's all so controlling and awful. I cannot wait for this all to be a bad memory
They should be counting them in and out regardless of whether people are having to shop solo. But the supermarket has a limit of how many people can be in the shop, so if everyone comes in pairs or families, the limit is reached sooner and people have to wait outside.
MrsMercedes · 27/02/2021 11:50

@RichardMarxisinnocent

theres no 'should be counting them in' ....theres no hard and fast rule around this

we never count people in or out. whats the limit of people allowed in then?

Pulledamonica · 27/02/2021 11:53

@mrurddhasabitpart

God I hate this. I cannot see why counting people in and out isn't enough? I shop with my husband. I have my reasons for that. I'd hate to be challenged by some fucking stranger as to why. I hate that clear other customers hate us for it. I hate that it may wind others up so much that they start threads about it. It's all so controlling and awful. I cannot wait for this all to be a bad memory
That attitude is selfish af. More people in the shop = harder to socially distance. Sorry you feel inconvenienced by people not wanting to get covid.
LunaLoveg00d · 27/02/2021 11:56

Who cares. Seriously. Who wastes energy even noticing this stuff.

InterfectoremVulpes · 27/02/2021 12:06

@SnowyPetals

Can't wait for the regulations to be dropped, so we can see an end to these endless boring threads monitoring and judging why people might possibly need to shop with another person. Yawn....
Especially with the goady PA titles "oh, are we supposed to still go on our own" knowing full well thats still the case
Bonkerz · 27/02/2021 12:08

Thank goodness I have been able to get weekly Asda slots. I haven't been into a supermarket (apart from local small coOp) since sept 2020!

scottish83 · 27/02/2021 12:09

I suppose the idea about shopping alone and limiting trips to the shop would work well in a theoretical world.

The real world is of course very different to the theoretical world: recreational venues have been closed, shops termed "non-essential" have been closed, people aren't meant to travel far or visit friends indoors.

So in this real world, perhaps a trip to the supermarket - and exploring the different products - is similar to the Saturday afternoon outing to the department store my mum used to do with me when I was young.

Would it be nice if supermarkets enforced it? Is there a huge appetite for it to happen now? Possibly not.

AgeLikeWine · 27/02/2021 12:12

Supermarkets don’t care at all about masks & shopping alone. They see it as a PR issue, not a safety issue which is why they make absolutely no attempt whatsoever to challenge or enforce.

Macaronirabbit · 27/02/2021 12:12

Every time I've been in tesco theres been loads of people shopping in pairs. I'm not sure how they police who is unable to shop alone v who is unwilling to shop alone.
(You only have to read a mumsnet thread to find the most tenuous reasons why people have to shop in pairs . Spoiler - a lot involve men who apparently cant be trusted to get the right things! Wink)
I would think it was huge waste of time for me and DH to shop together. We havent since we were first married and would stop at a sainsburys local on the way home from work.

andweallsingalong · 27/02/2021 12:18

Also, noticed it and its making social distancing impossible.

Time before last 3/4 of the other shoppers were in twos or more including some big family groups (two adults + kids, Inc teens). A few months ago they'd all have been challenged at the door. Constantly felt like I couldn't move and had to get way too close every time a group came towards me.

That was a tea time so this week I went at 9pm.much quieter, but still issues with couples and groups of teens preventing social distancing, but far better as far fewer people in the store overall.

changi · 27/02/2021 12:23

I would think it was huge waste of time for me and DH to shop together.

Same here. Plus, he absolutely hates shopping and I feel pressured to get out of the shop as soon as possible.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 27/02/2021 12:29

[quote MrsMercedes]@RichardMarxisinnocent

theres no 'should be counting them in' ....theres no hard and fast rule around this

we never count people in or out. whats the limit of people allowed in then?[/quote]
No idea what the limit is, but was told there was one by someone on the door at Sainsburys during the November lockdown- they said they were having to reduce how many are allowed in. They also stand at the door with a counter.

Surely there has to be a limit to allow for social distancing. Our smaller local food shops have a traffic light system to show when it's full and when people can enter. When non essential shops were open they all had signs up saying how many people were allowed in at one time.

Garliccoriander · 27/02/2021 13:00

Smacks hand here. DH goes in with trolley and I go in after a few minutes and get basket. I get fruit/veg and then tip into trolley then maybe frozen stuff next. I leave supermarket to go sit in car 🚗 whilst he is at till.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 27/02/2021 13:01

@Witchesbelazy

Even when restrictions stop some will still judge I’m sure . People really have nothing better to do than judge others shopping
@Witchesbelazy Absolutely
rawalpindithelabrador · 27/02/2021 13:04

What are people going to bitch about once the restrictions are lifted? Get a life.

LucilleTheVampireBat · 27/02/2021 13:11

@SnowyPetals

Can't wait for the regulations to be dropped, so we can see an end to these endless boring threads monitoring and judging why people might possibly need to shop with another person. Yawn....
They'll still find something to start threads about! I'm looking forward to the return of the hateful threads from people who live in tourist spots.
Macaronirabbit · 27/02/2021 13:31

Same here. Plus, he absolutely hates shopping and I feel pressured to get out of the shop as soon as possible.

My DH is the opposite. He hates other sort of shopping but can spend hours in a supermarket. On holiday once I think he would have probably spent the whole day in the french supermarket wine department given half the chance!Grin

woodhill · 27/02/2021 13:34

Yes, I can't think what I need with DH there

changi · 27/02/2021 13:59

On holiday once I think he would have probably spent the whole day in the french supermarket

Oddly enough, mine is the same in a new country, at least initially. I think two visits is his limit.

changi · 27/02/2021 13:59

Yes, I can't think what I need with DH there

That is me too.

rawalpindithelabrador · 27/02/2021 14:05

They'll still find something to start threads about! I'm looking forward to the return of the hateful threads from people who live in tourist spots.

Oh, those are pure gold.

ifitpleasesandsparkles · 27/02/2021 14:27

Meh.

ThatDamnKrampus · 27/02/2021 14:41

I take my adult daughter shopping - I am her carer, to look at her you wouldn't know she needed one but she does. She also needs to shop for herself as it is her mental health linked with independence at stake. I'm sure people judge us but I don't care. Her mental health is as important as other peoples health so we will continue to shop as pair. I do wish people would stop judging though.

Toocold · 27/02/2021 16:31

Frazzled2207, I get that’s it’s a social distancing thing... which is why I said...I get it’s a lots of people thing...