Waterstones and mask-wearing

[VanGoSunflowers]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57832560

How many businesses do you think will follow suit?
And why is the cynic in me thinking that many businesses will look at their key demographic and either take a stance on mask wearing (or not in some cases) based on how likely their clientele are to want mask-wearing to continue?

Are they really wanting to keep everyone safe or do they just want your money…

The government has said people should keep wearing masks in indoor spaces, even though it will no longer be law, or guidance, (or whatever the hell it was before.)

I think a lot of companies who are based indoors, (and not serving food or drink), will probably continue to encourage it. TFL has made it mandatory across their services for example.

Same rules as before, if you're exempt it doesn't apply. Can't say I'm particularly bothered by it. It's shit, but this whole pandemic is shit 🤷‍♀️

It's entirely a marketing ploy to part customers with their money.

I think shops will look at their demographic and decide what kind of message their 'average' customer will be most receptive to and go with that.

That's exactly what WS has done.

I agree Suffle

I think Suffle’s probably right. Unfortunately I’m clearly not typical within Waterstone’s customer demographic as I hate masks and this policy will definitely put me off visiting to browse/buy. Shame as it’s something I’d been looking forward to for ages, but the masks sap any traces of joy from the experience.

I hate mask wearing with a passion but I will feel comfier going into shops that take this approach personally.

@Suffle

It's entirely a marketing ploy to part customers with their money.

I think shops will look at their demographic and decide what kind of message their 'average' customer will be most receptive to and go with that.

That's exactly what WS has done.

Yeah, I think we will generally see whatever makes most business sense. Exception maybe where the person/s in charge hold particularly strong views.

Maybe we stop thinking about ourselves and our 10 minutes in WS and think about the staff there for 8/9 hours?

@Suffle

It's entirely a marketing ploy to part customers with their money.

I think shops will look at their demographic and decide what kind of message their 'average' customer will be most receptive to and go with that.

That's exactly what WS has done.

I agree with this.

Waterstones will encourage customers to follow government guidance to wear masks and socially distance etc., but will not rigidly enforcement the mask wearing. That is how I read their tweet anyway.

They are hedging their bets somewhat while they see which way it goes and what will work best for business. That doesn't bother me at all.

Some of us who like to browse bookshops and sometimes buy can do it much more easily without a mask on. Glasses wearers like me for instance. I love to look at the books, see what grabs my interest and read the synopsis and reviews. That is much harder to do if you are wearing a mask (yes, even one with a well fitted wire nose clip) and it persistently causes your glasses to steam up. It has made me personally much more likely to leave the store without buying because I cannot read well enough to judge whether or not the book is for me. I may want to lift or pull down my mask to enjoy my browse without being barked at by staff about it. That way I am more likely to buy. I don't march up to other customers and breathe all over them. I will probably put it back up again.

That is one way of looking at it.

I hate wearing a mask. I haven't been to a shop (other than nipping to the corner shop), inside a restaurant or on public transport since they have been required. I'll just carry on buying everything online until retailers ditch masks. At some point they are all just going to jave to consider whether or not they want customers or not.

So they'll literally signpost, but not require it.

Works for me.

People hang around in Waterstones. They browse the books and pick them up to read the blurb. They are ‘encouraging’ people to continue to wear masks.

Are they really wanting to keep everyone safe or do they just want your money…

I’m not sure what encouraging people to wear masks has to do with profit?

I have avoided high street shops as much as possible until now because I don't want to shop hot and sweaty in a mask, I've bought online and will continue to do so in any shop that mandates mask wearing as for me it's not an enjoyable experience. Some businesses do need to be careful when making decisions like this as the high street outlets were already under pressure even before covid, some demographics will like this stance and some will be completely against and will source another alternative way to shop, it would take a lot to revert those customers back in the shop at a later date if they're happy with their new shopping habits

Of course they just want your money, they’re a shop!

You can still go into Waterstones without a mask. They have no right to challenge you.

Perhaps they'd like to disinfect their books each time one is browsed

why is the cynic in me thinking that many businesses will look at their key demographic and either take a stance on mask wearing (or not in some cases) based on how likely their clientele are to want mask-wearing to continue

I imagine they will do that, yes. I don't really care about masks in non-essential retail because you can make a judgment call about going into one, but I think masks should be compulsory on public transport and supermarkets and other essential retail that was open in the first lockdown.

The same may well be the case for vaccine passports. Cinemas and night clubs will say no, theatres may say yes because of the older affluent well-heeled demographic who think vaccine passports are a good idea. Bars and restaurants may take a view.

@tanstaafl

Maybe we stop thinking about ourselves and our 10 minutes in WS and think about the staff there for 8/9 hours?

Exactly.

I’ll give more business to places that continue with masks, all employees should be as safe as possible at work.

@tanstaafl

Maybe we stop thinking about ourselves and our 10 minutes in WS and think about the staff there for 8/9 hours?

I've said this all along, I don't see any reason for staff to wear masks for long shifts, but it's not an issue for most customer to wear one for 10 minutes or so.

I'm pleased Waterstones have taken this stance. They are my favourite book shop and cafe in town and this definitely makes me feel happier about visiting regularly.

Pleased they're keeping the screens etc. for the staff too. As I'm of the view that mandatory masks along with screens, sanitiser etc. will be necessary through this Autumn and Winter in indoor public spaces to keep them open, considering the time and money it took for businesses to install everything over the last year it would seem crazy to get rid of it all for a couple months.

Masks do work. I'm prone to colds and have had far fewer over the last year while wearing my fabric masks everywhere. That's even with three children in primary school. Has made me realise how many colds I must catch in the supermarket and other shops.

@MyGardenSanctuary

Perhaps they'd like to disinfect their books each time one is browsed

Not really the same as we now know airborne transmission is much more likely than via a fomite such as a book.

Honestly, unless you have an exemption and masks don’t apply to you, then all this whinging over wearing a mask for a browse in a shop is so draining when you wear mask for 9 hours shifts every day.

It’s this ridiculous unclear messaging from this government that are creating divisions again.

It sounds quite hands-off to me. From the article:

Managing director James Daunt told the BBC this would be communicated by signs, but staff would not enforce this: "If you are wearing a mask and you don't want to be in the company with someone who isn't wearing a mask, we expect people will use their common sense and move away."

Encouraged means 50% or more of people will still not wear them. You'll see more people in there without than with.

Ah yes, Waterstones the covid heroes, who claimed they were an 'essential retailer' at the beginning of the first lockdown and tried to get their staff who they care about so much to keep shops open. Staff certainly didn't think James Daunt had their welfare in mind then.

As PPs say, it's all about keeping the tills ringing and nothing to do with 'safety'.

@Lazierdays its because I have to wear a 8 hours a day at the minute that I don't want to wear them in my leisure time aswell I'll shop elsewhere or online like I have been doing

Thanks @tanstaafl
I work in a shop - not Waterstones. I wear my mask 10h per day - 8h in store and 1h commute each way . Even before covid I would always go outside for fresh air on my lunch break. Having worn the mask for almost a year , I get used to it and am thankful I don't have to wear more ppe like medical people do. But it does get a bit irritating when the customers chat about how awful it is wearing a mask-I would be rich if I had a pound for everyone that moaned about it to me!
The company I work for has not put out their message about mask wearing yet but I think I will probably continue to wear one as I will still be interacting with 100s of people every week.