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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:
MaxNormal · 18/04/2021 08:45

DH and I have never been stopped from going in together.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:48

@MaxNormal

DH and I have never been stopped from going in together.
I always thought it was an appeal to people’s better nature rather than the poor security guard having to intervene. The signs /tannoys I have seen/heard say shop alone ‘if possible’ . So people able to see the bigger picture (re queues and maximum numbers allowed in) would choose to do the decent thing perhaps for the greater good.
fizbosshoes · 18/04/2021 08:50

Couples and families actually annoy me sometimes having discussions in the middle of the aisle about what to have for dinner etc

I'm always surprised about how many whole families go to the supermarket together. (Mum, dad and 2 or 3 kids)I'm sure it must be loads quicker and easier to do as 1 adult. I definitely think it is!

rosie39forever · 18/04/2021 08:52

Dh and I occasionally shop together but we do go in the evening when our local sainsburys is deserted and have never had a problem.

Original poster
tired17 · 18/04/2021 08:53

So it seems to be fairly evenly split on whether to continue, perhaps we'll carry on as we are for the next few weeks and then revisit it

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 18/04/2021 08:53

Just go together if you want. Go in separately one behind the other if you want it to look like you're both alone. We tend to shop alone but there's been the odd occasion both have gone and it's been fine.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:54

DH and I are quite fond of a 9.30pm trip to Home Bargains when there’s nobody there. They have a traffic light. Lidl also open til ten.

Avoiding the supermarkets at busy times if possible is always going to be better.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:55

@tired17

So it seems to be fairly evenly split on whether to continue, perhaps we'll carry on as we are for the next few weeks and then revisit it
Just go late in the evening or when it opens?
MaxNormal · 18/04/2021 08:56

Actually in reality DH mostly goes alone as he prefers it but when I do join him we haven't been stopped.
But its this sort of attempted shaming bollocks thats destroyed the last vestiges of any goodwill I might have had.

OliveTree75 · 18/04/2021 08:58

My parents do their food shopping together and have done for ages! Nobody has ever said anything to them

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 08:59

I wouldn’t want to be a supermarket security guard to be honest.
I bet the grief/abuse they get is awful. The signs would be to ‘encourage’ people to shop alone then the security wouldn’t have to stop them.
Be a good day when we don’t have security guards on the doors at shops any more. Just inside keeping an eye out for shoplifters.

Foolintherain · 18/04/2021 09:01

In reality no one bats an eyelid at couples shopping together. It's only on MN that people like to find things to whine about.

OP, go shopping with your DH, no one will care.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 09:02

It’s only the family outings that make me a bit Hmm now.

Happynewtier · 18/04/2021 09:02

I work for one of the big supermarkets and we mainly dropped the shop alone rule with the opening of non essentials... Our stores aren't as busy now with people having other (better!) things to do, and places to shop, so although the door is still monitored for number/mask/social distancing compliance, we will no longer tell people "one per household" unless we get a queue forming, and then we do politely remind them that we need to keep numbers down and if one could wait outside it would be beneficial to help the queue move quicker and keep everyone as safe as possible. I'd suggest going at a quiet part of the day op, as depending on the store, you're unlikely to be turned away then. We get alot of elderly couples, and people shopping with carers, on an evening now as it's quieter and they feel safer and less rushed that way.

Undertheoldlindentree · 18/04/2021 09:07

It's more responsible not to. Yes, agree it initially seems nonsensical if no limits in other shops. But if we want schools to stay open; sports to continue; holiday accommodation to be open etc it makes sense to limit transmission in other areas. Supermarkets are sonewhere where most people need to visit so the risks are higher. But food shopping is a routine activity, easily done by one person per household (for most....acknowledge not for all). Keeping transmission as low as possible there will allow us to have more choice in the other things we can do. Surely that's a positive thing?

Marmite27 · 18/04/2021 09:09

Take turns. You do it one week, he does it the next. That way you both get chance to browse.

That’s what we do, but because we both hate it, so it needs to be shared!

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 09:10

I wonder how many that have deliveries or click and collect will go back to actual shopping now things are less chaotic in food stores?

Langsdestiny · 18/04/2021 09:11

It's such a weird thing to not be able to go to the shops without your partner. Obviously excluding disability and caring responsibilities.

StealthPolarBear · 18/04/2021 09:12

So you can go to primary as a family but still need to go round tesco alone?!

StealthPolarBear · 18/04/2021 09:12

Primark
Langsdestiny presumably the op can go shopping alone as she is.

CarrieBlue · 18/04/2021 09:17

@Langsdestiny

It's such a weird thing to not be able to go to the shops without your partner. Obviously excluding disability and caring responsibilities.
It’s such a weird thing to want to go to the shops with your partner.
Langsdestiny · 18/04/2021 09:17

Yes I know it seems lots of people find it difficult though.

CorporeSarnie · 18/04/2021 09:21

@StealthPolarBear our primary school has asked that only one parent or carer, wearing a mask, comes to drop off or pick up. Mostly adhered to, but there are some very special people in our school who feel they don't need to listen to this, and who stood in front of the head organising playdates during lockdown.
OP is going to do what they want anyway so I've no idea why they've bothered starting a thread about it.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 18/04/2021 09:22

Do it online together if writing a list for DH is too much work.

I don’t get why it’s seen as a family outing or even something fun for many. It’s food shopping, something that’s a necessity not a day out.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 09:22

Online shopping as a couple is a good compromise.