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Original poster

Do we still have to shop alone at the supermarket

99 replies

tired17 · 18/04/2021 08:10

Before lockdown my DH and I always used to do the weekly supermarket shop together. I know that a lot of people don't understand why we would want to do that but it suited us - we liked both being able to choose things. Since the advice to shop alone has been in force I have been doing it by myself and he has been writing what he wanted on the list and I have been getting it.

But with the most recent loosening of the lockdown rules and non-essential shopping open I was wondering whether we could now shop together again, I know this would make him happy because he does like a browse in the supermarket. Smile

OP posts:
fizbosshoes · 18/04/2021 08:15

Our local supermarket requests customers shop alone unless with children or in a caring capacity, but most people seemed to ignore it
Me and DH take it in turns, although mostly I go. We never used to shop together anyway.

LubaLuca · 18/04/2021 08:17

Yes, it's the sensible and expected thing to do still, and other shoppers and the staff will appreciate having fewer bodies around them.

TimeForLunch · 18/04/2021 08:18

I doubt anyone would say anything to you shopping together. All sorts of family groups in my local supermarket and have been throughout this latest lockdown. It certainly wasn't taken as seriously as the first time round.

Ilikewinter · 18/04/2021 08:18

Posters in stores will ask you to shop alone but I see many groups / couples shopping. If you want to go together then go together

ShutUpAlex · 18/04/2021 08:19

We’ve been shopping together throughout Nd it’s never been a problem

RedcurrantPuff · 18/04/2021 08:19

Just go, no one is going to turn you away.

borntobequiet · 18/04/2021 08:21

If he enjoys it, why not take it in turns?

TheFuckThatIGave · 18/04/2021 08:21

Our Waitrose is super strict on this. It's irritating.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 18/04/2021 08:22

No

Foolintherain · 18/04/2021 08:22

I don't think many people have taken any notice of the shop alone rule. Not in this lock down anyway.

VerityWibbleWobble · 18/04/2021 08:23

We've been shopping together for weeks and so are any others in the supermarket we go to.

TheFuckThatIGave · 18/04/2021 08:23

@RedcurrantPuff Our Waitrose would turn you away, yes! There's someone on the door all day every day monitoring numbers, masks, etc.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:25

Many have not shopped alone throughout despite the shops saying that’s what is required.
I think though that if there’s a queue to get in and they have a headcount thing going on it would make sense. As long as you are able to shop alone (shops accept not everyone can) then shop alone.

But if there’s no queue and nobody counting in and out I assume it’s ok to shop with someone else. But just stick to SD etc.

KFleming · 18/04/2021 08:26

I’ve never seen this adhered to in the supermarkets I go to (I live near an Asda, a very large Tesco and a Sainsbury’s).
I think it’s fine with the caveat that you’re not causing a queue outside if they’re counting numbers of people in/out. I haven’t seen a single queue during this recent lockdown, but I know other people have so I guess it depends on what your local supermarkets are doing.

Original poster
tired17 · 18/04/2021 08:28

Up until the last few weeks there has been a sign outside saying to shop alone but I noticed this week that it had been removed.

We did try alternating visits but I found writing absolutely everything that we needed for the week on the list quite challenging, for example I just know that we are going to want bread so wouldn't normally write it but he would follow the list to the letter (apart from his stuff) and would come back without essentials, also I'm not working at the moment so if only one person can go it doesn't seem fair to leave it for him to do

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 18/04/2021 08:29

Our Tesco has been turning couples away, though I see family groups meeting up inside. They go in separately with baskets then congregate around the doors Hmm

rainbowthoughts · 18/04/2021 08:34

All our local supermarkets have had someone on the door pretty much throughout, with a slight easing last summer. I shop with my adult DD and have never been questioned. I am autistic, wear a mask, no lanyard and so wouldn't immediately stand out as having DD with me for support. We have never been stopped or questioned going in together. Lots of other people are shopping in couples, sometimes groups.

canyon2000 · 18/04/2021 08:34

I go to Sainsburys in the morning during the week and when the kids went back to school there were groups of 6/8 inside getting their breakfast (energy drinks+donuts!!). They weren't being turned away so maybe the rule depends on who is on the door.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:36

@canyon2000

I go to Sainsburys in the morning during the week and when the kids went back to school there were groups of 6/8 inside getting their breakfast (energy drinks+donuts!!). They weren't being turned away so maybe the rule depends on who is on the door.
Might be the time of day. Breakfast time the shops will be less busy and no queues outside. As long as they don’t exceed max numbers in store they’re doing their bit.
Imnothereforthedrama · 18/04/2021 08:37

I personally don’t understand why anyone would want to food shop with anyone but that’s just me . My dh does occasionally like to shop but then he pops in on his day off and gets anything we’ve run out of and he gets his favourite beer etc . I like the fact that I can go in get what I want and get out . Couples and families actually annoy me sometimes having discussions in the middle of the aisle about what to have for dinner etc . I’m not saying you are like that op just in my experience it’s irritating so for me no but that’s nothing to do with Covid . If you enjoy shopping together then go I doubt anyone will say anything, maybe still do the list before and be mindful of others while shopping.

itsgettingwierd · 18/04/2021 08:38

Shops still ask you shop alone.

Which doesn't seem daft in an infection control capacity but does when you can go to non essential shops as a family group (and people aren't sticking to this either!)

Some local supermarkets here have never enforced it and some have.
And as most supermarkets now sell clothing it seems daft the rules vary so much.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:40

Hopefully it will get better at the supermarkets now that people can have family days out (for something to do) at non essential shops other than supermarkets. Grin

JonSnowedUnder · 18/04/2021 08:41

I would think part of it might be when you go, a busy weekend morning or a quiet weekday afternoon?

RedcurrantPuff · 18/04/2021 08:41

If anyone says anything just say one of you has a disability and needs help to shop. Like all the other nonsensical rules it needs ignoring.

Bagelsandbrie · 18/04/2021 08:43

I think it’s up to each shop really. Dh, ds aged 9 and I always go together at the weekend- ds has autism / complex needs and the Tesco is right next to the park so we tend to go for a walk and then nip into Tesco afterwards and let him choose a treat and then because dh and I are both together we can carry more stuff home which means less trips overall. We’ve done this throughout the pandemic and no one has said anything to us. But - we live rurally and it’s generally very quiet. I guess in a London type store where there are queues to get in it might be different.