Wales - essential items only

[Trying2611]

So the supermarkets have blocked off what they consider ‘non essential items’ aisles in the supermarkets - including electricals, clothing home stuff? What are everyone’s opinions on this? Myself I find it bizarre imagine your phone charger breaks or your kettle? Having a phone is vital especially to people stuck in with no contact?

They interviewed a minister on R5 this morning, and she said that a kettle wasn’t essential as water could be heated on the stove.

Hmm, l’d be interested in their thoughts about scalded arms.

Everything has gone mad.

How are we discussing whether a kettle is essential, or what constitutes a table, or whether a Cornish pasty is a substantial meal without salad?

The world has gone mad.

I thought that shops that wouldn't be allowed to open had complained that supermarkets would be taking custom they were losing so they stopped the supermarkets selling that stuff too. So now everyone will use Amazon or other online retailers instead.

Disclaimer: I'm not in Wales.

It strikes me as being rather a reverse of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

I understand the rationale is to put, say, electrical good retailers who have to close on a level playing field with supermarkets. But I would have thought it's more important to keep the wider economy going as much as we can, while balancing risk.

As the supermarkets are open anyway, on that principle we should try to maximise what people are spending in them because it won't make any difference to the Covid risk.

And, as pps have said, some electrical goods will be more 'essential' than some grocery items. Things like, say, edible cake decorations will doubtless still be on sale in the baking aisle, but you won't be able to replace your kettle if it packs up.

I'm in a high risk area of England and hoping that if we go into a Wales-style lockdown, they'll still allow the supermarkets to sell a full range of items.

Tesco in Talbot Green has blocked off all the aisles of 'non-essential' books, DVDs, stationery and toys with a huge display of essential litre bottles of spirits. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️

I find it absolutely disgusting and even during the first lockdown, people were able to buy non-essential items from supermarkets while shopping for essentials. I don't understand how people are putting up with this, allowing power hungry dictators to 'one-up' each other. Imagine this being done in Paris, Greece, Bulgaria and Italy, the streets would be on fire leading to their parliaments to burn them in there. The reason for the lockdown was to protect the NHS, how come the NHS has suffered so much pre-Covid that it can't cope with this? Is it because we have a incompetent gov? The power is the people and people should start questioning why their governments are so unfit to manage their countries.

It is ridiculous. The supermarkets should be able to open and sell all of their normal goods. Other shops to close. Simple, and no further debate, otherwise where do you draw the line?

People need to stay at home and not use shopping as a day out. Wilkos, Home Bargains, Poundland, The Range and B&M will be open for non essentials. If these shops have to cordon off the non essentials they sell they wouldn't open.

Supermarkets aren't the only shop.

@WitchesSpelleas

Disclaimer: I'm not in Wales.

It strikes me as being rather a reverse of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

I understand the rationale is to put, say, electrical good retailers who have to close on a level playing field with supermarkets. But I would have thought it's more important to keep the wider economy going as much as we can, while balancing risk.

As the supermarkets are open anyway, on that principle we should try to maximise what people are spending in them because it won't make any difference to the Covid risk.

And, as pps have said, some electrical goods will be more 'essential' than some grocery items. Things like, say, edible cake decorations will doubtless still be on sale in the baking aisle, but you won't be able to replace your kettle if it packs up.

I'm in a high risk area of England and hoping that if we go into a Wales-style lockdown, they'll still allow the supermarkets to sell a full range of items.

Exactly! I also feel like if people are in say asda or Tesco anyway doing the food shop and need to get say an electrical item they will have w to travel to another ‘electrical store’ where they are able to purchase, therefore more travelling and more contact with more people! It’s bonkers

I suspect the Welsh government will find themselves in court over this. Alternatively the big supermarkets will just shut completely.

Alternatively the big supermarkets will just shut completely.

No way. You can’t seriously think that will happen?

My DS has a birthday next week. I thank my lucky stars that I'm not living hand to mouth. If I'd had to wait until payday he'd have no presents as well as no wider family or friends to celebrate with. We can't even have a day out.

@Trying2611we can’t travel to another ‘electrical store’ to purchase anything - they’re all closed until 9th November!

While I can understand the sentiment of not putting shops that only sell things that have been deemed non essential at a disadvantage, this current strategy is just awful. If it wasn’t necessary in the initial lockdown I don’t see why it should be introduced now. It also wasn’t well publicised until later in the week which lead to very busy shops and roads yesterday.

We have a family birthday to try celebrate before 9th November and I certainly haven’t got everything that I would like to have ready. This will force me to buy online which feels like it’s defeating the object - especially as we all know how much tax some well known online retailers pay.

@PurpleDaises why not - if deliveries are interfered with at the border and some over-promoted councillor is deciding what can be sold and you are watching a chunk of your business being shunted off to Amazon why wouldn't they make a coordinated effort to bring the Welsh assembly to heel - two days I imagine it would take.

I live in Wales and I'm totally fine with it. We've been asked to stay at home for 17 days and only leave the house if it's essential.

The strangest thing about the supermarket rules is how bothered people living in England are about them on Twitter and Mumsnet.

Shouldn't you be more concerned about the problems with Track and Trace in England?

The Welsh government are nuts.

Track and trace is failing everywhere - we should have had one system for the UK and preferably Ireland as well.

@Mamimawr

I live in Wales and I'm totally fine with it. We've been asked to stay at home for 17 days and only leave the house if it's essential.

I live in Wales too and I'm not fine with it. Yes some have to stay home for 17 days (not me I have to go to work) BUT that is totally different to the point being made. Maybe the CMA should look into the advantage being given to Amazon and the president it is setting to not go to the local shops when all this is over!